Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Oh, for the love of God!” I whispered as I hit her on the leg. “You’re rambling! How much have you had to drink?”
She lifted her champagne glass. “A lot.”
“I can tell,” I stated with a roll of my eyes.
Heat rushed through my body as I felt Tripp’s arm on the back of my chair. When his thumb moved over my exposed neck, my entire body erupted in goosebumps.
This man is going to cause me to explode with a stroke of his thumb across my neck.
I swallowed and tried to focus on other things besides the heat pooling in my lower stomach.
My eyes landed on Trevor and Scarlett. I studied them carefully. They were both in conversations with other people at the table. Trevor was talking to Wade who sat next to him, and Scarlett spoke with Corina. I moved my eyes past Corina to find Mitchell talking to Cord. I didn’t recognize the young lady sitting next to Cord. When I had seen him earlier I was bummed he wasn’t with Maebh. I’d spotted Maebh and her father just after they arrived. She looked stunning in a dark green gown with her brown hair pulled up. I knew it was a long shot, but they would look cute together. My eyes darted over to Melanie—and I remembered the waiter coming over earlier and saying he had taken care of the request she had made at the table.
That little sneak.
She had moved my seat next to Tripp’s. Taking another sip of water, I shook my head. Melanie must have sensed me staring because our eyes met. I could see her happiness as she lifted her water glass to me. I couldn’t help but return her smile.
I wondered if she knew about Maebh. I was going to have to talk to Paxton and Waylynn about it. Those two seemed to be on the same wavelength as Melanie. They were all trying to play Cupid in one way or another.
“Are you feeling okay?” Tripp asked.
I buzzed from his hot breath against my ear.
“Y-yes. I’m fine.”
“You’re only drinking water.”
I let out a nervous laugh. “I’ve reached my limit on alcohol this evening.”
Our eyes met and our mouths were inches from one another. There was no denying the heat between us. This man sitting next to me, looking at me with nothing but pure love and desire was the king of my heart. He’d been able to take me to places no other man had been able to since. Not just between the sheets, but by a simple taste of his lips. A brush of his thumb across my skin, a smile that made my knees tremble when I wasn’t even standing.
If I was lucky enough to get a second chance with Tripp, I was never letting him go.
A bell rang to notify that dinner was over and the first dance was about to start. Tripp was still staring into my eyes. There were so many things I wanted to say. To do. My hands were shaking as I fought to keep them tucked together in my lap.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please allow the Parker family to take the dance floor before joining them,” an announcer said, pulling my gaze from Tripp’s.
Melanie and John stood. He kissed her, then whispered something to his wife before escorting her out to the dance floor. The rest of the family stood except for Cord and Trevor. I gasped when I realized Tripp wasn’t sitting but standing next to me, holding out his hand.
My mouth dropped open but nothing came out.
“Now that you’re back. I don’t have to dance with one of my sisters or sit this one out.”
“Tripp…” I whispered as I stood.
He guided me around the table before placing his hand on the small of my back and leading me out to the dance floor.
When Tripp gently drew me into his body, I took the chance to look around: smiles on every single face. Some whispered, some had tears in their eyes, and some looked like they were falling in love with the idea of love as the familiar jazz tune of Bobby Darin’s “More” filled the air. This song meant so much, not only to Melanie’s parents, but to the entire Parker family.
I shook my head to clear my confusion. If Tripp had asked me to dance to this song, then he had forgiven me. He was giving us another chance. Squeezing my eyes shut, I prayed this wasn’t a dream. The moment hit me so strongly, my legs went weak and Tripp held me tighter.
His fingers lifted my chin so our eyes met.
“Your mind is racing when it doesn’t have to, Lee.”
“What about Mallory? Why is she not here with you? We’re dancing to this song. Tripp, I know what this song means to your family. To your mother. What about earlier in my room? I’m so confused…”