Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I stand here with Parker and she looks at me with a smile. “Now I’m going to do what I told myself I wouldn’t and that is give you the third degree.”
I put my hands in my pockets, waiting to hear it.
“Pick your battles, Max. If you know you won’t fight tooth and nail for her—”
I don’t let her finish. “With all due respect, ma’am, there are two people in this world I would fight for. One is my blood, my duty. The other is your daughter.” I shake my head. “I don’t really care if you or anyone in the family likes me or not, or thinks I’m not good enough for her.” I laugh, a bitter laugh. “I know I’m not. Trust me, I wake up every day knowing that I’m not good enough for her.”
She puts her hand on my arm, squeezing it. “You’re a good man, Max Horton. Regardless of your past mistakes.” She leans up, kisses my cheek, and then walks away as I look and see that Allison is being introduced to another guy in a tux. Cooper laughs with them, and her eyes fly around the room, searching something, and I know what that is the minute her eyes meet mine and she smiles at me. I turn, walking to the bar, and ordering a water bottle. I’m here for a minute or two before Phil joins me, then Ryder, Luka, and Charlie.
“This is going to be the longest night of my life,” Nico says. “Aly owes me for this. I’m all for going to the hospital, but getting dressed up in a monkey suit. ”
“Shut up,” Phil says. “It’s for a good cause.”
“What is?” Matthew asks, coming to the bar, and ordering a water bottle also.
“All of this,” Phil says as he points all around. “This,” he says and then points to the pictures of the patients both past and present, both in the middle of treatment and some that are in remission. “Go put your name down on some of those prizes.”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “It’s for the kids.”
I drink a gulp of water when Zoe comes running to me. “Max. I’m sorry,” she says breathlessly. “I’m not going to be able to give you the first dance.”
Matthew throws his head back and groans.
“I got another offer.” She winks at me and turns to walk away.
“Those two are going to give my father a heart attack,” he says as someone comes on and tells us to get to our places as the ceremony will start.
I walk to my table that Denise is at and sit down next to her. I see Matthew come to the table with Karrie, along with Doug, Cooper, Parker, and the seat next to me stays open.
“Vivi is going to be so pissed she missed tonight,” Matthew says, taking a sip of champagne that they put in front of him. “I think I saw that Charlie dude.”
“Which Charlie dude?” Karrie says, looking around when the seat next to me gets pulled out before Allison sits in and pulls herself in. “Oh my God, is that the Sons of Anarchy guy?” She points to the man who is in fact Charlie Hunnam. “Shit, give me your phone.” She knocks Matthew’s arm, taking it from him, and snapping a picture. “He’s on my safe list,” she says as Matthew snatches the phone from her.
I have one hand on Denise’s chair and the other on my leg as the MC starts talking. And then the tablecloth is moved, covering it as Allison puts her little hand on mine. We sit listening to the MC talk about the hospital and all the good that the money collected tonight will do. She lets everyone know about the silent auction that is going on.
“So what do you guys think? Should we get this party started?” she says as people clap. “The dance floor is now open.”
When the song “All of you” starts Doug asks Denise if he could have the first dance to thank her. Karrie gets yanked up by Matthew. Cooper pushes his chair out as he holds out his hand for Parker and then looks at us.
“Oh, I see Lincoln.” He points to the guy that was talking to her before.
I push my own chair out. “I got it,” I say gruffly as Allison gets up and follows me to the packed dance floor. My hand wraps around her waist the same time her hand wraps around my shoulder, and I hold her hand in the other.
“Smooth,” she says, looking down and laughing. We spend the rest of the night with stolen touches as I sit at the table watching the girls dance till finally they both collapse next to me.
“I’m ready to go,” Denise says.
I nod and text the driver who has been on standby the whole night.