Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
“Figured it was something like that.”
“I love it that your family showed. That’s so crazy sweet.”
“Like Amanda said, no pressure, honey. They’re laid back and the holidays are around the corner. Plenty of time to get to know them then.”
“Do you honestly think Ronetta is going to let them get away with a stealth visit, in and out, without her feeding them?”
Harry grinned at her.
Her eyes warmed as they dropped to his mouth.
Then her gaze moved to the room like she was looking for something.
She found it, because she waved at someone.
He turned that way and saw Madden waving back.
“They were gone so long, I’m going to keep them with me for a while,” Lillian said so quietly, he had to lean in to hear her.
“Makes sense.”
She turned to him. “And then I’ll figure it out. Maybe I’ll keep them with me forever. Maybe I’ll spread them in the wildflower field Dad used to take Mom on hikes to, because she loved it so much.”
“Your choice,” Harry pointed out the obvious. “From what I hear about them, they’ll want you to make it and trust you’ll make the right one.”
She leaned into him, and Harry suddenly had to brace, because she gave him all of her weight.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Harry. Right here.”
“Wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever wear black again.”
She was wearing a simple, body-skimming, modest dress that was very attractive, suited her figure, and was perfectly appropriate for the occasion. She told him Ronetta bought it for her.
And she looked good in it.
But black was not her color.
“Again, your choice, but you look gorgeous. You’re the perfect mix of your mom and dad.”
“Perfect mix,” she whispered, slid her arms around him, and pressed her cheek to the lapel of his suit jacket.
He dropped a kiss on her head.
“Hungry?” he asked there.
“How long do you think we have to stay here?” she asked in return.
“You want me to take you away right now, we’re gone. But I reckon Ronetta knows the protocol.”
He was right.
She did.
Because twenty minutes later, Lillian and Harry were in his truck with an urn…
And a massive posterboard picture of two people in love.
THIRTY-TWO
Cleansing and Warm
Harry
The next morning, Harry came out of the bathroom wearing jeans, a long-sleeved tee, his hair wet and combed back, his feet bare.
He hit Lillian’s great room to see Linus and Lucy flat out on their beds, but Smokey was sprawled on the floor next to the chair Lillian was sitting in at the kitchen table.
Not a surprise. He and his pups had run five miles that morning.
Lillian was wearing sleep shorts, a tight cami, a slouchy cardigan, with equally slouchy big socks on her feet.
She had one heel up to the seat, the other foot on the floor, and her finger was through the handle of a mug of coffee. Her eyes were drowsy, her hair a sleep-tangled mess, and she was a mix of totally adorable and imminently fuckable.
Her somnolent green gaze came to him, then it went to the kitchen counter.
Harry looked there and saw a steaming mug of coffee by the Nespresso.
She’d timed it to have it hot and ready for him when he got out of the shower.
Christ, he wanted to go right to her.
But he knew that wasn’t wise. They were fresh off the memorial. They had plans in about an hour to meet up with everyone (including his family and hers) at the Double D for brunch, and as such, yet again, the time wasn’t right.
So Harry took her invitation of coffee as his excuse not to drag her back to her bedroom.
He was hips against the counter, heel of one palm on it, sipping her kickass coffee, when she said, “Caroline called. They checked and they’ve got openings for facials and massages at the Pinetop. She asked if Ronetta, Sherise and I want to join them this afternoon. I called Ronnie, and they were all in. I hope it’s okay that I said yes.”
“Of course it’s okay, baby,” he murmured.
“I’ve never been to the Pinetop spa,” she told him. Then she mumbled, “I’ve never actually been to a spa.”
Harry could see that. In spite of it all, she’d made a beautiful life, but it wasn’t a surprise it didn’t include regular spa visits, or any at all.
But it was high time she added those kinds of things to her busy schedule.
“You gonna get a facial or a massage?” he asked.
“Massage,” she told him.
Perfect, he thought.
“Good,” he said.
They both took sips.
“You feeling okay?” he asked.
“Are you asking if I’m hungover?” she returned.
Ronetta and George had hosted Lillian’s extended crew, including all her best girls, their men, and Harry’s family. She served up baked beans and potato salad, with George wrapped up in a fleece manning the grill out back and filling burger orders. Ronetta had jam cake and ice cream for dessert.