Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
She patted a loving hand on my belly. “De nada, Niña. Me alegro que el bebe este feliz. Now, go back where you belong.”
I followed Hale back to the dinner table. When I entered the dining room, all the men stood again, and I blushed. Getting up sure caused a stir around here.
My mom kept the conversation going at Remington’s end of the table while the men mainly discussed social policy and upcoming land interests. By the time I finished eating, I was ready for sweatpants and a blanky, but this group had other plans.
The men went to the parlor for more cordials and cigars. I sent Hale along, because Elara was with his mom and I could tell he wanted some manly time after baking pies all afternoon. The smell of smoke was seeping through the house and making me nauseous, so I took a blanket and moved outside to the front porch, where the air was fresher.
Rocking on the porch swing, I leaned my head back and sighed. The sky was a perfect golden glow at sunset and I was too comfortable to move inside once it got dark.
The glowing cherry of a cigar blazed in the distance, and I sat up, realizing I wasn’t alone. A plume of smoke drifted through the air and Xander appeared.
“We have to stop running into each other like this.”
I smiled tightly. “I needed some air. The smoke was getting to me.”
He glanced at his cigar and pinched off the tip, extinguishing it. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Like there was a polite way to decline. “Not at all.”
He settled next to me on the porch swing, using his long legs to rock back and forth slowly.
I lasted about twenty seconds in the awkward silence. “How was your afternoon with Seraphina?”
“Hale’s sister is very nice.”
“She’s single, you know?”
“She made that very clear.”
“You don’t think she’s attractive?”
“I think she’s beautiful. But she’s not my type.”
“What’s your type?” Realizing that my question could be misconstrued as interest, I quickly said, “I mean, who do you normally date?” That was no better. “What do you like? Gah, I’m terrible at small talk.”
He laughed and glanced down at my stomach. “Let’s just say I have very particular taste.”
The front door opened, and Odette came out holding a suitcase. I abruptly stood. “Odette, are you leaving?”
“Rayne. I didn’t see you there. I’m… Yes. I’m going home.”
I had so many questions, like, would I ever see her again? “Are you coming back?”
She laughed, the sound humble and cold. “No. I’m too wise for foolish games at my age.” She glanced at Xander. “You are too. Careful of that one.”
I didn’t look at Xander to see if he took offense. I crossed the porch and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry things didn’t work out.”
“So am I, but I’m not surprised. He’ll never change. I knew that coming into this.” She cupped my cheeks. “I wish you and Hale all the happiness in the world. Send me pictures when the baby’s born.”
“I will.”
She kissed my cheek, and then she was gone. I wanted to cry.
“You okay?” Xander asked as her taillights faded in the distance.
I sighed, my heart heavy with disappointment. “She was one of the good ones.”
“If that were true, he never would have kissed someone else. Men like Remington know how to hold onto a good thing.”
“Men like Remington—ooh.” My hand went to my stomach, and I gasped when the baby kicked. “Oh, my God.”
Xander stood. “Should I get Hale?”
“Yes.” It happened again and I gasped louder. “No. I’ll go.” As soon as I stepped inside, Hale stepped out of the parlor in a cloud of stale smoke.
“I was about to get some air—”
I grabbed his hand and pressed it to my belly. “Feel!”
His breath caught. “Oh, my gosh!” He laughed, then brought his other hand to my stomach, his smile stretching across his beaming face. “Incredible.”
“It must be all the spicy food I ate at dinner.”
“It’s something. What does it feel like to you?”
“Sort of twitchy and tumbling, soft like butterflies, but somehow more. Kind of like I’m driving over a steep hill.”
He met my stare, and we shared a smile, our expressions one of complete awe. “I love you,” he said leaning in for a kiss.
“I love you too.” I covered his mouth with my hand. “Did you smoke?”
“No.”
“Okay then. Kiss away!”
He gathered me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. “Mmm.” He was such a good kisser. As soon as he let me go, I asked, “Is your father smoking?”
“We’re not doing this now, Rayne. It’s Thanksgiving. You’re off the clock.”
But Remington’s heart was on the clock. “Hale—”
“No, Rayne.”
I huffed. “Fine. I’ll kill him tomorrow.”
“Come on.” He took my hand. “I’m taking you home to bed.”
“I need my coat.”
“I’ll get it. You warm up the car.” He handed me the keys and went to find our coats.