Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
When I met the two men earlier, I almost swallowed my tongue. There was barely enough time to recover when an insanely hot man walked in carrying a toddler on one hip and holding the hand of one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen.
Declan and Raven Collins.
Rock Star Royalty… strolling casually into a backyard barbeque with their children in tow.
It took everything I had to remain standing. If it wasn’t for Talon at my back, who knows what would have happened?
Next came Harley’s cousin, Mike Jacobs. The man created his boutique label, signing small artists with who he saw potential. Now he’s a multi-millionaire who manages some of the hottest bands in the world. The founder and CEO of MJ Labels is nothing like I’d expect.
He’s as down-to-earth as they come and extremely charming.
Harley and Ace…
Jewls and Major…
Rowan and Ford…
Finn and Presley…
Robbie and Ember…
Declan and Raven…
Collin and Shayla…
Mike Jacobs…
Talon…
It’s hotness and beauty overload.
Even Bex was speechless.
“You need another drink.” Shayla slides a glass my way.
“Love, the woman has barely finished her last cocktail.” Collin, Shalya’s boyfriend, tucks her hair behind her ear and places a sweet kiss on her cheek.
I hold back my sigh at his alluring British accent.
“She’s tense.” Shayla keeps her eyes on me.
I shake my head. “I’m not tense, just soaking it all in.”
“This is tame, wait until the whole band is around. We typically have to send the kids with grandparents after dinner. It gets wild.” Ember, Robbie’s wife, sits next to me, holding her newest baby boy, Dylan. “Wait until you meet Max.”
“Who’s Max?”
“Max Roberts completes the Robbie, Finn, Max brotherhood. Grew up best friends, joined the Marines, and went to combat together. Max is still enlisted but he works some jobs with Hayes Security.”
“Max is in the wedding,” Rowan chirps. “You’ll meet him soon.”
“He’s a staple in this crew even when he’s thousands of miles away.” Raven slides in beside Bex, who seems starstruck.
“He’s also smokin’ hot. Five alarm fire hot.” Shalya waves her face while Collin rolls his eyes.
Another hot guy in this group may tilt the world’s axis.
I peer over the blanket to see Dylan fast asleep. “He’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She beams. “He’s been my easiest baby.”
“Maybe it’s because he’s number three,” Shayla points out. “Finnley and Clyde broke you in. The next one will be a breeze.”
“Shut your mouth and do not let Robbie hear you!” Ember hisses. “He’s lobbying for one more.”
“Why not? You make beautiful kids.”
“Shayla, come back and talk to me after you have your first. Then you’ll understand.”
“She’s got a point.” Collin’s hand slides across Shayla’s stomach and he whispers something in her ear that has her melting into him.
“Oh, good, the trio of terror has arrived.” Jewls brushes past us to the three older women on the back patio.
“Trio of terror?” I question no one in particular.
“Jewls’ old neighbors. Ronnie, Janice, and Bea are appointed grandmothers to the twins,” Harley updates me on the newcomers.
“Jewls likes her nicknames,” I note, remembering the names for her brothers and cousins. “But that reminds me a little of my grandma.”
“Sorry they couldn’t make it tonight.” Harley seems genuinely disappointed.
“They were up early to babysit me since no one thinks I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“Stop falling down and getting hurt and you won’t need babysitters,” Bex mocks.
A muster of kids runs by and I reach out in time to grasp Wyatt’s head. “Where’re you going?”
“We’re roasting hotdogs. Grandpa said it was time. Then we can do s’mores!”
My dad, Chase, Ace, Declan, and Major have set up a buffet on the other side of the patio by the firepit.
I’m about to tell him to get a towel because of the chill in the air, but notice none of the other parents seem worried about it.
“Have fun, be careful.”
“Dad and Uncle Talon are going to teach me.” He takes off, swarming in with the rest of the children.
Jewls join us, introducing Ronnie, Janice, and Bea to Bex and me.
“I always knew Talon was a smart one,” Ronnie comments.
“Told you,” Jewls replies knowingly. “Even if he did hide her from us.”
“He had his reasons. Sometimes it’s best to keep it close to the vest, especially when there’s resistance.”
An unease settles low in my stomach, and I take a large sip to avoid eye contact. I don’t know these women, but it’s clear Ronnie is referring to me.
“Resistance isn’t a bad thing, especially with her position. It’s challenging to navigate dating your patient.”
Bex snorts and I kick her foot to shut up.
The hairs on my arms stand right before a warm hand caresses my neck. “You doing okay, Princess?”
I tilt my head, my breath catching at the beauty of Talon’s blue-gray eyes. “I’m great.”
He studies me, assessing if I’m overwhelmed or uncomfortable. It’s amazing how I can feel every beat of his concern. When he warned me that the ‘casual and low-key cook-out’ would most likely include local celebrities, I may have freaked a little while fretting over what to pack for the night.