Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 777(@200wpm)___ 622(@250wpm)___ 518(@300wpm)
I smirk. “Now that’s a favor I can grant.”
He ignores my comment and soldiers on. “I need you both dressed and ready to leave at around 9:30. The event ends at 10. Wear something nice. Have Parker wear a pretty dress, something somewhat formal.”
I frown. “Why?”
“Because I need you to meet us at the marina at 10. The plan was for it to be a surprise, but while surprising Parker is fine, given our history… I wanted to talk to you ahead of time.”
Meet him at the marina?
I sit up a little straighter.
“I know you haven’t gone out on the boat in some time,” Dad begins. “I don’t want to bring up bad memories for you, and I’m not sure this will even make sense to you, but… your mother is why I want to do this. It’s the last place she was happy, the last place she was with us. The sea is her final resting place, and in a sense, I feel like if we do it there, some part of her is with us. And I truly believe she would like Gemma. That she would give this her blessing if she could.”
“You’re going to marry her.”
He nods slowly, his blue eyes glinting with emotion. “That’s the plan,” he says, almost gently. “I want to do it tonight, on the boat. The captain can marry us. It will be just us, an intimate thing. Gemma hasn’t been married before, but she knows I prefer a very intimate wedding. I married your mother by the water. I’d like to marry Gemma there, too, but I would like your blessing.”
I stare at him, my jaw locked and my arms crossed. My father isn’t a man who can be intimidated, but I can tell from the tension in his body, he’s uneasy about what I’m going to say.
With reason.
But, for all the resistance I put up when he first moved Gemma in, I don’t have it in me to object now. Not only would I break my dad’s heart, but Parker would be so pissed off, she’d bury me in a grave of angry green octopuses.
“You have it,” I say simply.
The tension eases out of his shoulders immediately. “Thank you, Landon.”
I crack a smile and nod. “Guess that explains why she’s spiraling over a purse.”
“She’s nervous.”
“I’d be nervous too if I were marrying you,” I say dryly.
Dad rolls his eyes, preparing to stand. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m a delight.”
“You’re something, all right.”
Chapter Fifty
Parker
“Do you think these shoes are okay?”
I smile faintly as Mom turns in the mirror, popping her leg through the sexy slit and examining her nude heel. “You look amazing,” I assure her.
“Maybe I should have worn white. At least white heels. I should have bought new shoes for this,” she murmurs.
Mom has been so much more relaxed than this lately, I can’t believe she’s freaking out over shoes. Shaking my head, I help her pick out a purse and convince her that her shoes are perfect, then I hurry her downstairs so they’re not late leaving.
I’m looking forward to being lazy with Landon tonight. We finished our house flipping show, but there are spinoff shows for each of the hosts since they split up, and I’m dying to start hers.
Landon was supposed to make popcorn while I was upstairs helping Mom get ready, but when we finally get them out the door and I return to the living room, there is no popcorn.
“You didn’t make snacks.”
“I’m afraid I have bad news. Good news, too. But… there’s bad news.”
My enthusiasm ebbs. “What’s the bad news?”
“You’re going to have to wait until Sunday to start your show.”
I plant my hand on my hip and look up at his troublemaking ass as he approaches. “Now, you listen here. I’m always happy to fuck you, but that does not take four hours. We can push off watching the show until later if you want, but—”
Smirking, he cuts me off, wrapping a hand around my waist and tugging me close. “That’s not what I meant. Our plans have changed. Not because I want to fuck you. I do, and I probably will at some point before the night is over, but not right now. Right now, I need you to take your pretty little ass to the shower, and make it quick.”
Intrigued, I ask, “Where are we going?”
“Shopping. Then you have a hair appointment, and we need to try to get there before the salon closes.”
I blink. If he would have told me were going to a field and picking daisies, I could not be more surprised. “What?”
“You’ll see.”
___
I have obviously noticed—and appreciated—that Landon has a dominant streak, but in no reality did I ever imagine him taking me shopping and helping me pick out a dress.
He doesn’t care about fashion, but he still picks out the dresses he wants me to try on. He helps me with zippers when I need it, lingering in the dressing room with me and admiring the way the gowns fit on my body, and especially the way they come off.