Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I feel him smile against my forehead before he kisses me there and wraps his arms around me, settling us both in to go back to sleep.
“I couldn’t resist you,” he says quietly. “I can never resist you.”
“Don’t be nervous,” I say to Gray as we walk around the block to the entrance of my parents’ building. “They’re really nice people. You’ll like them.”
“I’m sure it’ll be just fine,” he says, but his jaw tenses as he reaches for the door and opens it for me.
The thing is, I know they’ll both like Gray. Even my dad, if he just chills out and gives Gray a chance.
When we get in the elevator, I take his hand and squeeze it.
“So, you grew up in this condo?” he asks me.
“I did. Mom got rid of my bedroom years ago and made it into a yoga studio.”
He grins as the doors open. I lead him down the hall to my parents’ door, ring the bell, and then let myself in.
“We’re here,” I call out when I don’t see anyone in the kitchen or living room. “I smell the grill.”
“Looks like they’re out on the deck.” Gray gestures with his chin, and I follow his gaze. Sure enough, Mom and Dad are on the deck with my dad standing by the open and smoking grill.
“That would explain the smell.” I snatch a cracker and a slice of cheese off a charcuterie platter sitting on the kitchen counter as we walk through to the sliding glass door that leads outside. “Smells good, you guys. We’re here.”
“Oh, hey,” Mom says with a wide smile and jumps up to give me a hug. “I haven’t seen you in too long. I don’t like that you have a life of your own that doesn’t involve hanging out with me.”
I laugh and hug her back tightly. “I know. We really need to get all the old ladies together for a girls’ night sometime soon. But first, I’d like you to meet Gray.”
“It’s about time,” Mom says as Gray takes her hand. “I feel like I’m the last one to meet you. Nate said he ran into you at the gym the other day.”
“He did,” Gray confirms and nods at my dad, who’s been watching us with a stony expression and his arms folded over his chest. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. McKenna.”
“How do you take your steak, Gray?” Dad asks.
“Medium rare.”
Dad just nods and turns back to the grill, and Mom and I share a look. She shrugs. I roll my eyes.
We’ve always been able to have these silent conversations.
“Oh, I’m going to go grab that charcuterie board and bring it out here if you’d like to sit outside for a while. It’s not too cold today.”
“I’ll help you,” I offer and only feel slightly guilty for abandoning Gray and leaving him with my dad for a few minutes. He should be okay. Dad probably won’t kill him.
Once the door is closed, Mom turns to me with wide blue eyes. “Hubba hubba.”
“Right? He’s a total hottie. And he’s so nice. He’s really, really good to me, Mom.”
“He’d better be, or your dad will murder-death-kill him,” Mom replies and nods toward a bowl of dip that didn’t fit on the board. “Will you please grab that for me?”
“Sure.”
“You’d better invite him to Iceland for Christmas.”
I frown over at her. “Are we still doing that?”
“Of course, we are. The whole family is going, and you should invite Gray to join us.”
“I’ll mention it to him. Let’s go out there and rescue him from Dad.” But before we can turn and go back outside, the guys come in. “So, no sitting outside?”
“The sky just opened up,” Dad says, shaking his head. “It’s cooling things off fast. I’ll just grab the steaks in a few.”
“Well, then, let’s get cozy,” Mom says and gestures to the snacks on the kitchen island. “Have some appetizers, please. There’s enough food here to feed an army.”
“Or, you know, Uncle Will.”
Even dad’s lips twitch at that little joke, and my shoulders relax a little.
“So, I hear you’re an attorney,” Mom says to Gray as she pops a green olive into her mouth. “What kind of attorney?”
“I mostly work with corporate law,” Gray replies.
“How did you meet Stella?” Dad asks, and I feel my heart rate kick up.
“So, that’s a funny story,” I jump in with a bright smile. “Do you remember when I went to Vegas with Danny for his bachelorette party?”
“Did you get arrested in Nevada?” Dad asks, narrowing his eyes. “You and Danny can’t be trusted together.”
Gray snorts beside me, and I press my lips together. “No. It wasn’t anything like that. Um, Danny and I got a little tipsy one night and thought it would be hilarious to go to one of those little chapel places and get married by Elvis.”