Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“You want to settle down, do you?” It’s a question I would never ask, but I want the answer from her as much as I want to kiss her.
“Yes.” There is no hesitation in her reply. “However, I don’t want to settle if that makes sense. I want a partner in life. Someone I know will love me unconditionally, like Grant and Aurora. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that your brother isn’t one hundred percent devoted, head over heels in love with my sister. And her with him.”
“So you want to marry Grant?” I tease.
“No!” She smacks playfully at my arm. “I just want someone who looks at me the way he looks at Aurora.”
“I get it. All three of my brothers have been lucky to find great partners in life.”
“And you’re still looking?” she questions.
“Yep. I’m just waiting for the right woman.”
“And what is your idea of the right woman?”
You. “Someone who is with me for me, and all my quirks, and not my family’s money.”
“That has to be hard.”
I shrug. “We’re used to it. All five of us had to deal with it, and Royce’s first wife pretty much married him because of it. That’s why he fought his feelings for Sawyer so hard. He didn’t trust himself to choose again, and right this time.”
“I’d say he did well for himself. Sawyer is great.”
“She really is. So, what do you want to do today?” I change the subject. Talking about this just makes me want to kiss her even more. Who am I kidding? Everything Aspen does makes me want to kiss her. It doesn’t matter what we’re talking about.
“Cookies. I saw the dough in the fridge, and it needs to be made so it doesn’t go to waste. How are your cookie decorating skills, Riggins?”
“I know my way around a cookie.” I smirk, and her face turns beet red.
“You!” She shakes her head. “Dishes. I cooked. I’m going to run upstairs and… make sure I unplugged the hairdryer. I’ll be right back.” She races out of the room like her ass is on fire, but that’s okay because I saw those hazel eyes, and they were filled with desire. Desire for me. Today is going to be another great day.
Chapter 9
Aspen
“I can’t believe your mom thought of all of this,” I tell Conrad as I cut out another heart-shaped cookie to place on the baking sheet.
“She’s always been one for details,” he says, adding his own cut-out version of Xs and Os onto the sheet.
“Perfect.” Picking up the sheet, I place our final batch in the oven and set the timer. “Now, it’s time to drag out all the decorating supplies.” I busy myself doing just that. When I turn around, I find Conrad watching me intently. “Thanks for this,” I say, holding up my hands that are full of icing and sprinkles.
“That was all Mom.”
“No. I mean, thank you for humoring me and making cookies. I’m sure this isn’t your idea of fun.”
“Is it yours?” His gaze is intense as he waits for my answer.
“Yeah, I mean, I know I do it every day, but I enjoy it. And this is for fun, and well, you’re here,” I add on without thinking.
“I’m glad I’m here with you to bake and decorate cookies.”
I watch as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps the screen. When the music begins to play from somewhere other than his phone, I look around for a speaker. “Where is that coming from?”
“Oh, we have a Bluetooth system throughout the cabin. I can control it from my phone. So we can listen to the same music throughout, or change it up.” He holds his phone up so that I can see the screen as if that helps me understand what he’s saying. “IT guy”—he points at his chest—“remember?”
“I’m sure there’s a good story behind that. I mean, you blocked Marshall from the thermostat. I’m sure you’ve used this to your advantage at one point or another.”
“Who me?” He places his hand over his heart as if he’s offended. “Maybe,” he confesses. I raise my eyebrows and give him an “I don’t believe you” look. “Okay,” he admits with a laugh. “One night, Royce had this sappy depressing song on repeat. He was annoying the hell out of all of us. It was right after he and his first wife split. Anyway, this song was sad as hell, and we were all over it, but his drunk ass insisted that’s what we listen to on repeat. So, when he went to bed, I might have piped ‘You Are My Sunshine’ into his room while he slept.”
“You did not. Was he mad?”
“I set it to turn off at around 6:00 a.m. He was surprisingly happy the next day.”
“Subliminal message. Nice.” I hold my fist out to him, and we bump. The timer dings, and I set the tray on top of the stove to cool. “Now we decorate.” I grin at Conrad.