Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
The police try and get us to stay, but they can’t make us. I guess it helps when you’re with two lawyers like Mace and Heath.
“Are you really okay?” Meadow asks me when we get outside of the police station. This is the first time we’ve been able to talk without an audience.
“I’m okay. It’s all so sad.” Meadow’s face softens in understanding.
“I love you, sweet sister of mine.” She kisses my cheek. “Everyone thinks I’m the levelheaded one, but I would have freaked the hell out. You were calmer than all of us.”
Was I scared? Of course, but I could see Jinx was in the middle of a breakdown. All I could do was lead with compassion, and in the chaos, I tried to offer peace.
“She’s the beauty the world needs.” I turn to glance up at Mace, and I can still feel his whole body radiate tension. I hate that everyone had to go through this today, but at least we still get to go home.
“That’s why you call me that?” It's endearing the way Mace sees me.
“You’re a beauty in many ways, my love.” He leans down to kiss me, and I melt into him.
This man is my perfect match. I have known that my whole life because even when I was fighting my sister’s battle against the Monroe brothers, never once did I think of another man. Which is crazy for a girl who devours romance novels. In the back of my mind, I knew who my prince was, and I also knew he would come when I needed him the most.
“I love you,” I tell him. That was one of the things racing through my mind during the whole event. That I’d never said those words to him before.
“I love you too.” His voice is filled with emotion, which is unlike the always calm and unshakable Mace he presents to the world. He shows me who he truly is, and I love that it’s only for me.
“So double wedding?” Meadow chimes in, reminding me that we’re on a sidewalk outside of the police station.
“Sure,” Mace agrees before scooping me up into his arms.
“Double wedding?” I ask, confused.
“You’ve already got a dress!” my sister shouts after us. Has she been planning this all along? Of course she has. Meadow always has a plan.
Mace gets us into the back of an SUV, and he keeps me close. His hold is so tight it almost hurts, but I don’t say a word. The expression of horror on his face when he saw Jinx with the knife told me everything I needed to know about my Mace. I’m his world.
“I’m okay.” I run my fingers through his hair while his face stays buried in my neck and he breathes me in.
“I’ve never been more scared in my life. I know the man, and I want to kill him. But you…” He shakes his head. “Here you are still worried about him.”
“No one was hurt,” I try to point out.
“You could have been,” he growls.
“We’ll get him help,” I state firmly. If someone had been hurt then yes, things would be different, but luckily, everyone is physically okay. “That’s what people should do for each other, Mace. We help the ones that can’t help themselves.”
“You have no idea, Briar.”
“I do.” I stop him before he can say more. “I thought about not knowing what it would be like to make love to you, to not see our children, to not get to fight with you about moving to a farm and getting a hundred goats.”
“Goats are not an easy animal to raise.” I smile, already knowing that would be his response. Mace and I may not have been a couple for long, but I know this man better than anyone.
“See?”
“Fuck, I love you.” Mace claims my mouth, and I wrap my arms around him and kiss him right back.
“How did we go so many years without doing this?” I get out between kisses.
“Our siblings are a pain in the ass,” he says, and I laugh.
Thankfully, our poor driver has seen and heard enough, and we make it home quickly. We’re barely through the front door before Mace is pulling at my clothes. We don’t stop until we’re both naked and falling into the bed.
“Mace,” I moan when his mouth finds my center and his tongue dips inside me. My hips buck against him, but he uses his forearm to pin me to the bed.
Mace is always so calm and collected that his firm hold to keep me in place speaks to a deep part of me. One I didn’t know I possessed. Mace will always give me what I need even when I can be too naïve and off in Neverland wanting to believe the best of the world. He’ll ground me and protect me forever.