Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77611 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77611 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“The man holding the profiteroles is their daddy,” I tell Front Desk Veronica,
“That reminds me of that book again,” Connor says. “The one—”
“Stop, Connor. Trust me, buddy, you don’t want to talk about that now.”
“They’re so cute!” Veronica’s voice rises to a squeak that I completely understand. “Your band is setting up in the main dining room, so if you’re going to be busy getting ready for the party, I can keep them at the desk with me.” She steals a glance at Connor and blushes. “I really should get back there soon.”
“I’ve got the girls,” Jake interrupts, taking the leashes from my hand. “Uncle Michael asked if I could take them to the kids when we got here. Our dog Vini passed away from mouth cancer last year and Wes has been missing him. He’s only just started feeling ready to have a new dog in the house, and I think the girls can help.”
“Of course.” My chest aches just a little bit. I’m so used to the M&Ms following me around the cabin. To grabbing them up into my arms whenever I need a cuddle. And now they’re being taken away because… Well, because they were never mine to begin with.
I duck down to scratch them behind the ears. “Bye girls,” I say as they lick my hands lovingly. “I’ll miss you, but it was fun while it lasted.”
I wish I could have kept you.
When I stand again, I feel Michael’s presence behind me and turn to look up into his eyes. He doesn’t seem happy. Was the brotherly bonding a bust?
“I need your help in the kitchen.”
He does, does he? A prick of irritation bursts through my melancholy. Well, I just got back, and I need to change and rehearse and get to know Veronica a little better while obsessing over why the hell Bex and Val are with Ken and Brady. I don’t have time to play baker’s assistant again. I should tell him that. I should make my excuses, kiss his cheek and limp off into the sunset. Or up to my bedroom to wallow in private.
“Okay,” I say instead, because I’m broken.
If my reaction to him being a few minutes behind me on a damn snowmobile is anything to go by, going our separate ways is something I’m clearly not ready for yet. Maybe I like torturing myself with things I can never have now. If so, it’s a new development and I don’t think it’s healthy.
Veronica puts her hand on my shoulder. “I forgot! I set a pair of crutches aside for you after Connor told me about your ankle. Let me just—” She hotfoots it back into the lodge without finishing her sentence. She’s surprisingly spry.
“I don’t really need crutches,” I say to no one in particular. My roomie is staring after Veronica and looking lovestruck. “I bet you’re glad I talked you into coming up here, aren’t you?”
“So glad,” he says on an emphatic exhale. “Other than you almost dying in the woods, this has been the best weekend of my life.”
Same, my man.
Jake and an unusually subdued Bellamy have disappeared with the dogs, but Michael walks quietly behind us as we make our way toward the door. Connor keeps sending suspicious glances his way. “Can I help you with those boxes, Mike?”
He shakes his head without a word.
“It’s Michael,” I hiss at Connor. “Not everyone likes nicknames, Conman.”
“We’ll call you Numpy.”
“We are never calling me that.”
A panting Veronica meets us at the door, her cheeks rosier than ever as she hands me the crutches, and I really can’t turn them down since she went to all the trouble of getting them for me.
“The kitchen staff is setting up a brunch buffet in the lobby for the guests,” she tells Michael. “Which means you’ll have about an hour to prep and set up your desserts.”
He just nods and smiles. Why is he being so quiet now? Did he leave his voice box in the cabin? Did his brother punch him in the throat? Should I be worried?
Veronica takes our jackets, and while we’re waiting for her in the lobby, Seamus comes striding over with his twin brother, Stephen. “Michael, I’m so glad you’re here. When I invited you, I was hoping I’d have more time to introduce you to the rest of the family before the party. I had no idea we were in for that storm. You remember my brother Stephen. Can I take one of those containers?”
Michael shakes his head, and when Seamus doesn’t ask what the hell is wrong with him, I realize that this might be what Jake meant when he said his father thought he was shy.
When I can’t stand the silence, I decide to jump in. “I think he’s got it, Seamus. He’s been working on the elements of it all weekend, and he’s just excited to put them all together. He told me your kids asked and he couldn’t say no to them. I think he likes being an uncle,” I add with what I hope is an endearing grin.