Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 568(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
“Because he went for a drive to Oxfordshire. And he brought me along too.”
I jerk so hard, I could have been electrocuted. “What?”
“What?” Jude mouths.
“I said don’t be mad!” Mum cries, and it all falls into place.
Oh. My. God. “You’re here?” I screech.
“Oh, Amelia, it’s rather fancy, isn’t it?”
“Wait,” I say, abrupt, as Jude moves back, obviously concluding I’m not a risk to myself anymore. His face. Christ, he looks like he’s seen a ghost. “Where, Mum? Where exactly are you?”
“In the lobby.”
“They’re in the lobby,” I say, despite knowing he heard because his eyes widen slightly. “Don’t move.” I hang up. “They’re in the lobby. My parents are in the lobby.” I’m going to kill them.
Jude’s cheeks expand, and his eyes fall to his open jeans, where his dick is shrinking before my eyes. “Jesus,” he mumbles, fixing himself. “I thought I’d have a little more time to prepare for this.” He takes my arm and helps me off the counter.
“I’ll go,” I say, while Jude swipes up my top and slips it over my head. I feed my arms through and grab my leggings, hopping on one leg as I feed my other foot through. “I’ll tell them you’re out on business.”
He turns his eyes onto me, not impressed. “I’m a grown man, Amelia. I’m not hiding from your parents.” Leaning in, he reaches for my elbow and steadies me so I can get my other foot in and pull my leggings up. “It’s not ideal, but here we are.”
“Jude, please, I beg you.” I bunch his T-shirt in my fists and immediately regret it. “Fuck.”
“Will you stop fucking hurting yourself?” He snatches my hand up and checks it, shaking his head. “You need to have this looked at—it should be healing by now.”
“I don’t think our relationship is ready for my father yet.”
“You mean strong enough? What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?”
“No, I don’t mean that. I mean, I . . .” What do I mean? “It’s . . .”
Jude smiles at my stammer, kissing my cheek. “I can handle your father.”
I snort. “Your bravery is commendable.”
“I’m not avoiding them, Amelia, and since they’ve taken it upon themselves to pay us a surprise visit, I will accommodate them and show your father that you’re in good hands.” He cups my boobs and gives them a cheeky squeeze.
“That’s not funny.”
“Stop stressing.”
“You don’t know my father.”
“Well, I’m about to. Get your trainers on.”
I jut my bottom lip out, and Jude curses, lifting me onto the counter and getting them on himself. “Your lack of cooperation is only delaying the inevitable.”
“I’m happy to delay it.”
“I thought you sorted things out with your father.”
“I did, but that means nothing, and it certainly doesn’t mean his brain-to-mouth filter is fixed.”
Jude lifts me from the counter, takes my hand, and starts leading the way. “I’ve told you; I have wide shoulders.”
He said that when we went to meet my friends, and then he stormed away from the table to calm himself down when Charley said something out of place. My father doesn’t see his faults. And if he does, it takes him a while, but he never admits he’s wrong. He just waits for me to visit and make him tea, which is code for We’re okay until you piss me off again soon.
My apprehension grows with each step we take down to the lobby, my eyes darting, looking for them.
“I said, stop stressing,” Jude orders quietly.
“I can’t help it. Just take everything he says with a pinch of salt, okay?” Jude’s about to get a strong dose of my family, and I’m sure I’m about to cringe to London and back.
“It’s no big deal.”
“What if he insults you?” I ask. “He doesn’t mean to; it’s just he has no self-awareness sometimes.”
“I can’t believe how worked up you’re getting.”
“I don’t want him to put you off,” I say, surprising myself and Jude.
He stops halfway down the stairs and faces me, his eyes level with mine from where he’s standing on the step below. “And there we have it.” His smile is fond. “Amelia, my brilliant, gorgeous girlfriend, there is nothing in this world that could put me off you.”
My heart melts to nothing. “There’s nothing that could put me off you either,” I reply.
“I truly hope you mean that.”
“I do.” I push my mouth to his. “I love you.”
“I love you more. We get this big dramatic meet over with, we finish what we started upstairs, and then we’re booking our getaway, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Right.”
“Are you sure?” I ask. “My father is a lot.”
“And my love for you is a lot a lot, so the balance of a lot is in my favour.” Stroking my cheek, he comes close, nose to nose. “Are you going to argue with me?” I shake my head, making our noses rub. “Good. Let’s go meet the parents.”