Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Raven widened her eyes. “If you’re asking if we’re okay that Cash is attending our Sunday family gathering for the first time without it being some kind of huge family event, with a woman and her three kids in tow, mind you, then we are definitely okay with it.”
“But I coerced him into marrying me.”
“I doubt it took much coercing, considering it’s obvious he’s madly in love with you.” Emery’s brows lifted.
“Uh…no.” I shook my head like I could shake off the idea.
There was no chance.
No way.
Raven laughed a dubious sound. “Cash is letting you and your children live with him. I’ve never even been in his house. And he’s going to marry you with the intention of adopting them if something happened to you, which, by the way, there’s no chance of because these men would burn down the world for you. But still…”
There was something that underscored her tone that left me unsettled. An intonation of whatever corruption he was involved in.
But whatever it was, I knew I didn’t care because at the heart of it all? I knew he was kind.
All four of the women shared a look at my silence.
Crap.
Did I just give myself away?
“Did you guys see that?” Piper asked.
“Oh, yeah. I saw it. She just went dreamy.” Raven gave a quick nod.
I tried to roll my eyes. “I did not go dreamy.”
“Um, if that wasn’t dreamy, then I don’t know what dreamy is,” Raven teased.
“And this one spends half her time reading romance novels. Believe me, she knows dreamy.” Charleigh jostled Raven with her shoulder. “And spicy.”
My mind wandered again.
Okay, tumbled down a hill and off the side of a cliff.
Because the thought of spice had me imagining being propped on Cash’s counter. His head between my thighs. His cock…
I gulped.
“Oh my God. You two got naked?” Raven suddenly gushed in my ear.
“Oh…no…well…we…um…” I stumbled over the lie I couldn’t seem to form.
Piper laughed. “You do remember we already warned that you can’t keep secrets from Raven? She will pry them out of you just as quickly as she’ll hunt you down if you try to get away from her.”
“Hey, I just need my besties together. And if that means kidnapping them when they get crazy thoughts like leaving me, then so be it.” She shrugged an innocent shoulder, playfulness rolling out of her.
I tried to stop it, but I choked over a laugh. How in the world was I finding any amusement in this situation? But there was something about these women that made me feel accepted.
Accepted in a moment.
In a way I never had been in my entire life.
I never had friends. Only my best friend.
I peeked back at Cash. At the sight, my stomach thrashed in a fit of need. So big and burly where he kept glancing between me and my children while his friends chatted around him.
I had to wrench myself away, my throat thick when I forced out, “I…it was a mistake.”
The most mind-blowing, perfect mistake.
“And we didn’t even have sex. It was just a…thing.” Why was I trying to defend it?
“From where I’m standing, I don’t think either of you are regretting it.” Piper peered into the living area. I didn’t have to look that way to know Cash’s attention was seared into me.
“And if it was a mistake? Cash is itching to make it all over again.” There was a ribbing to Emery’s voice.
I shifted on my feet.
Charleigh’s laugh was gentle. “He’s clearly not the only one.”
“That would only complicate things.” The words were thin.
Complicate things? This situation wasn’t just complicated.
It was a snowball of disaster waiting to happen.
“Well, at least one thing is clear,” Raven said. “You’re important to him, so that means you’re important to us, which you should know means we’re keeping you.”
A frown pinched between my brow, and I gripped at the glass so I had something to do with my hands. “Keeping me?”
“Um, yes, you walk through that door, and you hit bestie status.” Emery pointed toward the entryway. “No one makes it through the threshold without one of the guys intending to bring you into the circle. And that circle is small.”
Raven turned on her high heels and strutted to the opposite counter where a bar was set up. “Now, about that drink because you definitely look like you need it.”
She grabbed two large bottles from the counter. “Vodka or tequila?”
THIRTY-SIX
CASH
“Looks like they fit right in.” Kane glanced between me and the kids. Face full of a prodding grin like he knew something that I didn’t.
I itched in my unrest.
“Yeah, knew Maci and Nolan would make them feel welcome,” I managed.
Those kids were the fucking best. Couldn’t stop the way pride billowed at the fact that Eva, Addy, and Colin were in the mix of them, little Finn on his knees on the rug trying to get in Colin’s line of sight to get his attention.