Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
I nodded again, and it was becoming impossible to hold back a smile.
He released my lips and kissed me on the nose. “Lastly, the negotiation… We’ll come to an agreement on how honest you can be about what it is you do. I understand you won’t tell me everything—”
“I’ll make sure you never have to worry because of the unknown.” I rushed out the words, needing them between us. I hated that I’d made him worry just because he didn’t know what was going on. “I promise to communicate openly about what I can share. Like, frequent updates and stuff when I’m out. We’ll come up with our own codes so you know everything’s good.”
His mouth twitched a little, as if he was withholding mirth. “Secret code. How scandalous.”
I grinned.
He liked that part, didn’t he? My big slum tourist. He wanted an ounce of the danger. He couldn’t help but be drawn to it—always within reason, but nevertheless. I was so gonna call him out on that.
“One more thing,” he murmured. He ghosted his thumb over my bottom lip. “Don’t you dare change your last name back to O’Dwyer.”
I wouldn’t fucking dream of it!
I threw my arms around his neck again and squeezed him tight, once more at a loss for words.
This was fucking happening.
West and I were back together.
Holy shite.
Colby was easy. He even declined payment, but we were having none of that. We bought ourselves two hours, and Colby took Trip and Ellie to a pastry shop a few minutes away, and later they were gonna watch a movie in Colby’s studio.
It would give us a nice start on our recovery.
Knowing that West tasted like sunscreen after golf—and I’d had the anxious sweats all morning—a shower was in order. And I could admit, I was clingy as fuck in there, but we got clean, and that was all that mattered.
“Let’s get you in bed.” West wrapped a towel around me and dipped down for a kiss. “I’ll set an alarm— Is that your phone?”
I cocked my head, listening, and I heard it. “It’s probably Dad. He’s called me twice already. Lemme check it real quick.” I wrapped the towel around my hips instead and walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. My phone was there, next to my shorts, on the bed. Sure enough, Dad had called again. Dammit. Three times was one too many to brush off. I called him back as West joined me with another towel.
I dragged it over my head and around my shoulders while I waited for Dad to—
“Took you long enough, son,” he answered gruffly.
“Sorry, I’m busy reuniting with West,” I replied. West shot me a soft grin. “What’s up, Dad?”
“Uh…you’re back with him, then?” Dad asked, confused.
“Aye, I wore him down.” It was too soon to be smug; I was still high on disbelief and relief, but I’d get there one day.
“Glad to hear it,” Dad responded firmly. Then I heard Ma hollering in the background, something about overreacting…?
I knew them well enough to guess that Dad was in the living room and Mom was in the kitchen. One sat in his ratty leather recliner, and the other was cleaning the cupboards that had never seen a speck of dust.
“What’s she yellin’ about?” I asked.
Dad sighed. “Maybe it’s nothin’. Lemme talk to her again. I’ll call you later.”
“Uh…aight.” I scratched the side of my head. “Yeah, okay.”
He hung up the phone, and I didn’t know what the hell had just happened. He’d called me three fucking times, only to say it might not be anything? Whatever.
“What was that about?” West asked.
“Beats me.” I shrugged and left my phone on the nightstand, right next to where I’d put my stunning watch. “Probably some shit with Mom. Right now, she’s at that stage where she wants to hug me and smack me upside the head at the same time, and my old man is stuck in the middle.”
“I’m very familiar with that stage, sweetheart,” West said wryly.
I beamed at him, filled with a rush of happiness. “All I’m hearing is that baby and sweetheart are back.”
He shook his head in amusement, though I saw too much affection in his eyes for me to buy the “oh, you” act. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he was a pro at that look. He’d given it to me countless times over the years. But right now, he was probably feeling what I was feeling.
Sheer fucking bliss.
Once we’d shed our towels, we met under the covers, and he gathered me close where I belonged. I all but fused myself to his body, and nobody better fucking call me anytime soon. We had what, an hour and a half left, maybe?
“I love you.” I nuzzled his stubbly jaw and kissed him there. Nothing tasted like sunscreen, thank fuck.