Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“Oh shit, you’re right. I totally forgot.” She races inside, and I follow more slowly behind her, walking into the kitchen just as she sets the hot pan of muffins on the stovetop. “They’re perfect. Didn’t burn.”
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the front door, and then Ava comes strolling inside, and her steps falter when she sees us in the kitchen.
Her observant eyes bounce between Darby and me, and then her lips tip up into a knowing smile.
“Well hello there,” she says. “Do I smell muffins?”
“Just out of the oven,” Darby replies. “Huckleberry.”
“We’re keeping you around,” Ava announces before winking at me and crossing over to make herself some coffee. “What’s the occasion? Not that you need one for huckleberry anything.”
“I was hungry,” Darby replies simply, and then grins at me, and her eyes say everything.
Because your brother fucked the shit out of me this morning, and I need calories so we can do it again later.
I smirk back at her and lean in to kiss the top of her head.
Ava’s eyes go round.
“Problem?” I ask her.
“Fuck no, there’s no problem. I just feel super proud of myself because I’m the reason she applied for the job here in the first place, and it seems to be working out very well.” She’s smug as hell as she sips her coffee and swipes a muffin, then sits at the island to consume them.
“Wait,” Darby says, holding up a hand, and I know exactly what she just saw. “Ava Hendrix.”
“What?” Ava blinks at Darby and then takes a bite of muffin. “Christ, that’s damn fucking good.”
My baby sister has a mouth on her. Always has.
I follow suit and grab my own muffin, and when I bite in and it melts in my mouth, I vow right here and now that I’m going to marry this woman.
“You have a ring on a very important finger, friend,” Darby says, gesturing at the engagement ring. “When in the hell did that happen?”
“It’s new,” Ava admits. “He proposed the other night at Dad’s house when we got together for dinner.”
“Chad proposed,” Darby clarifies, and Ava nods. “I mean, that could be sweet. Did he show up early and talk to your dad and—”
“No,” Ava says, shaking her head. “He did none of the traditional things, and you know what? It’s fine.”
It’s not fucking fine.
“We’re setting a date in the summer.”
“Wait,” Darby says before I can, “what’s the hurry? Christ, are you pregnant?”
I blow out a breath and push my hands through my hair.
“Hell no,” Ava says. “Definitely not pregnant. It’s just time.”
“Okay, before you piss your brother off to the point that Chad ends up dead and buried in a shallow grave, we need some girl time to talk about this. With Harper and Jules.”
The girl gang.
“I can go tonight,” Ava says. “Chad’s out of town.”
Darby already has her phone out, texting the others.
“I’m free,” Darby says as she stares at her screen. “Dr. Fisher told me to take off through the weekend, so I can even drink.”
“Harpsichord can be the driver, since she’s knocked up and all,” Ava says with a bright smile. “Score.”
“They’re in,” Darby announces, and then looks over at me. “I’m going out with the girls tonight.”
I lean back and cross my arms over my chest, grinning at her. “I heard.”
She presses her lips together.
“Come here, Duchess.”
Without hesitation, she moves over to me, and I pull her in for a hug and lower my lips to her ear.
“You never have to check with me before you make plans.”
“I know, but sometimes it’s considerate—”
“Never,” I repeat before kissing her temple.
“Why are you two whispering?” Ava wants to know. “It’s rude.”
“You’re in my house,” I remind my sister. “Uninvited.”
“Whatever.” My sister’s feelings aren’t hurt, she simply rolls her eyes. “You may own this place now, but it’ll always be home. At least I knocked. If you don’t want anyone in here, lock the damn door.”
“You have a key,” I remind her, and she grins as she finishes her muffin. “It would have taken me longer to get in, though.”
My own phone rings, and when I pull it out of my pocket, I see Xander’s name.
“I’ll be right back.”
I step out the back door and onto the porch and then answer.
“What’s up?”
“Just got back to Denver,” he says, and I can hear how tired my brother is. Professional hockey isn’t easy, and I know that it’s starting to wear on him. At thirty-two, he’s nearing the end of his career. “How’s everything at home? How’s Dad?”
“Dad’s doing really well, actually.”
Our father was diagnosed with diabetes last year, and it was a rocky-as-fuck time figuring out his sugar and medicines and monitoring everything. He had to learn a whole new way of eating, and Dad has one hell of a sweet tooth. Even Harper, who’s a nurse, moved home to help take care of him.