Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“Kenton.” I toss my drink into a trash can we pass. I take hers and do the same. “You don’t like wine.” It’s not really a question. I could tell when she took a drink. She tried to hide her dislike of it, wanting to be polite.
“Not really.”
“Beer?” I offer, leading her toward another stand.
“Yes, please.”
I quickly order us another round, then find us a table.
“Are you really looking for a place around here?” She takes a sip of her beer. She’s even more breathtaking up close.
“It is beautiful here.” Even with the fair in full swing, you can see the beauty of the land.
“This is my family's land,” she says, confirming my thoughts. From the small tilt of her chin, I can tell she’s proud of it. She should be. “We were happy when Lennon decided to host the event here.”
“It’s a good cause.”
“It really is. Lennon is such a good man to do all this.” Her whole face is once again lit up. She’s so expressive.
I’ve never had the urge to kick my brother’s ass before now. Well, not since we were little kids. And maybe when I found out he was getting married without a prenup and changed the beneficiary on his trust. But this anger is different. I grip my beer bottle.
“Are you growling?” A small laugh comes from her.
The sound goes straight to my dick, which has been hard since I spotted her. Never in my life have I been controlled by my dick. I watched my mother drag my father around by his, so I knew better. I swore I’d never be that way. I think Gabriella is going to have me eating a lot of crow.
“No.” I clear my throat. I was. I didn't notice until she pointed it out.
“No need to lie. I’m sure you noticed I didn’t much care to hear about you hanging with Carla.”
“You have nothing to worry about with Carla. I can promise you that.”
“Same goes for Lennon. He’s a good man, and he’s perfect for Willow. Life hasn't been kind to her. It’s only right she gets sent a man who wants to take care of her and loves her. I think there's going to be a wedding soon for the two of them.”
She’s right there. My brother has already bought a ring. It’s why I hopped on a plane to get my ass here. It was pointless, though. My brother is determined, and I know nothing will stop him when he’s got that look in his eyes. We might not be alike in a lot of ways, but in that way we are. When we get something in our minds, there's no stopping us.
I’m going to have to let the whole prenup thing go. I’m very good at reading people. In the few words I’ve shared with the woman who’s held my brother's heart since they were kids, I can tell she’s beyond innocent in a lot of ways. She’s not after his money.
I need to come to terms with the fact that it doesn't even matter if she takes him for half of what he’s got. He’d still be loaded. I just didn’t want him to be some kind of prey. It’s funny that I didn’t want him to fall prey to some woman, but I am more than willing to allow myself to be Gabriella’s.
The second I stared into sweet Gabriella's eyes, I could see the appeal to being a woman’s prey. Even if I do think she’s as innocent as Willow. With both the girls, I can tell they’ve dealt with their trials and tribulations in life. Somehow innocence still manages to cling to them. Mainly when it comes to men. It’s why I swooped in and saved her from Travis.
Okay, that’s a fucking lie. I didn’t do it for her. I was being a selfish asshole who didn’t want the asshole near her. She is mine. From the moment she locked eyes with me I knew it. She knew he was a tool. Fucker.
I have no idea what he was doing trying to get a girl like Gabriella. Hell, I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know blackmail isn't the way to her heart. And that’s exactly the path that dipshit had been taking when he had tried to hang her family’s loan over her head.
“Think they’ll have the wedding here?” That jealousy once again nags at me. If anyone should get married, it’s her. Her and me. My brother and I clearly have another thing in common. When we fall for a girl, it’s hard and within seconds.
“Oh.” Her face falls. “No. I don’t think so.”
“Why? Because you want to have yours here?” I nudge, wondering if she’d been thinking the same thing I was.
She licks her lips, not wanting to talk about the reason. It’s hard not to keep my attention on her tongue, but I start to piece things together. Her family’s loan with Travis is the first thing that crosses my mind.