Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
I expected to lose something when Lucy married Oliver. Lucy and I aren't right down the hall from each other anymore. We aren't in the same apartment or dorm. Her life is here now, and I still have law school ahead of me. My best friend has entered a new phase of her life, one that I can't follow her into. But…Ridley makes me feel like I found something instead.
Myself. My future. Love.
I love him.
I shiver in excitement, blinking my eyes open to look over at him.
Except…he isn't in bed beside me.
Of course he isn't. He was probably up with the sun.
Life on a vineyard is intense. It never really stops, not even in the dead of winter. He's up early every morning, checking on one thing or another, arguing with his cousin, Bastian, or fixing something.
I roll from the bed with a groan. My toes sink into the plush white rug stretched across the hardwood floor before I pad toward the bathroom.
"Good grief." I blink at my reflection in the mirror over the ornate sink, caught off guard by how wild I look this morning. My hair is a mess. Mascara is smudged beneath my eyes. Ridley's marks are all over me.
I poke around for a spare toothbrush, not really surprised when I find an unopened pack beneath the sink. I know they aren't there because he brings women home with him regularly. Like me, Ridley was a virgin until last night. Well, he was mostly a virgin. We've been doing all kinds of naughty things all over this vineyard for two weeks already.
But the toothbrushes are there because he plans for everything. He's meticulous in the most charming way.
Especially when it comes to giving me orgasms. Oh, yeah. He was definitely meticulous about those, demanding more than one every single time he was inside me last night.
Heat unfurls at the reminder, and I groan, quickly brushing my teeth to distract myself. He might not have needed a recovery period last night, but judging by the way every muscle in my body aches this morning, I do.
Once I've finished brushing my teeth, I take a quick shower, groaning again at the smell of his body wash all over me.
"I have it so freaking bad," I mutter to myself, chuckling.
My phone buzzes as I step out of the shower. I wrap a towel around myself and hurry back to the bedroom to scoop it up.
Lucy: I'm married!
I laugh to myself, genuinely happy for her. Oliver has always treated her like a princess. I'm so damn thrilled she's already pregnant. Thank God her dad didn't freak out entirely. It would have broken her heart into pieces.
Me: I know!
Me: Why are you texting me? Aren't you supposed to be tied up in your husband's bed right now?
Lucy: He had to let me up so we could get to the airport. We're already on board. I just wanted to tell you that I love you.
I smile at her message.
Me: I love you too.
I stoop to scoop my dress up from the floor, not that I'll be wearing it out of here this morning. Ridley tore the delicate fabric, trying to get me out of it last night. Apparently, the man has no patience.
For the record, that isn't a complaint.
Lucy: How are things with you and Ridley? Don't think I didn't see the two of you sneaking away last night.
I grin at her message, pausing my search for my bra to type out a response.
Me: Who me? Don't know what you're talking about.
I spot my bra and panties on the floor and snag them before she can respond.
Lucy: You're a terrible liar, Paisley Molina. But I'm going to let you get away with it because our flight is about to take off. We will be discussing this later!
I chuckle to myself. Of course she isn't letting me off that easily. But I'm not sure what to say. Ridley and I had an amazing night. I'm head over heels for him.
But…he's supposed to leave for Italy today, and I have to head back to Stanford. How is this going to work? I have a million questions and no answers. All I know is that I want it to work. Desperately.
The thought of him leaving already hurts.
God, this wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to fall in love. But Ridley? Well, I don't think it's possible to fit a man like him onto an agenda. He's not an item on a checklist or something that comes with a timeline.
I don't regret meeting him. Besides, Stanford is only three hours from here. Once he's back from Italy, we can find a way to make it work until I graduate…right?
Anxiety trembles through me.
Me: Have fun!
Lucy sends me a thumbs-up in response.
I exit out of our messages, pulling up Ridley's number to find out where he is, but the line rings once before going straight to voicemail.