Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Well, Sampson anyway.
Immy had that dreamy look on her face, like she was living in some romantic fairytale. And Jenner appeared thoughtful.
Gray was . . . as hard to read as ever. However, she thought she caught his eyes flaring wide.
“Perfect for you?” Sampson asked. “Are you sure that MRI didn’t show brain damage?”
Gray scowled at Sampson, but she held up her hand. “I have to have brain damage to fall in love with someone? To know that they’re mine? That they’re exactly what I need and desire? Sampson Knight, you best watch your mouth right now.”
Sampson’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. Immy grinned. Even Jenner seemed like he might smile. Sampson appeared crushed.
“You need to take that back.”
“Maeve, I—”
“And apologize to Gray.”
“Apologize to him? Why?” Sampson asked.
“For just implying that someone would have to be brain damaged to love him.”
“I . . . I . . .”
“Well?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Stop tormenting your friend, girl,” Gray told her. “You know I don’t give a fuck about any apology. All I care about is the insult to you.”
Sampson’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Maeve. You know I’d never do that.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I know you’re just looking out for me. But I’m not an idiot. Gray is mine. I’m his. And you need to accept that.”
“Even if he has blood on his hands?” Sampson asked.
“You think Alejandro doesn’t?”
“Fuck. I want to say that’s different, but it’s not. However, we all know how obsessively he takes care of our Cat,” Sampson said.
“I think Gray might give him a run for his money,” Immy said. “He hasn’t even let her out of his arms since they got out of the car.”
“Speaking of Cat, has anyone told her what happened?” Maeve asked nervously.
They all looked at Immy, who threw her hands in the air. “Not me. I promise. I haven’t called her. They’re on their honeymoon. Cat has been waiting to go on her honeymoon for over a year. I’m not ruining that. You know she’d be straight back here. But if she calls and asks . . . I can’t lie.”
Immy was a terrible liar. Maeve wasn’t much better.
“Do the men that Alejandro’s sent know?” Maeve asked.
Sampson shook his head. “No, they know about the stalker but not what happened last night.”
“Cat is going to kill us,” Jenner said.
They all nodded.
“You know what? I think we should vote Gray in,” Immy said.
“We can’t,” Jenner said. “You know we need everyone’s vote.”
“Oh, true. Sorry, Gray, we can’t tell you until everyone votes.”
“I have no idea what’s happening right now,” Gray said.
Maeve patted his arm around her waist soothingly. “They’re just trying to decide on whether to vote you into our family. Don’t worry, they’re all going to vote yes.”
“Is that something I should want?” he asked dryly.
“Course it is,” Maeve said brightly. “My friends are the best. They’re loyal, protective, funny, cute, sweet, and beautiful.”
“Hope you’re talking about Immy and Cat when you say cute, sweet, and beautiful,” Sampson grumbled.
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Jenner joked. “I happen to think I’m very beautiful.”
“You would, dipshit,” Sampson replied.
Immy held out the plate of cookies again. Maeve was reaching for one when Gray whispered in her ear.
“No more sugar, girl.”
She barely managed to hide her shudder of pleasure at the order. She wanted to please him, of course she did. It was an urge deep inside her.
But no one stood between her and her snickerdoodles.
Besides, maybe she wanted to push him a little. All this talk of punishments and spankings. She wanted to see if he was for real.
So she grabbed a snickerdoodle and stuffed it in her mouth, staring up at him with a grin as she chewed.
“Oh, girl,” he said quietly. “You are in such trouble. Hope you enjoy that cookie, because your ass is going to pay for it later.”
Ooh. She couldn’t wait.
“Maeve needs to rest,” Gray said abruptly.
Did she? She wasn’t feeling at all tired anymore. And she’d had a nap today.
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re just out of the hospital. You should be in bed. We’ll be leaving tomorrow for Montana. I’ll need to book some plane tickets.”
“What?” Maeve gasped, then started choking on her mouthful. Crap! She gasped for air, but that only seemed to make things worse as the cookie became more firmly entrenched in her throat. Tears streamed down her cheeks as Gray whacked her back.
He put a hand under her mouth. “Spit it out, girl. Right now.”
She managed to choke everything up, giving a groan of embarrassment as it landed in his hand.
So gross.
Really, really not attractive, Maeve.
“Baby, you all right?” Gray asked in a low, soft voice.
Immy handed him a few tissues so he could clean his hands. He did it hastily, then rubbed her back, staring down at her in worry.