Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
As we waited in the line, she cupped my face. “You get them too, my darling husband.”
“Not as many as you do. I’m right here,” I huffed. “They must know you’re taken.”
She lifted up on her toes and kissed me. A long, hard kiss that made me want more.
“They do now.” She winked.
Suddenly, I wished Bentley had sent his plane for an entirely different reason.
But her caress had worked, and the stares stopped. At least for now.
KATY
I glanced over at Richard. He had been working for the first part of the flight, but he was now dozing in his seat. I was looking forward to him being done with the two meetings he’d promised Jenna he would handle and then having him all to myself for a change. We were going to stay in our house in Port Albany for a while and make it our home base. The late spring would blossom into a long, hot summer. We could spend our days with our extended family, lying around the pool and the beach. Take out the boat for a few days. Visit with our girls.
I wondered how Richard would react when he realized the reason I wanted to get there early wasn’t only for Heather’s wedding and because I had so many details to help her with as I had told him, but because we were having a party for him to celebrate his retirement. Penny was upset that she couldn’t attend either event, but her pregnancy had proven difficult and she wasn’t allowed to travel. We planned on being in England after the baby was born in August but were prepared to go earlier if needed. I had offered to fly over and stay, but my daughter, being the independent woman she was, maintained she was fine and the travel thing was simply a precaution from the doctor, and her overprotective husband had insisted she listen. She was going to Zoom for both events.
Richard would pretend to hate the attention, but secretly, I knew he would love every single second of it. There were still times he had difficulty believing the life he lived now, compared to the life he’d led before we were married. The cold, aloof, angry man who cared about no one and nothing but himself was now only a distant memory. The loving husband, the protective, gentle father whom he had grown into, was like night and day compared to the old him. I knew there were moments he still questioned his right to enjoy such happiness, but he embraced it wholeheartedly.
I studied him as he slumbered. His jawline was still strong, his body fit. The lines around his eyes were from laughter, the creases that appeared by his mouth from smiles. The silver at his temples and woven through his dark hair only made him more appealing, adding an air of distinguishment to his features. His intense hazel eyes were still bright and intelligent, but these days held a gentleness and warmth he had lacked when I first met him. He carried himself well, and I still thought he was the sexiest man I had ever known. I loved him with all my heart, and our life was a good one. The thought of how empty my world would be without him made me tighten my fingers on his arm that rested on the seat between us.
He shifted, his eyes opening, meeting my gaze. “I feel you staring, my Katy. Ogling me while I sleep. Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll take you up front and we’ll join the mile-high club.”
I smothered my laughter. I leaned close and pressed my mouth to his.
“As if. Go fuck yourself, VanRyan,” I teased against his lips.
I felt his smile as he cupped my head, kissing me back. He loved my “signature expression,” as he called it. Unlike the first time I’d snarled it at him, it was now used without any rancor, instead thrown out when we teased back and forth.
“I would rather fuck you,” he murmured quietly into my ear.
“You did that already last night. Keep it in your pants until we’re alone at the house.” I smacked his chest and he laughed, capturing my hand, kissing it, and pressing it to his chest.
“Okay, my fierce little Katy. Whatever you say.”
The flight attendant stopped to offer us refreshments. I shook my head, but Richard asked for coffee and water, not even noticing the frank appraisal she gave him. Despite his past, he’d never given me a moment’s doubt our entire marriage. It was as if he only ever saw me, which was the same way I felt about him. He turned back to me, smiling. “We’ll see our girl soon.”
“Gracie or Heather?” I asked, knowing whom he was talking about.
“Kylie,” he insisted. “See what Jaxson has done to her now. Grandpa will have to correct it, I’m sure.”