Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
He laughed, blocking it with his hands.
Relaxing, Reid stood up and looked between Dad and Patrick. “I have your blessing then?”
Dad mock scowled. “Think you’re supposed to ask that before you ask the bride.”
“Och, Harold, that’s not how it’s done now,” Mum said. “Stop teasing the poor boy.”
I snorted at Mum calling Reid a boy.
Patrick grinned. “Aw, are we teasing you, wee man?”
Reid rolled his eyes. “I take it that means I have your blessing?”
My big brother looked at me, his gaze softening. “If you make Evan happy, that’s all I care about.”
“You’ll be my best man, then?”
“Who the fuck else would be?”
Assured all was well with the guys, Mum and Annie crowded me, bombarding me with wedding plans already. My ears were ringing. I felt a little faint.
“Enough!” Reid repeated Patrick’s command from earlier, pushing through the mums to get to me. I grabbed onto him like a lifeline. “Let Ev breathe, for Christ’s sake.”
“We’re just excited,” Annie replied.
“And I’m glad. But let Ev get used to the idea of being engaged before you shove Christmas wedding plans down her throat. There will be no Christmas wedding.”
“There won’t?” I asked.
Reid stared down at me. “I don’t want to wait a year. Do you?”
My heart. Honestly, I couldn’t withstand another romantic word out of his mouth or I’d expire on the spot. “No. I don’t want to wait.”
“Oh, but—”
“You heard them,” Dad interrupted Mum, taking her by the shoulders and physically steering her toward the door. “Now let’s go make the breakfast. I’m sure everybody needs sustenance after all the excitement.”
Annie trailed at the back of Mum still discussing wedding plans.
Reid pulled me in tight to his side and kissed the side of my temple. “Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate your dad?”
“He is wonderful.” I covered Reid’s chest, his heart, with my hand. The engagement ring sparkled in the light. “And so are you.”
“Best Christmas ever,” Reid murmured, eyes hot with love and desire.
“Best Christmas ever,” I agreed. “Can’t wait to celebrate on our own tonight.”
“Oh dear God.” Patrick groaned, reminding us he was still there. “I’m in pain. Physical pain. New rule.” He wagged his finger at us. “When I’m in the room, we will all pretend that yours is a spiritual union in name only.”
Reid shook with laughter at my side. “Really?”
“I will end you,” Patrick warned. “If you break this rule, I will end you.”
Chuckling, I teased, “What if I break the rule? I mean, technically, I was the one who just reminded you that your best friend is bonking your wee sister.”
Patrick cut me a wounded look. “Too soon, Ev. Too. Damn. Soon.”
“Aw fine, fine.” I hurried toward my brother to give him a reassuring cuddle. “I’m a nun and Reid is happy to spend a long, sexless life with me. Okay, sweetie, that better?” I patted his back.
“Yes,” he grumbled like a little boy. “Much.”
“Good news, though.” I pulled back and gave him a tender smile. “You can rest easy knowing your best friend found a woman who loves him for who he is. And your wee sister found a man who treats her like a queen. That’s a nice Christmas present for a big brother.”
“Aye,” he nodded, a little gruff now. “Aye, it’s a pretty good Christmas present.”
“You should have invited your receptionist for Christmas breakfast and then we’d all be in on the joy.” I winked.
“Oh that’s right, Ev, tell the whole world.”
“That Doctor Munro is hot for his younger receptionist? Yes, yes, I will tell the whole world.”
Reid laughed at our backs, and Patrick cut him a filthy look. “Remember, the best man does a speech at the wedding,” he warned.
“I have no secrets from Ev.”
“But you do from Annie.”
That wiped the smirk off my fiancé’s face. Reid reached for me, pulling me toward him. “Okay, stop baiting your brother, Ev.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun.”
Really.
Best. Christmas. Ever.
Christmas Magic by Aurora Rose Reynolds
A broken down truck, twelve Christmas trees, and a little holiday magic help, Milly Hendricks and Tyler Speeds find their happily ever after.
Milly
With snowflakes turning the night sky magical, I flip on the windshield wipers of my rental and smile. On a normal day, I would be cursing the snow, but today is not a normal day. It’s Christmas Eve, my favorite day of the year.
I glance at the clock on the dash, seeing it’s thirty minutes till midnight, which means I’m right on time to meet Harry. When I see the darkened tree farm come into view, excitement fills the pit of my stomach, the same way it does every year.
“Milly,” Harry, the owner of Smith Farms, greets as I hop out of the cab of the truck. “You lucked out this year. I’ve got some real beauties for you.”