Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
He twisted in his seat to beam an approving smile at Jeremy. “You’re a smarter man than I gave you credit for, and that’s saying a lot since you struck me as being quite intelligent when we met.”
Jeremy lifted his chin in acknowledgment of the compliment as he carried a stack of plates over to the table. “I’ve never been one to let the grass grow under my feet. I’m a man of action, and I’ve never wanted anything more than McKenna, so I moved fast to claim her before some other guy decided to try his luck. No way in hell could I let that happen.”
“Like I said…I knew you were a smart man.” Grandpa turned back to me and patted my hand. “I’m happy for you, dear.”
I slumped against my seat, stumped by his easy acceptance. But I couldn’t really question him about it because that would open the door for him to second-guess the swiftness of our engagement, which would ruin the whole point of having a fake fiancé. Or not-so fake, considering everything he did to me last night. I wasn't sure if having sex turned our ruse into a reality, but it sure as heck felt that way when he was inside me. Especially whenever he growled, “Mine.”
Almost as though he knew I was tying myself into figurative knots as I wondered how my joke about getting engaged had so quickly spiraled out of control, Jeremy squeezed my shoulder after setting the take-out containers on the table. Then he brushed a gentle kiss against my cheek and asked, “What would you like to drink?”
“Just ice water for me.”
“Same.” My grandfather gestured toward my hand and asked, “Where did you go to buy the ring?”
While Jeremy got our drinks, I told Grandpa about our trip to Kennedy Diamonds—a choice he heartily approved of since they had such a great reputation.
Our conversation was sparse as we ate…until Grandpa launched a verbal grenade. “When are you moving in together?”
I almost choked on the bite I’d just taken at the question. Jeremy gently patted my back as he replied, “Excellent question, Corbin. I was thinking the sooner, the better.”
“I agree.” Grandpa focused on me and quirked a brow. “There’s no time like the present. The Johnsons raved about how good their movers were when they left a few weeks ago, and they gave me their information in case I needed it. We should give them a call to see when their next availability is. If it’s weeks from now, we can look for someone else to help.”
“Where’s their information?” Jeremy asked, pulling his phone out of his pocket as he stood from the table.
“Right over there.” My grandfather gestured toward the fridge. “I used that clip magnet since they stopped by the day before my surgery. I didn’t want to lose it, but I had too much going on to worry about properly filing the information away for later.”
I felt as though I’d somehow stumbled into another dimension as Jeremy called the moving company and talked them into making space in their calendar for me…at six o’clock this evening. The team they were sending to my apartment was supposed to be done for the day by then, but the extra thousand dollars he offered to pay to expedite the move had them more than willing to make the time for us.
“Of course, that’s assuming you both don’t want to just move in here now?” Grandpa asked after the arrangements were made. “You wouldn’t have to wait long for your privacy. One of my other local properties isn’t currently occupied, so I could transition there as soon as my hip is back in shape.”
I shook my head. “I am not kicking you out of your home, Grandpa. And certainly not when you’ve just recently had your hip replaced.”
“As far as I’m concerned, it isn’t mine any longer, dear. I meant it when I told you that I would sign the house over to you when you were engaged. I need to call my attorney and get the ball rolling on the paperwork, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait for the red tape to be handled if this is where you want to live.”
Grandpa’s reaction to our news was confusing. With how protective he’d always been of me, I’d expected at least a little pushback on how fast Jeremy and I were moving. Instead, here he was, arranging for me to move in with the man who I’d only known for a little more than twenty-four hours.
Sure, we’d spent each minute of that with each other, but he had no way of knowing that. Thank goodness, because it was already unsettling enough sitting across from him with Jeremy’s come rubbed into my skin. I would’ve been a hot mess if he’d known that I spent the night in his bed…and barely got any sleep.