Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 143382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 717(@200wpm)___ 574(@250wpm)___ 478(@300wpm)
Once there, though, it was me who dug out my fairy wings. They were black with opalescent netting.
I learned in short order that Eric had never fucked a fairy.
But he liked doing it a whole lot.
Things at the Oasis were always hopping.
With the help of the Hottie Squad, moving Harlow in had been a breeze. She scored a unit across from Raye and me, on the bottom floor, about two doors down from where Luna was on the top.
I helped her unearth all her new decor, and if a power tool was needed, between Eric and Cap, they had assisted.
Now, we were all in at the Oasis.
And it was awesome, even if half the time, Henny and I were over at Eric’s.
The pool and pool deck were done in time for the Holiday Extravaganza, and the new, kickass pool light had been set to cycle through red, green and blue.
I’d already set up the bar and premixed the gimlets so all anyone had to do was transfer into a shaker with some ice, shake them up, pour and garnish.
Eric texted that something he and Brady were doing meant he was going to be a little late, which was good, because I couldn’t decide what to do with my hair. Middle part and long, or side bun?
I eventually decided to go whole hog with side bun and was putting the finishing touches on it when I heard the front door open and Eric call, “Babe?”
“Almost ready,” I called back.
I turned my head when I felt him in the doorway of the bathroom.
“Jesus, fuck,” he whispered, his eyes on my dress.
I knew what he was talking about, but not the dress.
He was wearing a dark blue, three-piece suit, white shirt open at the throat, burgundy pocket square. Ah-freaking-mazing.
“Will I do?” I asked after I tore my eyes off my hot guy in his suit.
“I’d marry you in that dress.”
I stood completely still.
“We’re already late, there’s people all over the courtyard. How much later can we be?” he asked.
“I don’t even care if we go now.”
He gave me his wicked sexy smile then said, “After. The mood I’m in, I’ll mess up your hair.”
I’d just spent forty-five minutes on my ’do.
“I do not give two fucks about my hair.”
He came to me, slid a hand from my midriff around my ribs to my back and put his lips to mine, not for a touch or a brush, but to whisper, “After.” He then let me go and walked away, ordering, “Hurry up. I’m hungry. And Raye’s pudding is already half gone.”
Seriously?
“You are such a tease!” I shouted.
I heard him chuckle.
Guh.
Though, if Raye’s pudding was already half gone, I had to hustle.
When I got out of the bathroom, I found Eric in my living room staring at my new PhotoShare frame on the kitchen bar.
He didn’t even look at me when he said, “You’re not supposed to buy yourself presents before Christmas.”
Oh crap.
“Did you buy me one of those?” I asked.
He finally looked at me. “No. But if I’d known you wanted one, I would have.”
I shrugged. “Don’t want to spoil the surprise, but this is a sharing frame. You can send your pictures to it, and I can send mine to the one wrapped and under your tree.”
I saw his lips curl up before he turned back and watched the photos cycle.
“These are all of Henny,” he noted.
“There’s one of us,” I said as the selfie Eric had taken at the bar at Steak 44 cycled through. We’d gone early for our reservation to have a drink before we sat at our table.
It was our first “official” date. Something I told Eric was unnecessary (Steak 44 was hella expensive).
It was the second time Eric insisted.
Again, I didn’t put a lot of effort into fighting him about it.
That had been a great night.
That photo cycled out to another of Henny. Which cycled to another one of Henny. And then to another.
They were all black and white. They were all perfection.
Eric turned to me and raised his brows.
“So I’m a cat lady now. I have no regrets,” I said.
Eric laughed as he hooked an arm around me and pulled me to him, finally giving me a brush on the lips.
“Ready to party?” he asked when he was done.
I nodded.
With his arm still around me, we headed to the door.
“Be good,” I said to Henny, though I didn’t know why. He was asleep on the black fur Christmas skirt I had under the tree. He was also always good.
We walked down, and with all the fab Christmas décor, and everyone decked out (even Martha was wearing a shimmery sliver number), the place seemed more like a holiday wonderland.
When I’d set up the bar, I’d seen there was a drum kit, a set of keyboards, an upright piano, and some microphones and amps on a portable stage, so I was expecting a band. But instead, there was Christmas music playing from some speakers Bill and Zach had set around.