Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
He released me and bent down to pick up the contract and pen. He held both out to me without another word, smiling ruefully.
I looked at the papers, then at him, then back down. Goosebumps prickled all over my skin.
I love you.
They were words I heard a lot.
But never had I heard them said to me so softly, so carefully, so goddamn honestly.
With a swallow, I took the contract from him. “Well, I, um, have to have a lawyer look it over first. It’s not that I don’t trust you. I mean, I probably don’t, but never sign anything without someone else checking it and all that.”
His lips tugged to one side. “Of course. Take as long as you need.”
“Um. Thank you.” I sniffed and tried to open the envelope to put the contract in, but the paper kept getting caught.
“Here.” Oliver took it from me smoothly, as if he hadn’t just professed his love and not gotten a response. He slid the paper into the envelope, but I caught it just as he tucked the flap in.
The tremor.
That one, little, barely perceptible shake of his hand that said so much.
“I’m sorry I ran away.” I looked at our feet. “And called you a potato. And threw a dildo at you.”
“It wasn’t exactly the first time.” Laughter tinged his tone, and when I looked up, I drew in a deep breath.
There was such warmth, such genuine affection in his eyes, that it made my heart skip.
“Can I throw something else at you?”
He paused, tilting his head to one side. “Is that a question you should be asking?”
“Okay, fine. How are you with catching?”
“Uh… It’s been a while since I’ve caught anything but a cold, but all right, I guess?”
“Okay, good.”
“Why? What are you—oomph!”
I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, burying my face in his shoulder.
“Ooft,” he laughed out, grabbing my thighs and hauling me up his body before he wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly. “I didn’t think you meant yourself.”
“What else could I throw at you?” I asked, turning my face into his neck and burying it there. “I’m empty-handed.”
“You can throw yourself at me whenever you like. I promise I’ll catch you every time.”
I pulled back and grabbed the sides of his head. “This doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
His eyes sparkled. “Oh, I assume I have at least one month of sporadic pain to go through before you’ll even consider it.”
I nodded. “I’m being generous because I, too, messed up last night. I jumped to conclusions when I should have just asked you, then I ran away when it got tough. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you.”
“Hey.” He slid his hand up my back, resting it between my shoulder-blades. “If that’s what you needed last night, then it’s fine. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your emotions.”
“That’s the hottest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah, I can’t take credit for it. My mother said it this morning.”
“Ah, that explains it. I knew I loved her.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows went up. “So, you love my mother?”
His tone was teasing, but the uncertainty that he felt was in his eyes. A tiny, shadowy hint of apprehension that flared to life at my words.
“I do.” I brushed my thumbs over his cheeks, bringing my face close to his. “But I love you more.”
I lowered my lips, meeting his in a soft, sweet kiss. The vague sound of cheering and whooping that sounded suspiciously like Isa and George barely registered in my ears as Oliver tightened his grip on me. I squeezed his waist in return, flexing my feet to keep my grip on him, and kissed him again.
And again.
And again.
“Rose, you’re scaring the children!”
I pulled back at Isa’s call and looked around to see both Ryan and Abby looking up at us. Their chubby hands were pressed to their faces, and they were both peeking through their fingers, and both had expressions of absolute disgust.
I understood them entirely.
It was gross.
“Sorry, kids,” I said quietly, and Oliver put me down.
Abby slowly pulled her hands away from her face and looked at her ring. “Mister Duke, do you need this like Mister George did?”
“No,” I said quickly while he laughed. “No, no, we’re good, thanks.”
Oliver let me go and walked over to her, then crouched in front of her. “One day.”
“Oh. Is Miss Rose gonna be the duckess?”
Duckess.
Christ.
That hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“One day,” Oliver repeated, making me twitch. “When she’s ready. She’d make a great one, don’t you think?”
“Hmm.” Ryan tilted his head to the side. “Are you, like, the kin’ of Hanbwee?”
“Not quite,” he answered. “Maybe my ancestors were kind of like that in the olden days, but I’m not in charge. I just really care about it here.”