Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I’d never had that before.
After the ceremony, Jack took us all out for lunch. Looking around the table at our new little family and our two best friends, I couldn’t contain my happiness any longer.
I leaned over to Brian beside me at the table, and I pressed my lips to his.
Once we all got back to the cabin, it was time for Jack and Sarah to leave. I wrapped my arms around my best friend before I hugged Jack close, then we all stood there as the two of them drove off to the airport. I was going to miss my best friend, and I knew Brian was going to miss Jack, but it gave me an idea for the cabin as we headed into the house.
The cabin on top of the mountain I was now going to call home.
“Brian, could I talk with you?” I asked.
“Sure. Let me just lay down Lanie for a nap first.”
I paced the room, trying to figure out how to start this conversation with Brian. I could hear him talking with Lanie, trying to reason with her as to why she couldn’t stay up longer. But my heart jumped to the back of my throat when I heard him padding back down the hallway.
“Amanda, are you all right? You seem anxious,” he said.
“It’s been a hell of a day,” I said breathlessly.
“All good, I hope?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. But I was thinking about my grandmother’s cabin.”
“You know I’ll help you fix that up,” he said as he came toward me. “Amanda, you’re shaking.”
“Sorry.”
“Come here. Sit down.”
Brian led me to the couch and pulled me into his lap. I curled into him, sinking into the strength of his muscles as he wrapped his arms around me. I drew deep breaths through my nose, trying to calm myself down as he repeatedly kissed the side of my head.
“Talk to me,” Brian said. “What’s going on?”
I told him about the note. I told him about the antiques and the family heirlooms and all the other gifts my grandmother left for me to sell. I told him about the money they were worth and how I could use it to completely fix up the cabin, and I told him about how she should’ve been here today. About how this day was so special, yet it had this cloud looming over all of us.
“I’m not saying that I would change anything about today. I got to marry the man I love, and become a true family with you and Lanie. I just wish my grandmother had been here to see it herself.”
Brian looked at me and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “I understand. I wish my sister could have been here too.”
We snuggled into one another and sat in silence for a few moments, reflecting on our life.
Then, he brought his lips down to mine, and I shivered at his warmth.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
“Huh?”
“With the cabin,” he said, chuckling. “What would you like to do with it?”
“I don’t know if I’m ready to do anything with it right now. The idea of selling my grandmother’s things to pay for overhauling it hurts.”
“Then we don’t have to sell them. I can work on it,” he said.
“But, when we did get it up and running, we could rent it out maybe,” I said.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll support you in it.”
“It’ll be a decent side income. There are lots of people who would enjoy a mountain vacation getaway or something. And when someone isn’t renting it, Jack or Sarah could use it to come stay and see us.”
“Seeing our friends while still keeping our space. I like it,” he said.
“And when Lanie gets older, we could pass it on to her, if she wants it,” I said.
“I like the way you think, Mrs. Murphy.”
I grinned at that name as my lips sought out his again.
Things felt right for the first time in my life. The little girl I adored was snoring lightly in her bed, the man I loved was holding me in his arms, and we were talking about our future together as if it should’ve been this easy. We were making plans and cracking jokes. We were stifling our laughter and allowing our hands to explore one another. We were stealing kisses and talking about when we should move all my stuff in, and I quickly found a home within the rhythm I’d already carved out in their house.
In their home.
In our home.
I looked up into Brian’s eyes and saw the perfect man for me. I felt my soul being bound to his, for better or for worse. I sat up in his lap, allowing my legs to straddle him as my hands ran through his hair.
“You look pretty damn hot in this suit,” I said, grinning. “But you’d look even better out of it.”