Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna go put some clothes on,” I mutter to Alannah.
“I’ll finish setting the table,” Alannah offers, looking completely fascinated by all of this.
“You message Jeff?” Derek asks her.
“I’ll do that right after I finish the table,” she says, separating napkins and setting them down beside each plate.
Shaking my head at how bizarre this whole exchange is, I go get dressed.
After I’m dressed, I quickly run a brush through my hair before washing my face and getting into the pair of slippers Derek bought me. I hang the housecoat on the back of the door beside his housecoat, a navy blue one.
I’m a combination of flabbergasted and numb. And curious about Grace Steele at the same time.
They’re all at the table. Derek pats the empty chair to his left. He’s made a plate up for me with three perfect-looking pancakes and three slices of bacon.
“Made you another coffee,” he says, dropping a kiss on my temple as I sit.
Alannah is across from me, eyes on me. Grace is across from Derek, eyes on him. A platter of six chocolate drizzled croissants and a bowl of fruit salad sit in the center of the table.
“So, my brother wanted you and found a way to get you in his clutches,” Grace prompts, smearing butter over her pancakes with a knife.
“Basically,” I reply and watch Alannah reach for a chocolate croissant from the platter in the center of the table.
“And he’s holding things over your head?” she asks.
“He was,” I agree. Derek sets a croissant on my plate. “Now… now I’m not sure if there’s a new threat or if he expects me to comply based on everything he’s shown me so far.”
Alannah’s eyes bounce between me and Derek.
His expression gives nothing away.
“You’re not worried about the fiancé now, are you?” Grace asks. “I mean, love doesn’t just vanish overnight, I guess.”
“I’m not particularly happy with my fiancé, but…”
“Ex-fiancé,” Derek corrects, putting the jug of syrup in front of my plate.
“But I don’t know what Derek’s going to hold over my head next to keep me cooperating,” I finish, eyes on Derek’s face.
He forks up some of his pancakes and pops a bite into his mouth.
“What are you going to hold over her head, Derek?” Grace asks casually, sawing into her pancakes.
Derek finishes chewing slowly, looking thoughtful. He keeps chewing, swallows, and wipes his mouth with the napkin. “That’ll be between Chloe and me.”
“Do you really think you can build a real relationship based on threats and bribery?” Grace asks.
“Don’t know, Grace. Never had a relationship before. Eat some food, Chloe. Or I’ll feed you myself.” He winks and flashes me a smile.
I defiantly cross my arms and lean back in my chair.
Derek gives me a look of dismay.
“Whoa. Smiles again,” Grace says. “My brother never smiles. Like… never.”
The room is silent for a long moment. Derek watches me while forking up a bite of his bacon.
I pull a piece of croissant off and put it in my mouth.
Alannah digs in and takes a bite of her pancakes. “Mm. Good.”
“He knows pancakes.” Grace says. “That’s syrup from our family place in Vermont.” She gestures to the syrup, and I notice the label says Steele Family Reserve with a silver and black heart logo. “Our brothers Jonah and Asher tap the sugar maples every year. We get about twenty or thirty gallons of syrup every year. Every family member gets one and then we send out little bottles with our Christmas cards to close family and friends. You’ll love it there, Chloe. We should do a weekend soon.”
“Ugh,” I groan and push back from the table. “I’m not doing this breakfast thing. I’m not hanging out with your family at their Vermont place, Grace. Not marrying – ” I point at Derek, “you on Monday or ever.” I raise my hands and back up. “I’m not having this conversation. I’m getting my things and then I’m leaving with Alannah. This is over. It’s gone on long enough.” I storm into the bedroom and grab my bag and begin shoving yesterday’s clothes and my pajamas into it. I want this robe. This is the best robe I’ve ever worn in my life, feels like a cuddly stuffed animal, and I think I deserve it, so I stuff that in.
Great. Now I can’t close the zipper.
“Chloe.”
I look over my shoulder. Derek’s leaning in the doorway.
“I’ve had enough of this,” I snap, pointing. “What are you going to do now? Threaten my parents? Alannah? I’m going home. After all this crap, I’d rather marry Adam and live a sexless life filled with lies than marry you.”
He moves in and backs me up against the wall. His face is an inch from mine.
I’m tweaked, panicked, but I hold my ground and stare directly into his now icy eyes challengingly.