Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
I love this man. I want forever with him. And I think it’s what he wants too.
My heart warms to the idea, and I can’t stop smiling as he breaks the kiss.
“I love you,” he whispers as his body picks up.
“I love you, Tripp,” I say as my body explodes, my orgasm crashing down all around me. The sensations keep going, spreading through my body, lighting me up from the inside out.
Tripp isn’t far behind me as his own release finds him. His body tenses briefly, and then he’s exploding deep inside me.
Thank god I’m on the pill, but the thought of being pregnant with Tripp’s child doesn’t frighten me.
Maybe one day.
No, I know it’ll happen one day.
A future with Tripp takes root, blossoming like a family tree of possibilities. I’m back to smiling as Tripp pulls out of me.
He heads to the bathroom to clean up, and brings back a cloth for me.
“I love you,” he reminds me, wanting to make sure I know he wasn’t just caught up in the moment of sex.
“I mean it too. I love you,” I tell him and the smile that spreads across his face is enough to melt even the coldest of hearts.
It turns me into a puddle of tears.
“Why are you crying?” he asks me, cupping my face with his hands.
“I’m just so happy,” I tell him, not even realizing this is everything I’ve ever wanted. “I have everything. A successful shop, and now I’m in love. My life is perfect.”
He smiles, and kisses me on the lips briefly. “I love you,” he whispers, and then together we cuddle on my bed.
He holds me tight, his fingers brushing along my arm as he spoons my body. “Tell me about your family.”
I stiffen when I’m reminded of them. “Not much to tell,” I say, wishing more than anything I had a big family like he does. “My father left my mother when he found out she was pregnant. My mother moved in with her mother. My grandmother is the one who opened Book, Spine, and Sinker. My grandmother died when I was eleven, and my mother and I ran the shop together.”
“So, you’ve always been a reader?”
I nod, my smile widening at the thought of books. “Yeah. My mother used to read to me every night. She died when I turned eighteen.”
“Millie, I’m so sorry.” He squeezes me closer to him.
“It’s okay,” I say, my go-to answer whenever anyone ever mentions my mother’s death. “She’s buried in Saint Pierce.”
“Why?”
“That’s where I was born, and my mother loved it there. The big city. She always said it was so exciting. She told me when she got cancer that she wanted to be buried in the cemetery at St. Paul’s cemetery.”
“Why?”
I shrug. “She said it reminded her of better days.” A tear grazes my cheek. “I think it’s where she met my father, and a small part of me thinks she never fully got over him.”
Tripp presses a kiss to the top of my head. “At least she’s happy now. Did she ever tell you who your father is?”
“No,” I whisper, wanting to change the subject more than anything. “That reminds me,” I say to him. “I got the invite to Anya’s engagement party this Friday at Atta Boy.”
He tenses briefly, but then I can feel him squeeze me tighter to his chest. “Maybe we should tell everyone that night that we’re an item.”
I can’t stop the silly smile that erupts across my face. “Yes. I’d like that.”
He kisses my hair and after a little while we fall asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Chapter 28
Tripp
On Monday when Millie told me about being invited to Anya and Griffin’s engagement party it sounded like an amazing idea to tell everyone that we’re together. Now that the day is upon us, I’m having second thoughts. Hell, I’m having third, fourth, and fifth thoughts as I help my family set up for the party.
“Tripp, can you help Paxton move this table over?” Anya asks, pointing to exactly where she wants it placed.
I grab an end of the table and Paxton rolls his eyes as we move it. “Make sure we put it precisely where she wants it, or she’ll be at our throats,” Paxton whispers.
Anya has been only what I can describe as a bridezilla and this is only the engagement party. She’s been yelling at everyone, complaining that things don’t look perfect, and I think I saw her throw a roll at Griffin. I could be wrong, it may have been a napkin, but still. God help us when the actual wedding day happens.
“What did you say, Pax?” she asks, placing both hands on her hips.
“I said I’ve never seen you glowing with more happiness and excitement than I do today,” he shouts with a smile.
“That’s great boys, I’ll grab the table cloth,” my mother says, rushing around like hired help.