Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“No, I signed up for anything that comes our way.”
“And what if that means Violet moving in here? Us, responsible for her—”
“Oh my God, shut up, Henry.” I punctuate that with a hard kiss and then, maybe it’s my exhaustion, but I start to laugh, and it’s a delirious sound. “Of course, Violet can live with us. Of course, I’m okay with that. I love her. Truly. And I love you. In fact, I don’t think I’ve loved you more than I do at this very moment.” I shake my head at him. “Did you think I might have an issue with this?” How long as he been searching for a way to bring up the topic?
“I didn’t want to make decisions for us without asking you.” He smiles. “Isn’t that what you’re always scolding me about?”
“And I appreciate that.” I lean in, kissing his jawline. “But you need to ask Violet if this is what she wants.” My guess is she does.
His chest heaves with a deep inhale. “After we talk with Gayle and Howard. They might not be okay with this plan.”
I think back to the conversation with Gayle. “I bet they’ll be okay with it. More than okay with it.” I stroke his cheek with my palm. “And you should look at having yourself named as her legal guardian. You don’t have to announce who you really are.” It’s best that he doesn’t.
The urge to erase all distance between us is overwhelming. I climb onto his lap, straddling his thighs. “I guess our days of doing whatever we want, wherever we want are coming to an end?”
His chest lifts with a deep, shaky inhale. “Is this really happening?”
“Yes. And it makes you happy.”
He bites his bottom lip. “It does.”
“It makes me happy, too.” I pause. “But we’ll give her the farthest bedroom from ours.”
He winces as if still pained by the trauma of Aspen. “Definitely.” Warm hands smooth over my backside as Henry pulls me closer to him until I can feel his hard length between my thighs. He captures my lips with his and our tongues brush against each other in a slow dance.
“Better take advantage of our freedom while we still can,” I whisper, pulling away to remove my sweater and shuck my bra. The cool diamond pendant settles against my bare skin.
Henry’s tired eyes flare with desire as he reaches up to fill his hands with my breasts. “How did I get so lucky?” Leaning forward, he closes his mouth over one of my pebbled nipples.
My fingers weave through his thick mane of hair. “Remember? We have to thank Jed.”
My nipple slips from Henry’s mouth as he tips his head back and bellows with laughter.
CHAPTER 25
“Grab your hat and mitts. It’ll be cold.”
“Where are we going again?” Violet jams her foot into her boot.
“To show you the house your great-grandfather built, and then I thought we could go and cut some wood.” Henry slides on his red and black plaid jacket.
She frowns. “Don’t you have people for that?”
“Yes. And today one of them is named Violet. Start making your way down the path toward the main lodge. I’ll catch up in a minute.”
She rolls her eyes as she tugs open the penthouse cabin’s door. “What are the chances I’m going to get eaten by a bear?”
“Slim to none. You make too much damn noise. Now get out.”
She grins, pulling the door behind her.
I lay the garment bag with my wedding dress across the dining table. Emmanuelle has designed me a masterpiece. It is neither puffy nor plain nor too heavy but molds to my body in all the right places and is layered with the most exquisite lace. I can’t wait for Henry to see it. “You’re taking her to that spot where you took me that first time?” Before I had any clue about his intentions to hire me as his assistant.
“Yes.” Henry’s gaze rolls over Penthouse Cabin Three—the only one with two bedrooms. It’s almost identical in style to Penthouse Cabin One. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
I slip my arms around his waist, falling into him. It feels so good to be back in Alaska. “I’ll stay here and feed the fire. Jill and I have a bunch of last-minute things to go over for the wedding, anyway.” Almost everything is taken care of, save for a few changes to account for minor glitches like half-spoiled strawberries and a shortage of white tulips. Mama, Daddy, and the rest of our guests arrive the day after tomorrow, but Henry and I wanted a couple of nights alone with Violet at Wolf Cove before we’re pulled in twenty directions, with no time for each other.
Besides, I think this is a conversation best had between father and daughter.
“Don’t worry.” I smile up at his handsome face. “It’s going to be fine.”