Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Rome pulls down glasses, opens a fresh bottle of red, and pours.
“Did you at least have a good time for the few hours you were gone?”
“Yeah. We did. Listen, Rome, I need you to know that I’m here for the long haul. I have a thing for your sister that isn’t going away any time soon.”
“Nice. It’s about time someone appreciated her.” He sips his wine and passes me a glass, then sets another for London on the counter. “I don’t have any issues at all with you, Drew. And despite what he pulled tonight, Caleb has had nothing but great things to say about you. I think he’s confused.”
“I’ll have a talk with him tomorrow.”
“There seriously needs to be a handbook on how to deal with a ten-year-old,” London announces as she walks into the kitchen and immediately picks up her wine glass and drinks deeply.
“Did you have a talk with him?” Rome asks.
“I tried. He’s just so stubborn, and he won’t talk to me about why he was so mad. And when I explain that he scared people, especially Quinn, he just doesn’t seem to care. That’s not like him. I made it clear to him that I refuse to simply not go places or live my life because he’s decided to act like a jerk about it, and from now on, he’ll be on lockdown with a professional nanny who isn’t nearly as nice as Quinn is.”
“What did he say to that?” I ask.
“He fucking sneered. In my face.” She narrows her eyes and takes another sip. “For the first time in his life, I almost slapped him. So, I told him to go to sleep, and I left.”
Her phone pings with a text, and she looks at Rome. “Did you tell Dad what was going on?”
“Yeah, I gave him the heads-up, but I also shot him a quick text to let him know everything was okay.”
“Then why is he texting me?”
She opens her phone and rolls her eyes.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Another man’s number. For God’s sake, he has to stop this.”
I hold my hand out for her phone, and with a raised eyebrow, she passes it to me.
“It’s time this stops,” I say as I press send on his number.
“London?” Chandler Ambrose says as he answers.
“No, sir, this is Drew Montgomery. With all due respect, you need to stop trying to pair her up with someone. She’s with someone, and I’m not going anywhere. She’s taken.”
There’s a long pause, and then Chandler simply says, “Goodnight, Drew.”
I pass the phone back to London, who appears to be speechless.
Finally, Rome laughs. “I’d bet all my money that that’s the first time something like that has ever happened to that man.”
“I mean it.”
Rome sobers and finishes his wine. “I believe you do. Well, now that everything has somewhat calmed down, I’ll head out.”
He sets his glass in the sink, then crosses to his sister and pulls her in for a hug.
“Call me if you need me. I’ll beat the kid up if it’s necessary.”
London chuckles. “I hope it won’t be necessary. Thanks, Rome.”
“Have a good night,” I say with a wave, and when we’re finally alone, London rubs her forehead with her fingertips.
“I’m so mad at my kid,” she mutters.
“Me, too. I had a whole box of condoms to get through.”
That makes her laugh in surprise, and she holds her hand out for mine. I tug her to me and kiss her long and slow, satisfied when she melts against me. Now that I’ve had her naked and writhing beneath me, I can’t wait to get her there again.
“I’m staying,” I inform her. “I’ll take a guest room, but I’m not leaving.”
“Good.” She bites her lower lip. “Unfortunately, I think it’s best if you sleep in a guest room for tonight, at least until I figure out what in the world is going on with that kid.”
“He’s having feelings, and he doesn’t know what to do about it.” I shrug a shoulder. “I’m not going to take it personally. By the way, I told Quinn to stay. She’s in one of the guest rooms.”
“She’s upstairs, in her room,” London confirms. “I popped my head in to see if she stayed, gave her a hug, and reassured her. She was eating, drinking, and watching Real Housewives. You should take the guest room down here, with the library.”
“That’s awfully far away from you.”
Her lips turn up in a soft, flirty smile. “True. But if I were to sneak down in the middle of the night, it’s unlikely that anyone would hear if I seduced you and we did our best to be quiet.”
“Oh, I like that idea.” Her lips are soft when I kiss them. “I like that a lot. Let’s plan on that.”
She grins and checks the time. “It’s late. I’ll close up the house for the night.”