Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Dad ignores his hand, looking at me with an expression that’s a mix of anger and hurt.
“What is this, Suki? You married this man we’ve never even met? Is this a joke?”
My mom is right behind him, and when she sees Carter’s outstretched hand, she comes to the rescue.
“Tony.” She nods at Carter’s hand.
Dad begrudgingly reaches out and shakes Carter’s hand. Carter extends his hand to my mom next.
“Mrs. Brennan, I’m glad to finally meet you, ma’am. Thanks for making the trip to spend Thanksgiving with us.”
She shakes his hand and smiles. “I’m Reina and he’s Tony. Thank you for having us. We’re excited to meet your nieces and spend some time with all of you.” She takes my dad’s arm and looks up at him. “Aren’t we, Tony?”
“Yes,” my dad grates out, his eyes narrowed. “Really excited.”
I go over to my parents, hugging my mom tightly.
“Thank you, I love you,” I whisper in her ear.
Then I hug my dad, who softens. His expression is filled with love when he stands back and looks at me.
“I expected to get a visit from any man who wanted to marry my little girl. I thought I’d walk you down the aisle. Why did you have to rush things?”
I open my mouth to respond, but I can’t think of an answer. Carter jumps in.
“It was my fault, Mr. Brennan. Suki and I are so in love I just couldn’t wait another day to marry her. And you’re right. I should have asked your permission.”
Dad scowls at him. “You wouldn’t have gotten it. I don’t even know you.”
“How about some appetizers?” Harry says brightly. “I thought I’d put some things out on the buffet in the dining room.”
“It smells wonderful in here,” my mom says.
She grabs my dad’s arm and practically drags him from the kitchen. I look through the open doorway and see my brothers, Nate and Sean. Nate is bent down petting Darling and Sean is talking to Charlotte.
I don’t get to see my brothers enough. Nate is a firefighter in Des Moines and Sean is a middle school social studies teacher in Minneapolis.
Carter and I go into the family room together to greet them. They both hug us and congratulate us, but I can see my brothers not so secretly sizing Carter up.
“That was a nice six-hour trip listening to Dad rant nonstop,” Nate says wryly.
“Can you blame him?” Sean gives me a questioning look. “That was a pretty huge bombshell for a text.”
Carter slides his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “It’s my fault we didn’t handle things better. I’ll do my best to make it up to all of you.”
“I’ll never not see Suki as my kid sister,” Sean says. “It’s hard to imagine her as someone’s wife.”
“She’s amazing.” Carter gives me a loving gaze so convincing it makes my heart pound. “She’s the most nurturing, funny, kindhearted woman I’ve ever known.”
“I already like you better than her last boyfriend,” Sean says. “Fancy job or not, he was a jackass.”
“No shit,” Sean agrees. He looks over at Hallie. “Sorry.”
“They’re used to it,” Carter says. “What can I get you guys to drink?”
I return to the kitchen to help Harry with the cooking, trying to keep an eye on things in the family room. My parents are talking to the girls and Carter is sticking close to my brothers.
“Mara’s going to be so bummed she missed this one,” Harry says lightly, passing me a glass of wine he just poured me.
I sigh wearily. “Isn’t it funny how your parents can take you from feeling like a fully functioning adult to feeling like a kid who needs to go stand in the corner?”
“We’ll look back and laugh at this one day,” he assures me.
Carter’s teammate Bash arrives next, lightening the mood since he’s unaware of the tension. Our housekeeper Andrea and her son Drew also arrive. They don’t have any family here, so I invited them to spend the day with us.
By the time we get the meal on the table, I’m optimistic that my dad’s bad mood has passed. Carter takes my hand beneath the table, probably hoping my family will see him being affectionate.
He releases it quickly, though, standing up with his water goblet in hand.
“Hey guys, just a quick toast.” Everyone quiets and looks at him. “We’re so glad all of you could be here with us today. Thank you to Harry and my beautiful wife for preparing this meal, it looks incredible.” He meets my gaze, my heart still fluttering from the beautiful wife thing. “Suki, anyone who’s lucky enough to be around you is better for it. I’ll keep spending every day trying to make you half as happy as you make me.”
Glasses clink, but my glass just stays frozen in the air as Carter sits down, still looking at me. He leans over and gives me a quick kiss, leaving me even more dazed.