Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Prove it,” Maverick challenges.
“How?” Ryder asks.
My parents’ and sisters-in-law's heads are going back and forth between my brothers as Alyssa and I stay silent.
“Kiss her,” Archer tells me.
“Lame,” Rushton calls out. “He just kissed her.”
“That was on the forehead,” Archer counters.
“It’s going to have to be one of us.” This comes from Ramsey. She’s the first outside of my brothers to speak up.
“Fine.” Rushton stands up taller. “I’ll take one for the team.” He moves toward us, and my arms tighten around my girlfriend. He stops in front of Alyssa and smirks. He leans in close, and I growl.
“Ready, Lys?” Rushton asks.
“Rush.” My tone is a warning, and he knows it. I know that he’s fucking around, but he needs to know I’m not.
“Oh, he’s extra growly.” Rushton turns to look at my brothers over his shoulder.
“You’re not doing it right,” Maverick tells him. “You just lean in and get it done.” He shakes his head. “It’s a wonder we have any game at all,” he tells Merrick, who just grins at his twin’s antics.
“Why don’t we let them tell us what this is?” comes from my mom. I can see the look in her eyes. She knows. Of course she does. Mom knows everything without saying a word.
“I love him,” Alyssa blurts, and my fucking heart does a somersault in my chest. She turns in my arms and peers up at me. “He asked me to move in with him.”’
“Tell all our secrets, baby,” I say, bending to kiss the corner of her mouth while my arms hold her close.
“That shit is not faked,” Ryder says. “Congrats, you two.” The words are barely out of his mouth before we’re getting group hugs, kisses, and slaps on the back. The entire time I hold her next to me.
“You’re really moving in?” Palmer asks.
“I am. We’ve been fighting this for far longer than we should have. We’re just ready to start the next chapter.”
“I love it.” Palmer grins.
“I have one question?” comes from Orrin.
“What’s that?” I ask.
A grin tilts his lips. “Who’s next?”
Dad’s laughter is boisterous as it fills the room. “Whoever it is, I’m here for it,” Dad says. He reaches over and takes Remi from Brooks. “We need more of these. Lots more of these.”
“I hear ya, old man,” I tell him. “Let me get a ring on her finger and change her last name, and it's game on.”
“When is that happening?” Ramsey asks.
“Soon,” I say, smiling down at Alyssa. “Very soon.” I seal my lips over hers, and even though we're surrounded by my family, it feels like it’s just the two of us as everything fades away.
“Alyssa, what happened with your job interviews?” Jade asks.
“They both called me this week and offered me the jobs.” Alyssa’s sitting on my lap outside on the back deck. We’ve just finished eating dinner. She feels me stiffen, places her hand on my arm, and begins to make a soothing circling motion with her thumb.
“And?” Ramsey asks.
“I turned them both down. I knew as soon as I left the interview that I didn’t want the bank. I spent some time thinking about the salon, and honestly, I never should have applied. I don't want to make that commute every day to Atlanta.”
“So, what are you going to do?” Mom asks her.
“Just stick it out where I am for now. I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open for something here in Willow River or in Harris.”
“What are you looking for?” Declan asks. “You plan on staying in healthcare?”
“No. Not necessarily.”
“You have more options now,” I tell her. “You’re moving in with me.”
“Not so you can support me.”
“I know that, Tink. I’m just saying that if you take a pay cut, it’s not going to mean you have to live on Ramen.”
“How do you feel about a mechanic shop?” Declan asks.
“Of course!” Kennedy says excitedly. “Why didn’t we think of this sooner?” she asks her husband.
“I’m lost.” Alyssa laughs.
“I’ve been meaning to hire someone to run the office. Answer the phone, schedule service, take money, those kinds of things. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for far too long, and with the baby coming, I want to spend more time at home with my wife and kids. I don’t want to stay over to answer voice mails I didn’t get to during the day and balance out the drawer.”
“The best decision I ever made,” Orrin chimes in. “I tried to do it all on my own too. I’d be lost without Sarah.”
“You’d really consider me?” Alyssa asks.
I can see her wheels turning. While she’d said she didn’t want a job offer from one of my brothers, that was before we admitted our feelings for one another. She’s not just my best friend anymore. She’s going to be my wife, and Declan’s sister-in-law.