Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59954 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59954 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“Save it for the wedding night, dear,” her mother wisecracked.
Since that was the plan, I knew I needed to get my ass in gear and make the wedding happen. Fast. I called in every favor and used every ounce of my power to threaten, cajole, or blackmail people so I could give Hazel a Cinderella wedding in one month.
Unfortunately, some of the preparations needed to be handled in person, so I’d hired her a bodyguard immediately. However, even then, it had still been nearly impossible to go back to the city without her. I had a security system installed and had considered adding a camera to her bedroom, but I didn’t want to risk her finding it and send her running before I got my wedding band on her finger.
I threw myself into the merger of my business and planning the most spectacular wedding since whichever royal got married recently and topped whichever one came before. The true miracle was securing St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral for the ceremony. Luckily, I’d been a good Catholic boy growing up. And though I hadn’t been back to church other than Christmas and Easter for years, I’d maintained a relationship with the priests. Plus, the marriage coordinator was my cousin. It also didn’t hurt that I’d been a big donor already, and I promised to basically finance an entire major renovation in order to fast-track our wedding.
The reception had been at The Plaza, with the best of everything, and a guest list that rivaled the biggest A-list movie stars. I made sure my Hazel was the belle of the fucking ball.
I’d grown up in Queens, and all the glitz and glam wasn’t really my scene, despite the billions in my bank account. But Hazel was worth it. She was worth everything.
Which was why I found myself at another stuffy charity ball, suffering through the sleazeballs that hid their depravity behind their money ogling my wife.
From the moment we’d left our Upper West Side townhouse, all I wanted to do was grab Hazel and run back inside and never leave. I hated sharing her, and after the news we’d received two days ago, I was feeling even more protective. You’d think knocking my wife up would ease the possessive bastard inside me. I mean, besides a ring, what else screamed “taken” better than a pregnant belly? However, it had done the opposite. I was more obsessed with my wife than ever, and every day it was a struggle to rein myself in.
“Jamie?” Hazel’s soft, sweet voice floated up to my ears, making my cock swell. Generally, I fucking hated that nickname, but I loved the way she said it. Then again, I loved the way Hazel said or did anything.
“What do you need, peaches?” I asked with a soft kiss on her temple. She sighed and leaned into me, and I tightened my arm around her waist. My eyes swept over her face, and I frowned at how pale she looked. Her green eyes had weary lines around them, and the sparkle that had drawn me to her from the beginning had dulled.
“I’m a little tired, would you mind if we went home?”
I was all too eager to comply with her request. “Of course, sweetheart.” I began to guide her towards the coat check, but we were stopped at least three times along the way. They were all clients and despite my desire to bolt, I had to give them each a few minutes. I’d recently merged my business with K-Corp, another investment firm owned by brothers who happened to be two of my best friends. We all wanted to take a step back to spend more time with our families. Merging our companies, along with some smart hires, meant none of us were spending our entire lives in the office. Still, while it was an excellent business decision, it was a big one and some of my clients were still a little skittish.
Hazel greeted each of them with patience and a gracious smile. A frown tugged at my lips as I listened to her speak with them. Over the last month since we’d returned from our three-month honeymoon, Hazel’s speech had begun to lose the country lilt and her tone was calm and refined, rather than high pitched and brimming with excitement. Less and less, I heard her cute farm girl phrases and the charming way she said, “y’all.”
It confused me because I thought this was the life she wanted. To leave her small-town world behind and live in the fast lane. But it often felt like I was losing her. On more than one occasion, I’d been tempted to sweep her up and run away from the city and this high-society life. But, fear stopped me every time.
It took a lot of courage to accomplish everything I’d set out to do in my life. I was known for being fearless and going after the things I wanted. Just like with Hazel. I wouldn’t have left that small little town until she was mine.