Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Which she would handle, Jamie knew, right now, because when it came to clothes—or anything she deemed important, like a woman who took pride in her appearance, as Chloe did, needing not to lose hold on the woman she was when motherhood became a part of her life—Nora didn’t fuck around.
“I know, I didn’t have time to—”
Before Chloe could finish reminding everyone she’d given birth five weeks early, Nora spoke.
“No matter. Jamie has a laptop and that’s what express shipping is for.”
“There are some things I’ve been meaning to get from my shop in Phoenix,” Chloe said.
“I’ll bring you a pad and paper, darling. You make a list. I’ll call Mi. She can package them up and I’ll arrange for them to be couriered immediately,” Nora said. She looked to Judge and raised her brows. “Pad and paper?”
“Study, also kitchen,” Judge answered.
Nora glided to the kitchen.
“I love her so much,” Chloe said dreamily, watching Nora go.
“Me too,” Judge replied to her, but his eyes were on Jamie.
Jamie didn’t fight that smile.
“Are you unpacked?” Judge asked him.
“Yes,” Jamie answered.
“Is there anything you need?” Chloe asked.
“No, honey,” Jamie said gently. “We’ve got all we’ll ever need.”
She tipped her head so she could see Judge. “They always fight, but I’m always right.”
“I think maybe we should skirt that subject for a couple more days, baby,” Judge advised.
“Skirt what subject?” Nora asked, returning with a pad and paper, which she handed to Chloe.
“Nothing,” Judge said.
“My brilliant matchmaking skills,” Chloe said over him.
Judge sighed.
Jamie heard Genny swallow a giggle.
Nora crossed her arms over her stomach, but she put out one hip so she could better tap her toe.
Christ, she was something.
And he was an imbecile.
Why had he fought it for so long?
How had he managed to do that?
He had to settle in the fact it was done now.
Or it would be, officially (or, more officially), when they got their asses home.
“We do need to discuss how infernally outrageous that was,” Nora declared.
“Sweetheart,” Jamie tried to intervene.
“You can’t be complaining,” Chloe stated.
“I’m not complaining.” Nora waved a hand blithely. “But that does not negate the fact you stranded your father-in-law and I on a boat for a week. This, my darling, in the game of life and love, is known as foul play.”
“It wasn’t a boat,” Chloe returned. “It was a mega-yacht.”
“I also won’t argue the amenities, dear,” Nora shot back. “No one could accuse you of not having good taste. But again, you stranded your father-in-law and I on a mega-yacht for a week. This isn’t a Disney movie.”
Chloe snuggled back into her husband and smugly retorted, “It seemed to have worked out like one.”
“Well, obviously, that can’t be argued either,” Nora drawled.
Jamie chuckled.
Genny let her giggle loose this time.
Judge pulled his wife closer.
“However, I must elicit a promise from you at this juncture,” Nora went on.
“And that would be?” Chloe prompted.
“You never engage in that behavior again without involving me, and when I say that, I mean from the very beginning. I don’t want to miss a thing.”
“Well, Gage is here, working with Judge now, so that will be difficult for you, since you live in New York. Matt, the same. Sully is in Texas, also difficult for you. Sasha down in Phoenix, ditto. But when I get down to Ned and Blake, you can be in on it.”
At Chloe’s declaration she intended to continue meddling, Judge cast a beleaguered glance at the ceiling.
Nora, however, swept a hand to indicate the floor at her feet. “I’ve made this sacrifice several times, braving the wilds of Arizona for this family. So that’s no excuse not to involve me. I’m uncertain I can handle Texas, because of a certain someone who lives there. But I’ll do my best.”
“Then you’re in,” Chloe decreed. “Now, are those cargo pants Veronica Beard?”
“Yes,” Nora answered.
“This season?”
“Yes.”
“Can you get me a postpartum pair?”
“I’ll get my phone and do that now, darling,” Nora vowed, then she was off to find her phone.
“Judge,” Jamie called.
Both his son and his son’s wife looked at him.
“Once things settle, I’ll be looking into buying a property here,” Jamie told him.
Chloe’s face lit up.
“Wonderful,” Genny murmured.
But Judge.
Fuck.
His boy looked happy, relieved, excited and humbled, all at once.
“That would be awesome,” Judge said low.
“Not to live, but I’ll definitely be out here more often,” Jamie explained.
“We’ll take anything we can get,” Judge replied.
“Absolutely,” Chloe added.
At this point, he had to shift because Genny was there, handing over JT.
“Not a surprise,” she said after Jamie had curled the light bundle to his chest. He looked up into her blue eyes. “They’re hard to resist.”
She was very right.
She smiled at him, he returned it, then he moved it to the bundle in his arms.
JT was awake, his unseeing eyes staring, his little baby fists moving randomly, and Nora had been correct.