Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Holy hell, if it’s her again, following us all the way out here, I swear I’m not above giving her a nice big mud ball to the face.
Brady doesn’t seem guarded, though. He just flashes me a strained smile as the back door of the car opens and out steps an elegant foot clad in a black heel.
Then comes the rest of one of the most glamorous women I’ve seen in real life. She’s wearing oversize shades and burgundy lipstick deep enough to highlight her face.
Everything about her seems designed to impress.
But as she stares at me, one hand moving to the arm of her sunglasses so she can lift them to her dyed dirty-blond hair, I have the weirdest knot in my belly.
Brady’s hand presses lightly against the small of my back.
Oh no, what is this?
The world starts spinning, even before he speaks.
“Mom,” Brady says as she approaches. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”
“I can see that,” she says, the curl of a smile touching the corner of her mouth.
“Lena, this is my mother, Kerrigan Pruitt.” He sends me what I think might be a warning glance. “Mom, meet Lena. My fiancée.”
XIV
Three Dog Night
(Brady)
Shit.
Shit!
There’s no universe where I’d ever choose this introduction.
Too bad the universe doesn’t give a flying shit and it’s made the choice for me.
The worst part is, I’m the idiot who put the wheel in motion.
Originally, I intended for this to be an organic meetup, a way to introduce Lena and Mother, but not like this.
Not with my fake fiancée covered in mud, panic filling her eyes as she realizes exactly what’s going on.
One quick glance tells me she’s as thrown off as I am by the timing.
She’s also covered in muck, painting one side of her body.
To my relief, she manages a smile.
It’s the one she uses with her clients—professional and kind, designed to put people at ease.
It’s also the biggest guilt-kick to my balls in recorded history.
“Hi, Kerrigan. You, um, you caught me at a rough time.” Lena checks her hands before offering Mom the clean one. “Sorry for the mess. This isn’t how I normally do my mud treatments.”
Mom laughs. Surprisingly, she doesn’t hesitate as she squeezes Lena’s hand.
“I appreciate your humor. A pleasure. Especially when you’re accompanying my son to his favorite place in the world.”
Lena gives back a pained smile.
“Still. Sorry about the rough first impression,” Lena says weakly.
“Oh, no. Your grace would shame me if I was in your shoes, darling. It never was my strong suit, was it, Brady?” She leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. “He’s the only one in this family brave enough to climb on a horse. Lord knows my father tried when I was a little girl, but one minute in and I’d be a crying fit.”
“Just Brady, huh? His father doesn’t ride?” Lena sounds genuinely curious.
“Ha! I think Alec would opt for a crowded water park rather than climb any creature that can’t read an investment portfolio.” Now, it’s Mom’s turn to laugh.
I’m officially gobsmacked.
This whole situation could’ve gone down a million times worse. I can finally breathe, rolling my shoulders.
Both women talk warmly, apparently determined to make the best first impression they can under the strange circumstances.
That’s one giant fucking disaster averted.
Wendy hands off the horses to a stable-hand.
“Why don’t you guys come inside the big house and clean up?” she offers. “We’ll get you decent again. Would you like some coffee, Kerrigan? We’ve got that stuff from Kona you always love.”
“You’re a dear, but I’ll take some mint tea, if you have it. I’m watching my caffeine.”
“Of course!”
I slide my hand through Lena’s. She grins as I wince at the mud coating her palm.
“How screwed am I? Be honest,” she whispers as we follow Wendy through the side of the farmhouse.
“Less screwed than any girlfriend I ever brought around before. You’re acting human, and that’s the important part.”
“Fiancée, Brady,” she hisses. “That’s way bigger than some date.”
“Fake fiancée,” I growl. “Yeah, shit. Seeing as you’re the first woman I put a ring on, you’ve set the bar pretty high. But don’t let it go to your head.”
I just wonder if I’m following my own advice when it’s too easy to forget this is fake, dammit.
“Holy shit, the ring!” Her eyes bulge as she holds her hand up and stares at it miserably. “Can they even clean this?”
I take her dirty hand and bring it to my lips, gently clasping the muddy ring with my finger.
“The jeweler I went to can work miracles. Don’t worry.”
“That’s a relief.” She flashes me a laughing look as we step inside.
“I’m sorry as hell for skipping the warning, though. Feel free to murder me later.”
“No—what? Are you telling me you set this up? I thought it was a coincidence!”
Guilt slams into my gut again.