Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
He smirks at me, amusement written all over his face. "Fuck no," he retorts, chuckling. "Whatever your mom wants, your mom gets."
"Thanks a lot," I grumble, dropping into the chair across from him as he pulls my mom down onto his lap. I just shake my head as she squeals, throwing her arms around his neck to kiss him. They've been the same way my entire life. When we were younger, it drove me nuts that they were always so affectionate. Now? Well, I appreciate the hell out of it, to be honest. I want the same shit they have, the kind of blissful happiness they've managed to hang onto for twenty-seven years. It's rare in this world.
I glance over at Bastian, who is seated beside our dad, staring off into space. "Ridley wants to expand operations. His idea is solid. You need to hear him out."
"What?" He blinks at me like he didn't hear me.
"I said, Ridley wants to expand operations, and I think he has a solid idea." I frown at him. "What's up with you?"
"Nothing." He scowls at me. "You're late."
"You know, if you unclenched just a little, you might actually learn to smile," I suggest, snatching a piece of bacon off the platter in the center of the table. Something is definitely up with him. He's been extra moody lately, and that's hard to accomplish.
Bastian scratches the side of his face with his middle finger, his eyes narrowed on me. "I'm not clenched. I'm just not sneaking all over the vineyard, following a girl like some people."
Shit. Did he see me following Zoya this morning?
Judging by the way he's smirking at me…yes. Dammit.
"What?" Ma gasps, coming up for air. How the fuck did she even hear us? She cranes her head toward me, her eyes wide and hopeful. "What girl? Why don't I know about this?"
I shoot Bastian a dirty glare. The last thing I need is for Ma to get in the middle of this thing with Zoya. She'll get my aunts involved. Before I know it, the whole goddamn situation will be out of control. It always gets out of control when the four of them are involved. They just can't help themselves. "He's just seeing things, Ma."
"Oh, I saw plenty," Bastian drawls, lifting his coffee mug to his lips.
I kick him under the table. At least, I mean to kick him.
"Son of a…" Dad growls, glowering at me. "Why the fuck did you kick me?"
"My foot slipped," I lie.
He narrows his eyes on me like he isn't buying my bullshit. And then he just shakes his head, cracking a smile. "What girl were you following all over the vineyard this morning?"
"Jesus Christ," I groan, rubbing my temples. "I wasn't following a girl. We were just heading in the same direction at roughly the same time."
"Oh! Is she one of the bridesmaids?" Ma asks, bouncing on his lap. "They're all so beautiful. Which one is she, Jareth? I want to meet her. Maybe your aunts and I can…"
I shoot a pleading look at Dad when Bastian chortles into his coffee, the bastard. This is all his fault.
Dad takes pity on me, wrapping an arm around Ma's waist to haul her back down onto his lap before she can leap to her feet to go call my aunts and get them involved. "Let it be, sweetness. If there is a girl, we don't want to scare her off before she and Jareth can give you that grandbaby you want, do we?"
"Oh." She bites her lip. "I didn't think of that. Maybe I shouldn't involve your aunts yet."
Thank God for that. I love them dearly, but the women in this family are a handful on a good day. Every other day, it takes a miracle and two sacrifices to rein them in. I do not need them sending Zoya running for the hills.
I shoot a sly glance at my brother. "Did you know that Bastian just hired a new girl to help with marketing?"
"What?" Ma gasps, turning to look at him. "When? Why didn't you tell me? Do you like her? I want to meet her!"
Bastian sloshes coffee across his hand, scowling daggers at me. I chuckle, popping another piece of bacon in my mouth. So that is why he's been extra moody. Interesting.
I fill my plate while Ma badgers him with questions and Dad just smirks at me like he knows exactly what the fuck I just did. I meet his gaze and shrug. Serves Bastian right if she's hounding him instead of me.
Eventually, she runs out of steam when Bastian keeps deflecting and dodging her questions, and turns to pout at my dad. "Your sons are no fun, Carter. They never tell me anything."
"That's not true," I protest. "We tell you plenty."
"You didn't tell me about the girl staying with you."