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)
“Not that.” He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, his voice turning husky. “I can’t wait to call you my wife. Saturday can’t come soon enough.”
My heart stutters as he leans in to kiss my lips. It begins sweetly but turns frantic in seconds, his tongue plunging into my mouth, while his fingers weave through my hair and his body is pressed against mine.
Violet will be out any moment. She doesn’t need to see her father and me mauling each other’s faces.
I break away from him, my breathing ragged. “So, did she call you Dad or Daddy?” I say the latter in a sultry tone.
I squeal as Henry tosses me onto the couch, before climbing on top of me, pinning my arms above my head. “What did I say would happen if you started up with that again?” He pitches forward to drag his tongue along my bottom lip.
Violet pokes her head out of her room. “Oh God, is this going to be like Aspen all over again?”
CHAPTER 26
I watch John steer the ferry toward Wolf Cove’s dock through a billow of my breath. The kindly old captain hugged and congratulated me when we first arrived, bringing me to tears. He was the first friendly face I saw a year ago when I left the comfort of all I’d known for the terrifying unknown.
Now he brings everyone I hold dear to the place I love, where I found myself.
A small army of staff huddle in their hotel-supplied jackets and vests, waiting with smiles and empty hands to collect luggage.
“There’s Mama!” Even with her longer curls, I can still pick her out of a crowd. I wave.
I hear a faint holler of “Abigail! We’re here!” and she waves back, as does my father who’s standing beside her, free of his walking cast, healthy and strong again.
For all the fussing that Mama did about a wedding in Alaska, she’s been buzzing around town with excitement since the bridal shower. By now everyone knows her full itinerary, from the glacier landing to the bear sightseeing trip we have planned for them and the Enderbeys in the coming days, as well as the fact that she refused Penthouse Cabin One for accommodations on account of not wanting to be eaten by wild animals.
I wave at Aunt May, Reverend Enderbey and Celeste, and Jed, who has come solo. Henry sent his jet to Pittsburgh and flew them all here together.
“Nervous?” Violet asks, sidling up beside me.
“Yes,” I admit with a laugh. “I love this place so much, and I want everyone else to love it too. I think I’ll be crushed if they don’t.” I know that sounds silly, and yet it feels like such a big part of Henry and me—who we are to each other.
“They’d have to be crazy not to love it here. I mean, come on.” She points behind us, drawing my attention to the grandiose lodge that towers over the water.
“I know, right? But Mama could find fault in a newborn baby.” And she’ll point it out too. As far as Henry goes, she has hovered in lukewarm territory for months, which is better than that strange alien-abducted cheery version of her last fall and a thousand times better than the version who faked a heart attack to keep us apart.
Violet nudges my shoulder with hers. “Don’t worry. They’re gonna love it.”
“They will.” I nudge her back. “But let’s try to get Mama drunk just in case.”
“On it!” She rubs her mitted hands together. “And just so I have my stories straight, is Henry still my cousin?”
“Yes. We’d rather get through the next few days without her theatrics. But we will tell them the truth after the wedding.” Less chance of Mama deciding Henry is the devil again and yelling her objections during the ceremony. Then we’ll pray Mama can keep her mouth shut for Violet’s benefit. Given her aim to rid Greenbank of all gossip magazines, there is hope.
Violet shrugs. “I like her. I think she’s funny.”
“She is something, all right.” Henry is suddenly behind us, one arm slung over each of our shoulders. “But she’s family.”
Violet steals a bashful glance up at him before refocusing on the coming ferry, getting ready to dock.
I can see their faces clearly now—the awe filling them as they take in Henry’s special place for the first time. I know that feeling. I stood in that spot, wearing that same look a year ago.
Had I known then that this place was nothing compared to the man behind it, who would capture my heart and become my everything.
“So, hey, does this mean I’ll get a matching sweater next Christmas too?” Violet asks suddenly.
I grin as Henry’s jaw clenches with annoyance. “Definitely.”
EPILOGUE
“I thought we agreed to no work,” Henry scolds, watching me pull out my laptop and set it on the floor in front of my lounger.