Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Both Mum and Ains knew I was head over heels for Maia because, along with Callan and John, they were my confidantes. I hadn’t told Callan the extent of my feelings because Beth was Maia’s cousin and I didn’t want him to have a secret from Beth. John knew, though.
“Or a genius idea. Gives me time to win her over.” I grinned. “And I have every confidence I can do it.”
“She’d be a fool not to fall for you, son,” Mum opined loyally.
“Maybe,” Ains huffed. “But she’s also just gotten out of a very serious relationship. I doubt Maia wants to jump into anything serious with Baird.”
Irritated, I scowled at my sister. “Why are you pissing in my Cheerios?”
“Baird,” Mum muttered, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
My sister pinned me with her bold stare. “Because I love you and I don’t want you to get your heart broken. Plus, you do realize the tabloids will be all over this.”
“That’s the point. Cleaning up my image. Baird McMillan, family man.”
“Family man?” Mum squeaked. “Is there something else I should know?”
I winked at her. “Not yet, anyway.”
Ainsley made a sound like she was going to be sick.
“Okay, I want grandbabies, but twenty-six is too young.”
“Maia is thirty. We can’t leave it too much longer.” I was only half joking.
“She’s older than your sister?”
“Four years is nothing.”
“I don’t know. Maia’s a pretty mature thirty-year-old.” Ainsley studied me, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Maybe you’re not grown up enough for her.”
I pushed off the counter, gesturing to myself. “I am mature. I am fucking Bitto Storico.”
“Language.” That was Mum.
“Sorry. I am bloody Bitto Storico.”
“I give up,” Mum murmured.
Ainsley screwed up her face. “What is Bitto Storico?”
Mum already had her phone out googling it, and she let out a bark of laughter and held the screen up for Ains.
Ainsley read it out loud. “It’s the world’s most mature cheese.” She shook her head while Mum giggled to herself. “One—how do you know these things? And two, cheese? You choose cheese for your analogy? Really?”
“Why not? It’s delicious. As am I.”
“Okay, okay.” Mum stopped laughing and gave me her authoritative face. “If you can’t have a serious discussion about a serious thing you’re about to undertake, do we really think you should be doing it?”
“Och, you know I’m being serious. I’ll prove how serious I’m being.” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “You said I could have Aunt Sigrid’s ring when the time came.” I referred to my aunt Sigrid from our Norwegian side of the family. They stayed in touch with us via Gran, and we’d even visited their home just outside Oslo when we were kids. And they’d come to visit us. Aunt Sigrid was one of Gran’s four siblings. She had no children of her own and she’d died a year after her husband. She’d split her small estate between her nieces and nephews. Mum was her favorite, and she’d left her engagement ring to her. Mum had then promised me that I could give it to the lassie I chose to spend the rest of my life with.
I didn’t know much about jewelry, but I knew that ring was cool as fuck and way better suited to Maia than the monstrosity Will the Prick had given her.
“She has violet eyes,” I metaphorically pulled the ace out of my sleeve. “It’s meant to be.”
“Oh my God.” Ainsley gaped at me. “So she does.”
“Really?” Mum pressed her fingers to her lips, eyes wide.
Because Aunt Sigrid’s engagement ring was a sapphire almost the exact color as Maia’s eyes.
The kitchen fell silent for a few seconds. Then Mum grimaced. “I think I’m more worried than ever. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I shrugged, unable to do my cocky “nothing ever bothers me” act with my mum and Ains. “I think she’s worth the risk.”
Mum shot up from the chair and I’d barely got over the surprise of the sudden movement before I was pulled into her embrace. “I hope it all works out the way you want, son.” She leaned back to clasp my face in her palms. “I’ll go get the ring. And I’ll want to meet Maia. Very, very soon.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat at the bright tears glistening in my mum’s eyes.
It hit me that if I didn’t convince Maia to give me a real chance, I’d be breaking more than my own heart.
Mum quietly left the kitchen to get the ring.
I turned to Ainsley.
“I’ll break her face if she hurts you,” she announced, tilting her chin up, dark eyes flashing with protectiveness.
I contemplated my big sister. “Appreciate that, Ains. But I’d appreciate it even more if you’d give Maia a chance.”
“I don’t know Maia well enough to not like her. Do I think she’s a bit aloof? Yes. You clearly see another side to her, so I’m inclined to like her because of how much you like her. But that doesn’t mean I won’t break that gorgeous face of hers if she hurts you.”