Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Crap, Jace and I should’ve totally gone over that question. We really suck at this. “Um, well….” I start to make something up about time and how it means nothing, but my words are cut off when the little boy jumps out of her arms and begins to dance in circles.
“I need to pee, Mom. I need to pee, I need to pee…” He spins around and around, holding his tiny hand over the front of his jeans and I could hug him for being the perfect distraction.
“Shit.” She quickly stands and looks around like she’s panicked.
“There’s a bathroom in our room,” I tell her, and with a nod, she picks up the boy and runs out of the kitchen with him in her arms.
Now, with the kitchen to myself, I go to the counter that is covered with bags of chips, cookies, and a platter of sandwiches. As I’m making myself a plate, the sliding door opens, and Jace and Brice step in, each of them carrying two suitcases, followed by Janelle, Daniel, and an older woman with purple hair. Not dark or bright purple, but a silver purple, like a shade of lavender, that somehow looks elegant on her.
“Boys, just put those bags in Grandma’s room, and we’ll deal with them later,” Janelle orders her sons before turning her attention to me. “Mom, this is Penny, Jace’s fiancée.” She waves her arm out then up and down in my direction, looking like Vanna White showcasing the grand prize on Wheel of Fortune.
“She’s his fiancée?” The woman scoffs, and even if I can’t be surprised by her doubt, I’m still a little offended. I mean, I might not be a supermodel, but I think I’m pretty and have some great qualities—the first being my winning personality, the second, my ass.
I have a great ass.
Not that she can see that right now.
“Mom!” Janelle hisses.
“What?” She looks at her daughter, who is giving her a dirty look. “Fine.” She focuses on me. “It’s nice to meet you, Penny. I’m Janet.”
“Nice to meet you too.” I force a smile.
“I’d like to take a nap,” she announces loudly, as Daniel makes his way toward where I’m still standing next to the food, and he sighs audibly.
“Okay, let’s get you settled. Maybe you’ll be in a better mood when you wake up,” Janelle scold, then looks at her husband, who just started to grab a plate for himself. “Honey, will you go up and get a few more blankets while I get Mom to her room?
“Sure,” Daniel says, then his eyes come to me and start dancing with mischief. “Hopefully, she’ll suffocate herself with them while she’s sleeping.”
I snort. Even if it is inappropriate, it’s still funny. He chuckles, then sets down his plate and leaves the kitchen.
Alone once again, I take a bite of my sandwich, then watch Jace walk through the doorway.
“Everything okay?” he asks, stopping in front of me.
“Your grandmother seems delightful,” I tell him, and he smirks, taking a chip off my plate. “Also, we need to talk about how long we’ve been dating. The woman with the little boy asked, and I didn’t know what to say.”
“A couple of months.”
“Seriously?” I roll my eyes. “So we’ve been dating a couple of months, and we’re already engaged?”
“When you know, you know.” He takes my sandwich from my hand and starts to put it in his mouth.
“Hey!” I stop him quickly by grabbing his wrist. “That’s mine. Get your own.”
“You won’t share with your soon-to-be husband?”
“No,” I say, and he bends his head down and takes a bite anyways.
“Want some?” He holds the sandwich out to me.
“Ewww, no. Now it has your cooties on it.”
“Come on. You know you want a bite of my meat,” he taunts, putting the sandwich near my face and making me laugh.
“You’re an idiot.” I listen to him chuckle and watch him shove the last bite in his mouth, as the energy in the room seems to shift and get heavier.
Turning, I find the blonde woman from earlier standing near the open doorway watching us.
“I need to go make a couple of phone calls,” Jace tells me, then the next thing I know, his lips are on mine in a kiss that is over before I can even blink. “I’ll be back.”
“Uh… yeah. Okay.” I watch him walk off, taking his cell out of his pocket, and I rub my tingling lips together.
“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself.” The blonde comes over to the counter, picking up a paper plate. “I’m Brice’s wife, Haylee.” She looks over at me, and I don’t know what she’s looking for, but it’s obvious she’s waiting for me to react.
“Awesome. And the little boy?”
“Dash. He just turned three.”
“He’s cute.”
“He is,” she says, then her head tips to the side. “Has Jace mentioned me?”