Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Sean rolled his eyes.
“Do not ever kiss me like that again. We need to devise a system where you silently ask to kiss me, and I say yes or no.”
“What?” he asked, confusion all over his face. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
I laughed. “Clearly, I must have to have ever agreed to this.”
“Sean? Harper?”
We both turned to see Maddie, Sean’s mother, standing on her front porch.
“Hey, Mom.”
When he reached for my hand, I didn’t pull away, even though I wanted to.
“Hi, Maddie,” I said, with a wave of my free hand.
Plastering on a fake smile, Maddie cleared her throat. “So, it’s true then.”
Sean let out a nervous bubble of laughter. “Funny, Mom.”
“Yeah, real funny,” I whispered, allowing Sean to tug me toward his mother. It took everything I had not to dig my heels in and start screaming at him not to send me into the fiery pit of hell.
Maddie hugged me briefly as I reached the top step. “What was that, dear?”
“What? Oh, nothing.”
She smirked. “I didn’t think so. Come in, come in. I have a huge surprise for you!”
As we followed his mother into the house, Sean glanced back at me. “See! A surprise.”
I rolled my eyes and stuck my foot out in front of him, causing him to trip slightly.
A laugh came from my right, and Sean and I both turned to see…
“Declan?” we both said at the same time.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Sean’s older brother had seen me purposely trip him. I could say it was all in good fun, but I’m almost positive I’d had a look of pure evil on my face when I did it.
Dropping my hand, Sean made his way over to his brother, and they did one of those bro hugs where they simultaneously hugged and hit each other on the back as hard as they could. It looked to me like Declan won, and I grinned.
“It was a surprise to me as well. Declan is home for good!” Maddie said to me, with a rare, genuine smile.
“I bet you’re so happy and relieved.”
Her hand went to her heart. “You have no idea, Harper. The way I worried about that boy.”
I nodded and looked back at the two brothers. They’d broken the hug and were talking now. I let my eyes move over Declan and wanted to correct his mother. That was not a boy…that was a man.
Declan Gallagher had always been hot. He’d always worn his brown hair short, in a buzz cut like it was now, but the top was longer and looked like he ran his fingers through it all the time. And for as long as I can remember, he was always built. Not overly muscular but just right, with broad shoulders and toned arms and legs. I’d never seen him with his shirt off, but I would bet my precious season tickets he had abs that were totally lick-able.
I shook my head. Lick-able? Really, Harper. Is that really where you want your mind to be right now?
My gaze moved to Declan’s mid-section, and I narrowed my eyes as I stared right through the Marine Corps T-shirt he wore.
Maddie cleared her throat from next to me, and I jerked my head up, looking around the room. “Did you paint?”
When my gaze met hers, she stared at me like I was a child who’d just gotten caught with her hand in the candy jar.
If only.
Oh. My. God. Harper…stop daydreaming about Declan. Where is this coming from?
“No, Harper, I have not painted.” Turning to her sons, Maddie clapped her hands. “Dinner’s ready, boys. Let’s join your father in the kitchen, shall we? I made lasagna.”
“Yes!” Sean said with a fist pump and proceeded to walk toward the kitchen, leaving me standing in the middle of the living room.
I folded my arms over my chest and nearly turned and left. This was the type of shit I put up with when I was dating him. Call it being naïve at the time, but now that the dating was fake, I didn’t have to put up with his rudeness. I was determined to stand right there until the ass came back for me.
“Does he always display such chivalry?” Declan asked, his voice deep and low. It caused a strange ripple in my stomach that made its way straight between my legs.
Oh. Dear.
“He’s an ass.”
Declan’s brows shot up.
I knew I couldn’t let Declan know about his brother’s stupid plan, but man, did I want to for some reason. I hated the idea of Declan thinking I was dating his brother again. I’d have to sort through that thought with a bottle of wine later tonight.
“Sorry, we got into a fight before coming in. I’m being rude.”
He nodded…and then let his eyes move lazily over my body. I felt my cheeks heat, so I coughed and started to walk toward the kitchen.