Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 70004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
He caught me and pulled me into his arms, holding on tight as I soaked in the feel of him surrounding me again.
The smell.
God, I loved his smell.
I wanted to bottle it and wear it forever just to remind myself what it smelled like when I was so close to him.
The smell reminded me of everything I’d forgotten last night, including our talk and Romeo’s surprise arrival.
“Any way you would want to get up and cook for an angry mob of people?”
I blinked. “How many is in this angry mob? And do I get coffee and a shower first?”
“You get whatever you want,” Romeo promised. “As long as I’m capable of giving it, at least.”
I hummed in happiness.
“And to answer your other question, your family is here. Apollo and my sister are here. And the guys.”
“The guys?”
“The guys,” he confirmed. “You haven’t met them all yet.”
Excitement and worry swarmed my belly. “Do you think they’ll like me?”
I’d heard all about them from Romeo. But I’d yet to meet them all.
“Get showered. I left you some ibuprofen and Tylenol on the counter with a glass of water.” He leveled me with a look. “Drink it all.”
I grinned. “Yes, sir.”
He winked, which set my ovaries on fire, and ducked out of the room.
I took the world’s quickest shower, braided my hair, and got mostly dressed. Though I did make sure to put on the newest sweatshirt that was left on the bed.
And, bonus, it still smelled like him.
I was on cloud nine as I came out of my bedroom to the fullest house I’d ever had.
There were so many people that they were taking up my living room and my kitchen, and still some of the men were standing.
“Your girl’s here.”
I looked to the tall, Viking-like male that was holding up one of the walls.
“Odin, that’s my girl, Mable. Mable, this is Odin.”
“Nice to meet you, Odin,” I said softly.
Odin grunted.
My lips twitched, but it was Birdee’s “Jesus” that had me grinning from ear to ear.
She hated when men grunted.
Though, maybe hated was too small of a word.
“And the others from left to right are Weaver, Gentry, Creed, King, and Courtland.”
I waved at all the very large, very intimidating men. “Nice to meet y’all.”
I moved toward Romeo and whispered, “Not that I’m upset at all, but why is everyone here?”
Romeo looped his arm around me and pulled me into his chest. “Updates on your stepmother. And your friend…”
“Jesus Christ on a cracker, it’s cold out there,” Rocky called out. “Hey, I thought we were getting food?”
“I’m working on that right now,” I lied. “What are you doing here, Rocky?”
Before she could answer, Romeo’s sister walked up and smiled. “Hi, I’m Dru. I’m not trying to be rude, but I’ve been dying to meet you. I’ve heard nothing but everything about you for a week.”
My belly tilted. “Is that right?”
“He’s ass over tits for you,” Apollo said. “And we’re here because we’re hungry. We’ve heard nothing but how great of a cook you are for a solid week now. She’s here because she’s giving you updates on your court case that you won.”
“I won?” I asked.
“Your father has officially given up.” Rocky beamed. “He said that he’d pay everything from back taxes on the property to everything else we could want.”
“But why?”
Birdee shrugged. “I have no idea. But I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.”
I wasn’t either, but still.
My luck wasn’t that good.
There was something fishy, and I would have to get to the bottom of it.
But in the meantime, I had a crowd of people to wow with my culinary skills, and I found that I was super excited to do it.
So I cooked.
We ate.
We had a great time.
And I forgot.
I forgot that I was supposed to be questioning my happiness.
It was hard to see the bad when you were surrounded by so much good.
“Are you happy, baby?” Romeo asked hours later as we watched the last of our friends leave into the gently falling snow.
I looked up at Romeo and whispered, “I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
His lips softly brushed mine, once. Twice. Three times.
“Hey, Romeo?”
“Yeah, darling?”
“Take me to bed. I’m dying for you.”
He growled, but did just that.
He took me to my bed.
He stripped us both completely naked.
Then he made the sweetest, most beautiful love to me.
When he was done, and I was once again cleaned up and curled into his arms, he asked into the dark, “Will you marry me, Mable? Will you let me get rid of that awful last name and give you mine?”
“But is it your last name, Romeo?” I tittered.
He squeezed me tight. “It is if I say it is.”
I giggled. “I guess I could marry you.”
“You guess?” he asked, his fingers sneaking up my sides.
I was already laughing by the time he reached my armpits and started tickling.