Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 126(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
“But you love it,” mom protests.
Guilt gnaws at me. I don’t feel guilty for walking away. I feel bad for putting all of this on my mom. I never told her I was unhappy. I just assumed she knew and didn’t care. It wasn’t fair to either of us. “I’m not happy.”
She eyes Hunter like he may have put me up to this. She’s always assessing, always studying people. It’s part of why she’s such a great businesswoman.
“I haven’t been for a few years,” I explain quietly, not wanting her to blame Hunter. “I should have said something. I just…I was afraid.”
Her eyes fill with tears and she looks away. “I thought your filming schedule was too hectic. I started spacing out your roles, but I should have just asked.”
“This isn’t your fault,” I insist and step forward, wrapping my arms around her again.
“I want you to be happy,” she whispers as she squeezes me tight.
“He makes me happy,” I reassure her as I step away and swipe at my eyes. I had no idea when I woke up this morning that the day was going to turn out this way. There’s so much joy and love in my heart.
“So, what’s next?” Mom asks.
“I marry your daughter, and we have a dozen kids together,” Hunter answers casually.
I smack at his chest as my cheeks heat, and he chuckles. “We’re taking it slow.”
“Come on, let me show you around, Mrs.?”
“Jolly. You can call me Ma Jolly. Most people do,” she answers with a soft, affectionate smile. I love that she’s accepting him so easily, for no other reason than that I chose him to be my own.
He gives her a shy smile. “Let me give you the grand tour, Ma Jolly.”
She takes his arm and starts into the cabin with him. I can already hear her telling him that the cabin would make a perfect location for the company’s upcoming movie.
I shake my head, caught between exasperation and delight. I turn to Joy who’s still standing in the snow. She barely said a word during our conversation. I just assumed she was letting me and mom talk. But the look on her face lets me know something is bothering her.
“How did you find me? There are so many backroads around these parts,” I ask, wanting to get her talking. If I can get her to start, she’ll tell me what’s bothering her.
“He has a brother,” she whispers excitedly, her eyes filled with delight looking where Hunter has disappeared into the cabin with mom.
“How do you know that?”
“Because I work for him. Hunter’s brother is my boss. They look so much alike,” she shakes her head. “This has got to be the craziest December to ever December.”
Chapter 10
Holly
I stare at Bobby in his expensive suit. He’s standing in the middle of the castle ballroom, holding out a single red rose to me. “You’re my happy ending. I love you.”
Bobby swallows hard and says weakly, “I love you too.”
I wait for his next move. He’s supposed to sweep me into his arms, and we’re going to dance across the opulent room with the million-dollar chandeliers. Instead, he pats me awkwardly on the shoulder.
My heart falls. This is the sixth time he’s flubbed the scene, and I’m starting to get annoyed. I want to wrap up this movie and get to the cast party. It’s only a few more hours until my new life with my mountain man can begin.
“Cut,” the director shouts. She’s a middle-aged woman that treats everyone on set like we’re all rowdy teenagers she needs to yell at. She stalks across the floor to glare at both me and Bobby, as though it’s my fault he’s suddenly shy.
“Bobby, I got a plane ticket to Cancun and a man waiting, who believes I’m Julia Roberts’ long-lost twin sister. Spill it, kiddo.”
His gaze goes to the edge of the stage. “I can’t concentrate. He is in the room.”
She focuses her ire on me. “Tell Mr. Lumberjack to cool it, or I’m throwing him off set. He’s clearly making my lead nervous.”
I cross the stage to where Hunter is standing with Frosty in his arms. He looks so good in his flannel, glaring at Bobby like he’s just waiting for one wrong move so he can crash his knuckles into his nose.
Hunter’s jaw is so tight I’m afraid he’s going to crack a molar. “Do I need to talk to him?”
I know Bobby can hear us, but he is still avoiding Hunter’s gaze and pretending he can’t see him. Apparently, the two of them had a run-in earlier this week. Hunter said he calmly explained that Bobby was not to ever dream of proposing to me or he’d end up in traction.
I chuckle at my bossy, overprotective alpha boyfriend. “I need you to stop scaring him. He can barely say his lines. He’s so nervous. It would go a long way if you would not threaten him.”