Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
All my friends have been back in New York now for weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever spent so long away from Manhattan. It’s coming up on four weeks. Even Fisher and Byron aren’t in town. It means I can spend all of my time with Iris now. Or working at the farm. Or back at the Club, taking business calls. Iris and I both work in the family business. We’re both tied to them in ways that neither of us chose, but we can’t walk away. Yesterday, my father actually called to ask me where I was and why I was blowing off meetings. I can’t remember the last time he called me himself. He usually sends messages through his assistant. I’ve had plenty of those over the last few weeks.
New York is calling. I don’t know how long I can avoid her.
I take the stairs to the two-story farmhouse two at a time and knock on the door. I have my laptop in the SUV. But I haven’t told Iris any of my plans. I didn’t want her to tell me all the ways it wouldn’t work. And I didn’t want Iris’s father and Bray to feel like this was coming from Iris and me. If they don’t like it, I don’t want them to think any differently about Iris.
I’m ambushing all of them equally.
I’ve tried to be subtle in my questioning, but over the last weeks on the farm, I’ve been able to talk to lots of the workers about Wilde’s Farm, including Bray and Iris. In between, I’ve also been doing research about the industry across America and globally. Basically, I’ve been an undercover business consultant for Wilde’s Farm.
“Hey,” Bray says when he opens the door. “You can just come right on in. No need to knock.”
I chuckle. So completely not like New York. “Thanks.”
Bray and Mr. Wilde have softened toward me since Mr. Wilde’s interrogation. He asked me every question other than my inside leg measurement and my net worth. I was completely honest with him. I like that he’s so careful with Iris’s heart. I hope he realizes I am too.
“You want a drink?” Bray offers as we go into the kitchen.
“I’m good. Is your dad about?” I ask. “Your sister?”
Mr. Wilde’s hand flies up from the couch and he waves. “I’m doing a crossword. You’ll have to help me finish it if you want my attention. If you’re asking me for permission to marry my daughter, come back in a year’s time with a criminal record check and a printout of your bank balance.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “I’ll take the crossword. For now.”
I don’t miss the way Bray’s eyebrows shoot up into his hairline. I head to the couch and Mr. Wilde hands me the newspaper.
“Jeez. You didn’t say it was The New York Times.”
“Didn’t realize you were going to take me up on the offer. Anyway, I’ve done all the hard ones. Only two clues left.”
I grin. Yeah, because everyone leaves the easy questions until last. I scan the clues. Crosswords aren’t really my thing, but I’ve been known to get a few right answers. I look to see what letters we already have. “Eight across. Lunacy.”
Mr. Wilde sits up straight in his seat and takes the paper from my hand. “I think you might be right. I was thinking lupine, but it doesn’t fit. Lunacy works.”
I shrug. “Like you say, you saved the easy ones until last.” I glance around, looking to see a sign that Iris’s in the house. I really want to speak to all three of them together.
“Is Iris here?”
“Iris!” Bray shouts. “Your boyfriend’s here!”
I grin at being called Iris’s boyfriend. I can’t remember the last time I was anyone’s boyfriend. I can’t remember the last time I wanted to be. But I definitely want to be Iris’s boyfriend. I want to be her everything.
The creak of the floorboards tells me Iris’s heard her brother. We’re going to dinner this evening. This time at the Club. Not because I don’t like Pizza Meet Ya, but because it’s good to have a change sometimes. I think I’ve eaten just about everything on that menu twice over now.
Iris appears in a Vivian Cross t-shirt and leggings. Her wet hair is pulled back and piled on top of her head, and it reminds me of the first time I ever laid eyes on her at the theater. She’s stunning. Effortlessly elegant.
But I know more about her now that makes her even more beautiful. She’s kind and clever and makes me think. I knew she was special as soon as I saw her. I just didn’t understand how special.
“Jack?” Iris asks. “What are you doing here?”
“I actually wanted to talk to all three of you about something. Before we go out to dinner. About the farm,” I clarify, before Mr. Wilde gets out his shotgun. “Next time, I’ll bring my bank balance printout,” I say, directly to Mr. Wilde.