Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
“Dallas…”
I spin around. “Not a fucking chance!” I growl. “I agreed to the teaching because it will put me in Callum Ames’s path on a regular basis, being in St. Carmen, but I am not feigning abstinence!”
Fuck, no.
“It doesn’t have to be forever,” Liv explains, trying to make it sound less horrendous. “Even just seminary and coming home to be in McNealty’s orbit, gaining access to the people he does…”
I gesture to Trace. “What about him?”
“Everyone’s happy in their assignments,” he says, looking like he’s trying to be invisible.
Yeah, I’m sure he is! He gets to own a bar, stay out late, drink, and keep an eye on good-looking ass strolling in every night.
Army will have a badge. Authority.
I got stuck being the teacher. I’m going to have to talk to all their pricky parents and enforce rules I don’t even follow now.
And Iron, he…
I pause, hearing footsteps above, all of us turning as he and Paige jog down the stairs, laughing.
“Well, not everyone has an assignment yet,” I point out.
We watch her wrap her arms around him, her tight red dress hugging every curve of her ass. “God, you’re crazy,” she breathes hard. “Don’t forget about me.”
“Thanks,” he says, holding the towel around his waist. “I needed that.”
He opens the door for her to leave, and then he closes it, spotting us all out here.
I turn my head to Macon.
He glances at his wife.
She bites back her smile, and before I know it Liv, Trace, and Army are all joining in.
Iron walks to the door, his grin falling when he sees us all staring at him. “What?”
I snort, laughter breaking out around me.
“Sit down,” Macon tells him. “We gotta talk.”
“Oooh,” Callum coos as I finish the story, coming in to whisper in my ear. “I’m glad it wasn’t you, I guess. You would’ve looked hot in a clerical suit, but I would’ve had a hard time being alone with you in a confessional.”
I lean in to his mouth, closing my eyes. Same here.
Liv and Clay drift to the other end of the pool, caught in whispers like us.
“I think we would’ve found a way, though,” he points out, coming back up to face me. “St. Carmen and Sanoa Bay are the strongest and most harmonious they’ve ever been. You were always going to be mine.” He holds my eyes. “And I was always going to be yours.”
It was meant to be.
Taking his face in my hand, I run my thumb over his cheekbone. I hate to sound sentimental, but he’s right. Life in the Bay is as good as we always hoped, and I may not have wanted to fall in love, but thank God I realized that I can’t be my greatest purpose. He’s the air in my lungs.
Shit, I’m happy.
“I still can’t believe I deserve you,” I tell him, trying to hold back my grin. “Army, Trace, Anna-Katherine…” I sigh. “They deserved to find someone before me.” I kiss him again and again. “And Iron. We definitely need to get Iron laid when he’s back from seminary tonight.”
“Your games are for me,” Callum chides, grinning. “Leave him alone.”
I come in to shut him up with a kiss.
He evades me. “Because I’m dying to see how this plays out.”
“Stick around.” I brush his lips with mine, a jolt springing from my chest to my stomach. “We’ll keep you entertained.”