Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“There can’t be an annulment after last night, sugar.” With only nine words, he managed to blow my mind. Somehow, I’d managed to gloss over that important little fact until he pointed it out.
Chapter Seven
Christopher
Winter’s jaw dropped, and she stared up at me, her blue eyes blinking rapidly. “But...um..” She stopped and shook her head as though to clear away the cobwebs. “We’re going to get a divorce?”
Rage like I’d never experienced before flooded me. “Abso-fucking-lutely not!” I nearly shouted. My anger wasn’t directed at Winter; it was the thought of losing her that had me flipping the fuck out.
Winter’s gaze bounced around us, and her cheeks turned pink. There was no one around, so her color faded, and she returned her confused eyes to me. “You said this was temporary.”
I cupped her plump angel cheeks in my hands and lost myself in her clear, blue eyes. “In name only took the train out of town after it dropped you off. I married you, made love to you, and am doing my damnedest to put my kid inside you. There will be no annulment. There will be no divorce.”
A hopeful gleam entered Winter’s bright eyes, and her red lips curled upward, but she still seemed hesitant. “You want to stay married?”
“Not want, sugar. You’re not leaving. We are staying married. It’s non-negotiable.”
“I—”
Whatever Winter had been about to say was cut off when the door to the pub swung open, startling us both. Lincoln strolled out, and a shit-eating grin split his face when he spotted us.
“Am I interrupting?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Winter and I spoke at the same time. I knew she was trying to be polite, but I didn’t give a damn about being nice to anyone but Winter and my mom. I dropped my hands from her face, and I slipped my arm around her waist, pulling her possessively into my side.
Lincoln shrugged and leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb, clearly indicating he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. “It’s all over town that you got married last night.”
I grunted, happy to hear it.
“I’m sure you can understand my shock at hearing this. I seem to recall expecting a wedding invitation sometime this week,” Lincoln teased, his brown eyes glinting with amusement. “Considering how fast you tied the knot, I came to meet your blushing bride, Don Juan.”
Winter frowned and glanced up at me in confusion. I threw my on-thin-ice best friend a glare and bent to kiss Winter’s forehead. “He’s just being an asshole, sugar.”
Lincoln’s brows shot up at the endearment, but his smile grew even wider. If it got any bigger, he’d rip his face in half. Still, he obviously valued his pretty face because he confirmed that he was teasing. “I’m just giving our boy shit, sweetheart,” I growled, and he snickered. “His silent, grumpy ass is far from suave. I can’t remember the last time he went on a date. So be gentle with him if he’s a bumbling idiot from time to time. He’s got a lot to learn.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I grumbled.
Winter buried her face in my side and giggled.
“I’m Lincoln,” my friend introduced himself. “Christopher and I grew up together. I’m the ‘best’ part of this best friendship.”
“Nice to meet you,” my wife replied with another sweet laugh. “I’m Winter Gr—”
“Mistletoe,” I corrected gruffly. “Winter Mistletoe.”
Winter glanced up at me, and I smiled when her cheeks flushed prettily, and her eyes sparkled with happiness.
“Maybe I should try out this mail-order bride thing,” Lincoln mused, winking at Winter. I glowered and tightened my grip on her. “You certainly got yourself a good one.”
“Why don’t you go check it out?” I suggested dryly. “Now.”
Lincoln laughed, and Winter blushed, poking me in the side. I winked at her, and she melted into my side. “I can take a hint.” Lincoln pushed away from the door and stood up straight. “Hopefully, your husband will allow me to talk to you more at the Christmas tree lighting. Think he’ll be over his Neanderthal attitude by then?”
I snorted, knowing that would never happen. It would be fun to see it happen to him one day.
“I’m sure he’ll have learned a few manners by then,” Winter quipped as she bumped her hip into me playfully.
Lincoln snickered, then doffed a pretend hat at Winter. “Until next time, sweetheart.” He said the last word with a mischievous smirk. I shook my head and returned his look with a threatening one of my own. He was perilously close to getting his ass kicked, but I refrained from doing anything violent in front of my sweet, gentle wife.
Lincoln strolled back into the pub, letting the heavy door slam shut behind him.
“He seems nice,” Winter giggled.
“He’s a jackass,” I muttered.
I curled my arm in, bringing her front flush with mine, and closed the circle with my other arm. Lincoln would never, ever poach a woman, but I was still irritated and feeling possessive. I took Winter’s mouth in a deep kiss, reminding both of us who she belonged to.