Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
David pointed to his brother. “You say that now, but you haven’t been to college yet. Once you leave River Falls, a whole new world is going to open up.”
All eyes landed on me.
“Just look at the beautiful woman Ladd’s brought home,” Lilith said, winking at me.
“That’s true,” Mike agreed. “Maybe we shouldn’t be fighting over one girl when there are a lot more fish in the sea.”
“Michael Owen Wilde!” Nellie scolded as everyone else laughed.
I covered my mouth to keep from doing the same.
“I know I raised you better than that,” Gus said, glaring at his son.
Mike attempted not to smile and lost.
“Why don’t you draw straws?” David asked.
Gus pointed at him. “Don’t make me stand up and slap you upside the head, son.”
David laughed. “Dad, I’m kidding.”
“You better be.”
I couldn’t help but giggle before I looked across the table to Ladd. He winked, and I felt the butterflies in my stomach once again.
The rest of breakfast was filled with conversation about what was going on the rest of the day. That night, the family would celebrate Christmas and open gifts, so I was hoping we could head to River Falls since I had a few things left to buy. I’d wanted to meet Ladd’s family and get to know them before buying them gifts.
“Are the roads clear enough to head into town for some last-minute shopping?” I asked Ladd as I helped clean the kitchen. David, Jason, and Mike had nearly run from the table when Ladd also volunteered to clean up. Nellie and Gus headed out to the barn to make sure everything was ready for tomorrow.
“Oh yeah, we didn’t get that much snow, and the county will have plowed the streets. I’ll take Dad’s truck, since it handles the roads better.”
“You don’t mind?” I asked, drying off a pan and handing it to him.
“If it means spending time with you, then no, I don’t mind at all. I know I already said this, but you don’t have to buy my family presents.”
“I know I don’t, but I want to. Nothing big, just a little something. Your mother and father, as well as Lilith, have been so welcoming. I just adore them all.”
“Even the brothers?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Even the brothers.”
After everything was cleaned and put away, I wiped down the table and counters, and we headed upstairs to get ready to leave.
“Make sure you dress warm, Viv.”
I stopped at my door and looked back at him, rolling my eyes. “I grew up in Colorado, Ladd.”
He grinned. “I know, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to treat you like a child.”
“You’re not. I know you’re just concerned for my well-being, and I love you for that.”
Mike walked out of his room and promptly gagged.
“I really can’t wait until you fall in love someday, Mike. I hope it hits your ass so hard, you won’t know up from down,” Ladd said as he playfully punched his brother on the arm.
He just laughed. “There’s no way I’ll ever be as sappy as you, Ladd.”
“You make it sound like that would be a terrible thing,” I said to Mike. “Your brother’s amazing, and I feel fortunate to have his love.”
Mike glanced at me and winked, but when he looked back at his brother, his smile turned to a snarled lip. “Gross.”
Ladd rolled his eyes and pushed his brother, who started to laugh, then asked, “Where are you guys going?”
“Into town. Viv wants to do some shopping.”
“Can I come with you?”
Ladd looked at me with raised brows.
“Yes! We’d love to have you come along, wouldn’t we, Ladd?”
“If you say so.”
Mike fist-pumped and turned to head back to his room. “Give me five to change.”
When his door slammed shut, Ladd slowly shook his head. “There go my plans to make out with you in the back seat.”
I giggled. “You’re crazy. I just need to change into warmer socks. Should I meet you downstairs?”
“Sounds good.” He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Meet us downstairs, Mike!”
I winced. “You couldn’t have just knocked on his door?”
“Will do!” Mike yelled back.
Ladd shrugged. “If we ever have boys someday, you’ll understand.”
With that, he walked into his bedroom and left me standing there with his words tumbling around in my head. A huge smile spread over my face as I slipped into my room.
Those words were all I could think about as I quickly changed my socks and grabbed my gloves and coat. Ladd had casually made comments about our future before, but this time he’d dropped kids into the conversation. The crazy thing was, I wasn’t the least bit freaked out by it. The idea of spending the rest of my life with Ladd was thrilling. After all, we were in our senior year of college, with only the spring semester left. It was time to start thinking about where our futures might take us. I hoped it would be somewhere together.