Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“What?” she shrieks, and the echo of her voice bounces off the hills around us, causing birds to take flight like something out of a movie.
I don’t know what I expected to happen next, but when she bursts into tears, I’m half-tempted to toss myself over the balcony to the ground below.
“Mom, calm down. You’re freaking Penny out,” he mutters, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, and she nods, then focuses on me.
“I’m sorry.” She wipes at her wet cheeks. “I just…. I’ve been waiting forever for this day.” She steps toward me and takes my free hand. “It’s so nice to meet you, Penny.” Her face softens, and I hate myself, because I can see how happy she is and know that feeling is only going to be temporary.
“Nice to meet you too.” I smile, then gasp when her arms are suddenly around me and she’s squeezing me tight.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asks her son while rocking me like she just did to him.
“Because he always has to do something to get attention,” the guy who looks like Jace says, and I meet his gaze over his mom’s shoulder and watch him lift a dark brow like he’s daring me to disagree.
“Stop it,” the man next to him grumbles, and Janelle lets me go only to grasp my left hand and lift it up. As she “oos” and “ahhs” over the ring on my finger, Jace goes to the older gentleman and hugs him.
“This ring is so…”
“Obnoxious,” I say without thinking and cover my mouth with my hand, and her eyes fly up to mine. “Sorry.” My muscles bunch, then instantly relax when she smiles.
“I was going to say pretty, but it is rather large.” She looks back over her shoulder at her son. “Did you ask for the biggest ring in the store?”
“I wanted it to be obvious she was taken,” he replies, meeting my eye, and my cheeks warm. Lord, if this weren’t fake, I would totally swoon over that statement.
“Well, no one is going to question that,” his mom says happily.
“Can I meet our soon-to-be daughter-in-law now?” the man who must be Jace’s dad requests, and Janelle smiles up at him as she takes a step back.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ellis.”
“Daniel.” He ignores my hand that I’m holding out and gives me a hug that is just as tight as his wife’s was. “It’s so nice to meet you, Penny.”
“You too.” I smile when he lets me go and look for Jace, but I find him distracted by his phone ringing in his hand.
“I’m sure you’re used to that by now.” I tip my head back at that statement and come face-to-face with one identical to Jace’s. “I’m Brice, Jace’s twin.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he mutters, grabbing both suitcases and turning with them to go inside.
“Come on, let’s get you settled. I’m sure you must be exhausted after traveling.” Janelle takes my arm and urges me into the house.
“I slept on the plane, so it wasn’t too bad,” I tell her while we walk through the kitchen, then down a hall toward a set of stairs, behind Brice, who still has a hold of our bags.
“Did Jace sleep or work the entire time?”
“Umm… I think he worked,” I mutter, watching Brice open a door and carry in both bags, leaving them just inside the door before taking off up the steps next to it.
“I hope this works for you two.” Janelle ushers me into the room that has a bed smaller than my queen-size back home, and my knees shake as I realize what’s happening. “There are a couple of extra pillows upstairs. I’ll grab those for you before bed tonight.” Janelle wanders to the bedside table, flipping on the lamp there. “And you just let me know if you want an extra blanket or two. Are you all right? You’re looking a little pale, sweetheart.”
Blinking, I focus on Janelle’s face that is suddenly right in front of mine. “Yeah.” I shake my head. “I’m fine, totally fine. This is great! So, so, so great. I don’t think it could get any wors— I mean better,” I correct myself quickly. “I don’t think this could get any better.”
“Well, okay, great.” She looks around the room, then waves out her hand. “That’s the closet. There are a few hangers, but let me know if you need more.” She points at another door. “The bathroom is through that door. Jace’s grandma will be sharing it with you two when she gets here this evening, so make sure you lock it when you’re in the shower, since the rooms connect.”
“Lock the door—got it.” I nod, then look at Jace when he steps into the room.
“Everything okay?” he asks, coming to where I’m standing and placing his hand against my lower back, the warmth of his palm seeping through my hoodie and tank top.