Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 142976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 477(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 477(@300wpm)
She laughed, the sound containing genuine amusement.
“Oh, well played, Cade, that’s the ultimate snow job.”
“As long as my skills are recognized and appreciated,” he replied without missing a beat and she laughed again.
“Fine, I’ll stop going on about the decorations but I’m just so excited.”
“I know, you are,” he said. “And I’m happy you’re excited. You’ll have to bear with me though. I haven’t done the whole Christmas thing in a while, so I’m a bit rusty with all of this.”
“What did the family do last year?” she asked.
“Dad and Kenny spent Christmas with Beth and Gideon.”
“And you?”
“I uh…” He swallowed and tugged at his collar. “I spent it on my yacht in Ambergris Caye in Belize.”
“Alone?”
“No. I—there was… someone. A woman.” He felt his cheeks heat and felt like a damned fool for being so damned awkward about having a sex life before her.
“Aah, okay.”
“What about you?” he asked quickly, hoping to smooth over the damned uncomfortable moment by diverting the attention to her.
“I spent it at Blessed Heart with a couple of the teachers for company. They were both annoyed to be stuck at the school for the holidays and spent most of it cloistered away in their rooms, FaceTiming their families.”
“What was Abernathy doing last Christmas?”
“Granger, Toni, and Allie holidayed in the Caribbean last year.”
Cade swore viciously beneath his breath, his hands curling into fists beneath the table.
He looked around for the waiter, in an attempt to get his temper back under control and when he caught the guy’s eye he gestured for the bill.
“Fern, I’ve been wondering about something,” he said grimly and her eyes widened at the somber tone of voice.
“About?” she asked.
“Uh… well.” Fuck he had to tread very, very carefully here. “If you’re thinking we’ll be together for another year, minimum… what about, y’know, intimacy?”
Her eyes widened as she immediately understood to what he was referring. Widened, then sparked with amusement.
“It’s just that I don’t think either of us would want to remain celibate for that length of time,” he muttered awkwardly.
“So, are you saying we should be not-celibate with each other?” she asked, and recognizing the words as the ones he’d spoken the night they’d married, his eyes narrowed in warning.
“Don’t you dare,” he muttered.
“Because, I’ve got to tell you, Cade,” she said, ignoring his dire warning with a light giggle. “I don’t think we’re compatible in that way.”
“Christ in heaven,” he muttered beneath his breath and she hooted with laughter. He cast her a jaundice glare.
“You enjoyed that way too fucking much,” he accused and she nodded, her eyes shining with mirth.
“I did, I so did,” she chuckled. She sucked her lip into her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
She wiped at her eyes, before shaking her head.
“Sex is going to complicate matters,” she said, and he nodded.
“It is.”
She tugged her teeth at her lower lip, driving him fucking insane in the process, then nodded thoughtfully, as if coming to some kind of decision. His breath stalled as he waited.
“I like sex,” she confessed and he stifled a groan.
“Aye, I’ve noticed,” he told her in a strained voice, and she grinned again.
“And I don’t want to be celibate for the next year or so. To that end… I’d prefer if we were not celibate with each other.”
“Thank fuck for that.” Cade’s response was unashamedly relieved.
“Friends with benefits? Right?”
He was immediately revolted by the very thought of that, but he nodded nonetheless.
“Fuck buddies, aye,” he agreed.
“Okay.”
“Erm,” he said, striving to get the day back on track. “We should probably get back to our shopping so that we can make damned sure this year’s Christmas is better than last year’s… for both of us.”
“Why are you being so weird?” Fern asked, as Cade blocked her every attempt to pass him at the front door.
“Why don’t you stop being so sneaky?” he retorted on a chuckle. “And let me do my thing…”
“What thing? What’s the big mystery?”
He swung open the door and stood in the doorway, massive frame blocking her way. He turned on his heel until he was facing her and placed his hands on her shoulders, giving her a determined glare.
“I’m going to need you to close your eyes,” he commanded sternly and she rolled her eyes.
“Wait, seriously? Wh—?”
“Christ,” Cade muttered, before plastering one hand over Fern’s mouth, applying no pressure just holding it there to be sure she got the point. She stared at him wide-eyed, amusement on her face. “You gonna close your eyes?”
She nodded obediently, eyes glinting with mischief.
“Uh uh,” he decided after a moment. “I don’t trust you at all.”
Her eyes widened in mock outrage and he lifted his hand from her mouth to cover her eyes instead. Cade stepped around her, until he was standing behind her with his palm still firmly curled over her eyes, and steered her through the door.