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)
I stood. “I’m going to go put on some coffee and hot water for tea.”
Tripp’s head lifted as our eyes met. I hated to see him worrying, and I wished there was something more I could do.
“I’ll help.” Tripp reached for my hand and we walked into the kitchen in silence.
Nothing about the kitchen had changed. Appliances had been updated, but the coffee pot was still located in the same exact spot. I got to work adding the coffee and water and putting on a kettle to boil.
Warm arms found their way around my body. I stopped moving and spun to face Tripp.
His eyes searched my face before he lifted his hand and tracked my jawline with one finger. “I love you.”
My heart soared. “I love you too.”
“Is it wrong that I want to take you and hide away for a few weeks?”
I smiled. “I don’t think so. We sort of have to get to know each other again.”
He nodded. “I promised Steed I’d go slow, but I’ve missed you so goddamn much.”
My eyes burned with the threat of tears. This time happy ones. “I missed you too. I wish I could…”
His fingers pressed to my lips, and he shook his head. “The past is in the past. All I care about is our future. Yours and mine. The only thing I want right now is to be with you. And the only memories I want to talk about are the happy ones because those far outweigh anything else.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “That’s all I want too.”
Tripp’s head dropped and he let out a worried sigh. “Is she going to be okay?”
Taking both his hands in mine, I pulled them to my mouth and kissed each one.
“Yes. She’s going to need to rest and do what the doctor says, but I think she’ll be okay. I know it’s scary because she’s pregnant, but I have no doubt in my mind that both Dr. Peterson and Dr. Buten will take care of her.”
The way Tripp gazed so intensely caused a shiver to race through my body. If we were alone I was positive I would be dropping to the floor and begging him to take me right here.
His tongue ran over his bottom lip, and I groaned quietly.
“Have I told you how fucking beautiful you look tonight?”
My mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“I wanted to take things slow. Get to know each other again, but the second we get news that Corina is okay, I’m taking you home.”
I did the only thing my stupid body would let me do. I nodded.
“Then I’m going to slowly take this dress off of you.”
The throbbing between my legs was so intense I had to press my thighs together to ease the ache.
“Then…then what?” I asked as I fought for breath.
The left side of his mouth lifted. “Then I get to explore what’s mine, what’s always been mine…from top to bottom. Slowly.”
“Go home,” my mother said to everyone as she stood in the den and looked around the room.
“Is she going to be okay?” Waylynn asked before letting out a long yawn.
“Yes. Both Dr. Peterson and Dr. Buten said Corina will be fine. They tested her for the flu, but Dr. Peterson thinks she has a virus and she’s not been resting enough. She is on strict bed rest for the next few days. Once we find out more I will be sure to let you all know. Mitchell is on his way to pick up Milo and some clothes. They’re going to be staying here for the next few days.”
I was positive we all let out a collective sigh when my mother said Corina was okay.
Harley’s fingers were laced with mine as we listened to my mother bark out orders. My mother walked up to Scarlett, hugged her, and thanked her for staying as long as she did. Trevor had offered to take her home earlier, but she’d said she wanted to make sure Corina was okay. The fact that my little brother couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off the brunette beauty amused me, Steed, Cord, and Mitchell. The bastard was going to be catching hell for this.
Tammy, Cord’s date, had driven her own car and had left over an hour ago.
There was no fucking way I was going to take Harley home. Fuck that. She was coming back to my house and I was going to peel that black dress off of her and bury myself inside her all damn night. I’d already called her mother and asked if she could keep Hemi and Lady for the evening. She was more than happy to, and said they were both already at her house.
“Harley, sweetheart, thank you for being so observant and noticing Corina wasn’t herself.”
With a sweet smile, Harley hugged my mother. “Of course. She did a good job of hiding it for quite a while.”