Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
He doesn’t smile back. If anything, the few lines on his face seem to deepen as he watches me over the rim of his glass.
“A father’s greatest hope is that his children find where they belong. Whether that’s a place or a person. I figured that New York City and ballet were that for my girl, but I can see that I was wrong. She loves being in Montana, and I know she loves you.”
My brows pull together. “How do you know?”
“Aside from the forty times she said it today alone,” he says with a chuckle, “it’s in the way she looks at you and you her. I have that with her mother. Money can’t buy it. It’s a connection, a feeling that sets up root in your soul and doesn’t let go. You know you’d do anything for them, no matter what.”
I take a deep breath. “You’re right. I’d do anything for her. Even meet fucking royalty.”
Patrick laughs at that and shrugs. “You’ll survive it, son. It’s the price you pay for being with someone extraordinary.”
“She’s everything.” My voice is soft. “As far as I’m concerned, she hung the moon.”
“Good. When the time comes, there will be an ironclad prenup. It’s nothing personal.”
“I don’t want anything from you, Patrick. I do fine on my own.”
“I know.” He grins. “I checked you and your business out.”
“Of course, you did.”
He shrugs. “I’m her father, and I have unlimited resources. It’s par for the course.”
“And if I hadn’t passed the test?”
“You wouldn’t be here. But I do like you, and your family, and it’s pleased I am that you’ve all welcomed my girl into your fold as if she’s one of your own.”
“She is one of us.”
“And now, you’re one of us,” he replies, clinking his glass to mine.
“I’ll stretch with you,” Birdie says. It’s just past noon the next day, the day of the event, and everyone is in our suite. The energy is electric. Taylor Swift is shaking it off through the speakers, and Birdie mimicks Skyla’s stretch moves.
“You’re a wonderful partner,” Skyla assures my niece, earning a wide grin from the little girl.
Skyla sits up, and her eyes scan the room, looking for me. They warm when they find me, and she blows me a kiss.
I cross the room and take her hand, pulling her to her feet, then plant my lips on hers.
“Yuck,” Birdie mutters, making me smile.
“Not yuck,” Skyla whispers. “I’m so nervous.”
“You’re beautiful,” I reply and push my fingers in her loose hair, loving the way the smooth strands feel against my skin. “And talented and amazing. You have no reason to be nervous, Irish. You’re ready for this. You’re going to smash it.”
“Gosh, that’s romantic,” Dani says with a happy sigh, and I smile but don’t look away from my girl.
“What do you need, baby?”
“I know what she needs,” Billie says, patting me on the shoulder. “Let her go, lover boy.”
“No.”
“Jesus, Beck, stop being so needy and let the poor girl go.”
With a laugh, Skyla steps away from me and turns to Billie. “And what do I need, then?”
“You need to dance it out.” Bee nods, and the music changes to a P!nk song that Skyla’s played in the house before. Suddenly, my sister, Dani, Birdie, and Skyla start to dance.
I step back, giving them more room, and feel Connor walk up beside me. Mik and Benji join the girls, jumping, shaking their heads and arms, moving their shoulders with the beat of the song.
God, she fits. My girl fits into my family like a missing puzzle piece. As if she was supposed to be here all along.
Billie sticks her butt out and gives it a shake, swinging her dark hair around in a circle, and Connor growls next to me.
“Hurt her, and I’ll end you,” I say quietly.
He doesn’t reply.
But he also doesn’t leave.
When that song ends, another begins, and the dance party continues. Blake even moves into the mix. He takes Dani’s hand, and they start to do the jitterbug.
I had no idea he knew how to do that, but he’s surprisingly good at it.
“Me too!” Birdie exclaims, and Blake twirls her around, making her giggle.
After the second song, everyone’s out of breath and laughing. The tension in the room has dissipated.
“Okay,” Skyla says, accepting a glass of water from Benji, “that was fun. I think any time I’m nervous, I’ll simply dance it out.”
“Spontaneous dance parties are the way to go,” Billie agrees. “Sometimes, it’s more fun than”—she gives Birdie the side-eye and then whispers—“sex.”
“Then you’re doing it wrong,” Dani says with a laugh, and now Connor does leave.
Interesting.
“How do you feel now?” I ask Skyla.
“Better. But I have to get dressed soon. We have the royal reception in two hours.”
“You get to meet the king and queen of the freaking commonwealth,” Bridger says, shaking his head. “That’s wild to me.”