Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“And your father,” Dad agrees, though he looks like he’s fully in his head right now, practicing how he’ll try to pitch the DnD game to Jameson.
When there’s a knock at the door, everybody freezes. Troy takes a big lurching step like he’s about to go get the door, so I rush to my feet and have to run to beat him there. I yank open the door a little breathlessly and smile.
Jameson is standing there with three bunches of flowers. He plucks the red ones out and sticks them toward me. “For you,” he says, smirking.
I swoon. Not only do I love how sweet he is to me, I love that he’s making such a good first impression for my family. When Vaughn showed up for the first Sunday dinner, he did just about everything wrong, including showing up in a wrinkled shirt and looking hungover. Jameson is dressed well, as always, and he brought freaking flowers?
He hugs me and kisses me on the cheek, then straightens when he notices Troy looming just behind me.
“So you’re the guy who broke my sister’s heart,” Troy booms. He’s using his deep, intimidating voice.
Jameson is taller than Troy, but I have to admit my brother’s former powerlifting days probably mean he could simply lay on Jameson and squish him into pretty oblivion.
If Jameson is intimidated, he does a good job of hiding it as he steps toward Troy with a hand extended and a smile on his face. “Stupidly,” he concedes. “Also the guy who swore on everything holy that he’d never do anything to hurt your sister again.”
Troy stares at Jameson’s extended hand a few seconds, then grudgingly reaches out and takes it. He’s probably squeezing as hard as he can. Jameson winces, but shakes back and keeps his smile.
The rest of my family takes turns introducing themselves. Jameson gives flowers to Meemaw and my mom, who look like they were won over from the moment they set eyes on him. Maddie is uncharacteristically bashful around him, blushing profusely when he gives her a polite hug “hello” and rushing back to the safety of her chair as soon as she can.
“Sorry I kinda pranked you,” Dani says when it’s her turn. “It was mostly Roxie’s idea.”
“Water under the bridge,” Jameson says. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m actually grateful. I’ve enjoyed meeting all the people you two sent my way.”
“Well, well, well,” Meemaw says. She dramatically hung back, saving her introduction for last. She approaches with the steady click of her walking stick on the wood floor. “If it isn’t the spitting image of my late husband. That’s right,” she says, whipping her attention from Jameson to look at me. “I pulled a guy just like this in my youth. Did I mention the motor-boating thing?”
I cringe, shielding my eyes with my hand. “Meemaw,” I hiss through clenched teeth.
She smiles, then beckons Jameson toward her with two extended arms and twitching fingers. “Come here, Big Boy.”
Jameson shoots me a look, but dutifully bends to wrap his arms around Meemaw. I’m relieved when she at least restrains herself from groping him. “Mhm,” she says, stepping back from the hug. “I can see why she forgave you.”
I have a second to think that, by Meemaw standards, she wasn’t even that outrageous. Then she opens her mouth again.
“Firm in all the right places,” she mutters. “Especially the backside. That’s a sign of good genetics, you know. The butt is the powerhouse of the body, and this boy of yours has quite the powerhouse, Charli-Bug.”
“Can we just eat?” I ask.
“Sure,” Dad says. “Jameson. Mind helping me bring the plates out?”
Jameson smiles and follows after my dad. A second later, I hear my dad speaking softly, but not so softly that I can’t hear.
“What if I told you about a very special, unique opportunity to be part of a dream team. A dream team of adventurers, swashbucklers, and heroes?”
“Um,” Jameson says.
I put my face in my hands. This is going to be a long night.
When Jameson originally brought up the Christmas party between Landmark and Gray Wolfe, I was almost certain we would never make it that far. It felt like the kind of far off thing people sometimes mention early in a relationship more out of hope than belief.
But my arm is hooked in his, we’re in a huge, beautiful hall with classy Christmas decorations everywhere I can see. There’s silver, glinting tinsel hanging from the ceiling and looped in a repeating pattern along the walls. There are piles of presents under several different, fully decorated Christmas trees. There’s a man and woman dressed as Santa. The woman’s Santa costume is full of cleavage and legs, but she also has on a beard.
Just like at the Halloween mixer, Jameson leads us straight for the food table once we’re inside.