Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
The bouquet of roses was in a vase on the table between the chairs opposite them.
Sorcha was on the floor beside the couch.
The TV was on low, and Dair was watching a tennis match while Blake—cuddled to his side, her back to the couch, their legs tangled—napped.
He’d made her thick slices of radically buttered toast and Keiller’s marmalade, which she’d wolfed down like she hadn’t eaten in a year.
The boots came off next.
The cardie after that, exposing her turtleneck was sleeveless, and they’d started talking while drinking coffee on the couch, when he noticed she was fading. So he suggested they stretch out and watch some TV while she had a rest.
She was out like a light within ten minutes.
His phone vibed so he reached to it on the button-top, upholstered, navy ottoman that served double duty as a coffee table.
It was a text from his sister.
She’d sent an image or a video, and the word, Warning.
He opened it and felt his mouth get tight when he saw it was a picture of him and Blake snogging at the airport.
She looked phenomenal, and it was an absolute turn on to have visible proof of how into him she was, and he wasn’t hiding he felt the same thing for her.
But…fuck.
That didn’t take long.
He had one arm around her on the couch, so he had to thumb the phone to hit the image
Another text came in from his sister as he was scowling at a gossip rag’s Instagram post, spreading the word that Breaking: Scotland’s Top Rugby Hottie and New York’s Finest Bachelorette Are Making a Statement.
“Fucking hell,” he muttered as he went back to his texts.
I better see her while she’s in town, Davi said.
Using his thumb, he replied, You will.
He thought he was having a care, but Blake stirred, then stretched, and finally lifted her head off his shoulder.
He tossed his phone on the ottoman and looked down at her.
“All good?” he asked quietly.
“How long was I out?” she asked blearily.
“A couple of hours.”
“Yuck,” she mumbled.
“Ye mentioned ye dinnae sleep well on planes,” he noted, and she had, between massive bites of toast.
“I got some. But I don’t want to sleep all day.”
“Travel takes it out of ye. This is why I didnae plan anything for today.” He stroked her back. “So just relax.”
She settled back into him but reached out to pet Sorcha’s head.
He didn’t know whether or not to tell her about the Instagram post.
“Sorcha needs a walk, and I need fresh air,” she stated.
Sorcha was always happy for a walk.
And Dair was happy Blake wanted to take her on one.
“Got shoes without six-inch heels on them?” he asked.
She turned her head his way. “My booties don’t have six-inch heels.”
He smiled at her. “Five, then.”
“I’ll have you know, I can probably play basketball in those heels. And they aren’t five inches, either.”
“Since I’d rather ye not be hobbling around on crutches, I’ll take your word for it.”
She aimed just her eyeballs at the ceiling.
He bent his head to touch his mouth to hers.
When he pulled away, he said, “Let’s take my girl out.”
They got off of the couch. She put on her boots and cardie, he put on his trainers, and they headed to the front door where he kept Sorcha’s lead on a hook.
But even if his pup sensed what they were about and was winding around them in excitement, before they went out into the world, Dair decided to show her the Instagram post.
“Need ye to see something first, baby,” he said.
She turned to him.
He pulled the post up on his phone and showed her.
“Oh my God, it’s already starting,” she stated irately, glaring at the phone.
“Dinnae worry about it.”
Her amazing eyes went from his mobile to him, and he could see plainly she was absolutely worried.
“Aren’t you worried about it?” she asked.
“Wasted emotion.” He wrapped a hand around the side of her neck. “Remember, this isn’t new to me.”
“It still stinks.”
“Aye.” He gave a nod. “It does. But it’s out of our control. Though, I ken ye dinnae want to disturb her on her honeymoon, but it’s ending, and ye might want to give Alex a heads-up so she doesn’t find out via social media you and me are a thing.”
Blake nodded. “Good idea.”
“And now I have photographic proof of how into me you are.”
“Oh my God, you’re insufferable,” she lied.
This meant Dair was smiling as he reached for the lead.
Sorcha, as was her usual, went mental.
He clipped it on, and they headed out.
They strolled, linked, while Sorcha reacquainted herself with the scents of the neighborhood.
Suddenly, Blake asked, “Did Signe like dogs?”
“Aye,” he answered. “We had a prenup. Dad insisted and thank fuck he did. Still would have paid the woman more to be rid of her. I had a beardie when I met her. We adopted a border collie together. Since she didnae have anything to fight about because she signed on to what she’d get if we didnae work, she went after custody of the dogs.”