Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
I would die for them, no questions asked. I wouldn't even hesitate.
I'll never even begin to fathom how Elodie's father could do the shit he did. If something happened to take her from this earth, it would destroy me. But I'd kill myself every damn day to keep going for our girls. They are a part of her, and I will always guard and protect them as fiercely as I do her.
The fact that her father couldn't do that for her and Keegan blows my mind. They deserved better.
I know Keegan feels the same way I do about his wife and kids. If anything ever happened to his wife, he'd fight like hell to keep going for his kids. They'd never question his love. That's what a father is. That's what a father does. Any man who can't do that doesn't deserve the title.
Keegan and I are good. He still gives me shit at every available opportunity, but our friendship has grown and flourished over the last five years. He knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'd lay down my life for his sister. I'd do the same thing for him. He isn't just my best friend, he's family. My brother. I'll always regret that we hid our relationship from him when it started, but I don't regret the way it turned out.
We ended up exactly where we needed to end up. All three of us. There is no regretting that.
I tuck Elodie's invitation into my pocket and flip my sketchbook closed to go in search of my wife. She opened her own ad agency a few years ago after everyone in town kept coming in to ask for her help. She has a small team that does marketing and advertising campaigns for local businesses. She's incredibly good at it.
But her heart is still here, so we bought the shop next door for her to work out of. I get to keep her and the kids close, and she gets to come over whenever the hell she feels like it. It's a win-win for both of us.
She isn't next door. I find her in the lobby talking to Slade's wife, Skye.
She sees me coming, and her eyes light up. "Hi, Cranky."
"Hey." I pull her into my arms, nibbling on her lips. "I got the most interesting invitation in the mail."
"Oh, really?" She blinks wide, innocent eyes at me. "Well, do you want to go to whatever it is?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Okay. When is it?"
"Right now," I growl.
Skye glances between us, her brows furrowed as if she knows she's missing something but doesn't know what. She chooses not to ask and bounds to her feet instead. "I'm going to bug Slade. You two have fun."
"Oh, we will," Elodie says with a wicked giggle.
I grab her hand, dragging her down the hall toward my booth.
Keegan sees us and sighs loudly. Not that he has room to say anything. He was fucking his wife on his desk last night. I know because I heard them. At least I have the decency to cover Elodie's mouth when she's wrapped around my cock.
I pull her into the booth and slam the door, flipping the lock. We have one of those now. She leans against the door, grinning at me.
"Well, let's see this invitation then," she says.
"Nu-uh. We're pregaming, princess. The invitation doesn't come out until we're home." I press up against her, running my hand down her thigh. "Last time I let you get your hands on one around here, you stole it. I'm not letting that shit happen again until I get my use out of this one. There's an expiration date attached."
"Mmm," she moans. "Then I guess it's a good thing I made 364 more, isn't it?"
"Oh, fuck yeah." I plant my lips against the side of her throat, slipping my hand beneath her skirt.
It's a long time before she says anything other than my name.
It's even longer before we make it home for the main event.