Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
She chuckled. “This is nothing. You’ve probably never noticed because Odette’s always around. She’s gone now. Just wait. It gets way worse. They’ll end up in the same bed tonight.”
“What?” Did Hale know about this?
“Relax, Rayne. He does this with all of them.”
“What all of them? Who?”
“The moms.”
“You mean he does this with your mom too?”
“And Barrett’s. Ooh, they’re about to start.” She stood and clapped.
I also stood and threw out a two-fingered whistle that earned me several scowls from the older folks. I was so confused. How had I suddenly become Julia Roberts at the polo match in Pretty Woman? This was a football game, right?
A more refined whistle blew, and the men got into formation. Hale jogged over to the table and gave me a quick kiss. “Where’s Elara?”
“She’s getting a beer with her grandmother. Shouldn’t you be out there?”
“I’m on the bench for now.”
“Oh.” I tugged at his sweater. “You look so dapper.”
I glanced at the bulge below his belt. “They’ll do.”
“Good.” He smacked my ass, and not discreetly.
“Ooh!” I corralled him away from the table. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
I moved far enough away from the table that he could see what I was talking about without being overheard. “I just thought you should know your mom and dad are doing some pretty hardcore flirting.”
He glanced over my shoulder and shook his head. “I’m not surprised. Odette left last night. Be grateful it’s my mom and not Barrett’s girlfriend.”
“Hale!” I laughed, because that was pretty funny—and plausible.
“What? You going to pretend that’s below him?”
“Well, I doubt she’d blow him.”
“I said be-low him.”
“Or that.” I snorted. “Actually, I haven’t seen McKinsley since last night.” I sure hoped Barrett knew I was joking about drugging her.
“Just follow the money.” He lifted his chin, and I followed his gaze to a group of older men. Barret’s girlfriend was practically spoon-feeding that Captain Stubing dude.
“Does Barrett see this?”
“I think he’s hoping one of them will take her off his hands.”
“Oh, well, in that case, I’m in full support.”
Two men careened into the dirt at our feet, and Hale ushered me back a few steps. My eyes widened.
“This is tackle football?”
“We’re fashionable, Rayne, not fragile. I gotta get back.” He kissed my cheek and jogged across the field while the ball wasn’t in play.
I looked down at the two men wobbling to their feet. They laughed and patted each other on the back, then returned to their teams. Those grass stains were never coming out of those white pants.
The first half of the game was entertaining—until it wasn’t. Football involved a lot of stopping and starting. Hale was a faster runner than I realized, and he’d scored two touchdowns. I cheered, as did Elara, but everyone else seemed content to ignore the game and sip tea.
“Come on, Xander!” Seraphina cheered, rising to her feet. “Run! Run!” The whistle blew, and she threw her hands in frustration. “He had that.”
“So,” I said as she returned to her seat. “What did you two do yesterday when you left the house?”
She twisted her lips. “Nothing. We walked for a while, but he never even tried to hold my hand.”
“Now that you had a chance to get to know him, do you like him?”
“Rayne, he’s gorgeous. And Daddy seems impressed with him.”
I pitied how desperately she wanted her father’s approval. “Your dad wants to buy out his company, Phina. That’s why he’s interested in him.”
“Oh, well, Xander’s not selling. He told me so yesterday.”
“Everything’s for sale.”
She laughed. “You’re starting to sound like Hale.”
I was actually quoting Remington, but Hale would agree with me.
There was a commotion, and Remington was on his feet. “Go! Run!”
Barrett had the ball and was closing in on the mark when another man charged him out of nowhere. He threw the ball, and Hale caught it. I was up and screaming for him to move when a body flew through the air and toppled him into the dirt.
I gasped. “Oh, my God.”
Remington caught my arm. “He’s okay.”
Hale wasn’t moving. The other guy pushed himself off Hale, and I recognized Xander’s dark hair. “What the fuck?” I waited for Hale to sit up, but he didn’t move. “I have to go to him.”
Remington’s hold tightened. “He’s a big boy, Meyers. And you’re pregnant. Sit down.”
I looked back at the field, my lip trembling as the men huddled around Hale’s sprawled body, making it hard to see. If he didn’t get up in five seconds I was going out there.
Barrett walked over to his brother and laughed. Then he held out a hand and plucked him off the ground as if nothing happened. My heart spiked with relief, and I exhaled as Hale brushed the dirt off his pants and blew me a kiss.
Was he laughing? He could have broken his neck or worse.