Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I want to hear all about it.” Winter was nearly bouncing on the balls of her feet. “That’s an article in the making!”
Harrison could all but see the wheels turning in her head.
Zach met Winter’s gaze and frowned. “The United States government does not want anyone knowing about hacks and leaks into their supposedly secure systems.”
“Especially by a college kid,” Harrison added, earning himself another glare from his brother. “Relax, Zach. She won’t say anything.”
“I promise,” Winter said. “But can I get that story one day anyway?” Her interest had definitely been piqued, and it was a good tale.
Harrison strode over and hooked an arm around her waist. “Let it go for now,” he whispered in her ear.
She sighed. “Okay, fine. So I can go home as long as I have a bodyguard with me?”
Not that he wanted her to leave, but he nodded. “That about sums it up.”
“Okay, well, I won’t be stupid and put us at risk.” She rubbed her flat belly and Harrison’s entire body hummed with unexpected pleasure at the sight.
She was so fucking gorgeous. Even makeup free, with her hair pulled up, he couldn’t take his gaze off that perfect face set off by her big green eyes.
“I need to get to the bar,” Zach said to Harrison. “And you know how to reach me. As for you…” He pointed to Winter. “Take care of my niece or nephew in there.”
A smile lit her face, her hand still on her stomach. “I will.”
Chapter Nine
To Winter’s relief, after she left Harrison’s apartment, her life quieted down. Morning sickness came and went, but it wasn’t as bad as some women suffered, so she’d take it. Her bodyguard, a woman named Dana, had become her shadow and Winter enjoyed talking to her as they walked the city, or she took a ride share wherever she needed to go. In fact, Winter found Dana so fascinating she was now considering writing a piece on female security and bodyguards. Like most writers, Winter found fodder everywhere.
Harrison kept in touch constantly, be it by text, FaceTime or phone call. He didn’t crowd her, but he had a way of letting her know he was thinking of her. And he’d invited her to the Hamptons to meet his family this coming weekend.
Agreeing hadn’t been easy, but she’d done it. She already knew Zach was friendly and fun. Asher was uptight but completely on her side. She’d met Jade, and his stepmom, Serenity, at Nikki’s engagement party. But Winter didn’t know them well.
She certainly had no idea what his parents thought of him having a baby with her or whether they liked her or not. Though she told herself it didn’t matter… it did. She needed the rest of the Dare family to accept her, for no other reason than she’d be in their lives for a long time to come.
During the week, Winter met Nikki and Derek’s fiancée, Jessica, for lunch. Jessica just happened to be on Winter’s list of impressive women to interview. She’d launched a full-figured clothing and lingerie line, ran a boutique, and had just signed a deal to sell exclusive pieces of her lingerie to a high-end retailer, allowing curvaceous females to feel good about themselves and their bodies. She’d also weathered a scandal that might have taken a lesser woman down.
When Winter had expressed her nervousness over seeing Harrison’s parents now that she was pregnant, Nikki had reassured her, explaining how amazing the family had acted when she’d met them for the first time.
Winter had come back with a throwaway comment that meeting families wasn’t easy, which had Jessica squirming in her seat. Nikki then revealed how awful her mother had been when Derek had introduced her to Jessica. Their father had been pleasant, for which Winter was grateful. She supposed it was a plus in the man’s favor.
Putting aside all other thoughts, Winter dressed for lunch with a reporter friend she’d met when she worked at an online paper. She and her bodyguard walked to the restaurant, the cool fall air feeling good on her skin.
On the way, they passed a bookstore and Winter stopped in to buy a pregnancy book because the questions she had were growing. Like was it normal for her to have already lost her waistline and need new clothes? At what month would she see more than a blob on the screen or find out the sex of the baby? Did Harrison even want to know the gender? She did, so she could plan and buy exactly what she wanted.
Lunch was fun and relaxing and something she’d needed desperately. With Dana by her side, they walked back to Winter’s building. She stopped by the mailroom before going upstairs and took out her mail. She had normal bills, junk mail, and a manila envelope. Her address was typed on a label with no return address in the upper left corner. She shivered a little and wondered what the crazy fans had to say to her this time? She shook her head. There were no letters written in crayon. Maybe it really was regular mail.