Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“God help us all,” Walker muttered in response to the designer shoe conversation as he wandered into the room. He looked almost as delicious as my husband did in his tux.
Speaking of wanting to rip someone’s clothes off … I’d seen Jared in a kilt at Sarah and Theo’s wedding. It was a wondrous sight to behold. But for the summer party, both he and Walker had opted for tuxedos.
Jared McCulloch might have been born to wear a kilt … but in a tux, my husband was freaking hot. Like James Bond hot. But the Daniel Craig rough around the edges kind of hot, not the smooth, clean-cut hot of all the James Bonds who came before him.
“You look good,” I told Walker.
He gave me a brief nod of thanks before his gaze zeroed in on Lewis.
Lewis straightened but didn’t remove his hand from Callie’s waist. “Sir.”
“I’ll be calling your father to check that you and Callie are at your house, and in separate rooms, by nine o’clock.”
“Of course. We’ll be there.”
Callie grinned. “Aye, that gives us a whole hour to get me pregnant.”
While I let my laughter rip, Jared did Walker the courtesy of trying to smother his. Lewis let out a nervous chuckle that quickly disintegrated into panic at the murderous expression on Walker’s face. “She’s kidding.” He nudged Callie. “Tell the ex-Royal Marine that you’re kidding, Callie.”
“You’re a black belt in tae kwon do. You can take ’im.” She nudged her boyfriend back.
Lewis stared at her in horror.
Laughing, Callie turned to her stepdad, completely unrepentant. “Don’t worry, Dad. Lewis is a perfect gentleman.”
Walker did not look like he believed her one bit.
Lewis shot us a panicked look. “Tell my parents that I love them and I’m sorry it ended this way.”
Jared and I snort-laughed as Sloane strolled into the room, her dress fluttering around her ankles. “Stop torturing Lewis and your dad, Callie.”
Callie shot me a wicked smirk.
That girl.
God, I loved her.
“Mum, you look gorgeous.” Callie leaned over to press a kiss to her mom’s cheek.
“You do,” I agreed. Sloane wore a maxi dress that was high at the neck but backless. The light and airy fabric was a mix of teals and greens with hints of yellow. Perfect for a summer party.
Sloane smiled at me. “As do you. We all scrub up pretty well, huh?”
“Aye, aye, we all look gorgeous,” Walker retorted grim-faced, even as he slid his arm around Sloane’s waist and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Let’s get this over with.”
She grinned up at him, her daughter’s resemblance to her uncanny. Then she turned to us. “That’s what he said the first time we had sex.”
“Mum!” Callie squealed in outrage.
Sloane pointed at her daughter. “You torture your dad, I’m going to torture you right back.”
“I think what I actually said was something along the lines of ‘Get upstairs and I’m in charge,’” Walker commented like they were talking about the weather.
His wife gaped at him in sincere wonder. “You remember?”
“Ahh!” Callie slapped her hands over her ears. “I didn’t hear that! I didn’t hear that!” She whimpered comically as she turned to her boyfriend. “I’m scarred for life.”
Jared looked down at me, thoroughly amused. “Can we just stay here all night?”
“It is entertaining, isn’t it?”
“For you, maybe.” Callie grabbed Lewis’s hand. “Some of us have just been traumatized.” She huffed, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Have a nice night!”
“See you.” Lewis waved to us before Callie dragged him out of the house.
Sloane and Walker high-fived.
Three weeks.
Jared and I had enjoyed three weeks of peace and quiet. Jim had Jared’s father interviewed again and he admitted to killing the sheep and chickens. He was arrested and out on bail. The case against him probably wouldn’t go to trial, and it was just a waiting game to see how much time he got. It might not be a lot. What really mattered to us was that he was out of our lives. Jared had scared the shit out of Hamish, and apparently, my wealth and family name intimidated the asshole too. So I was optimistic we wouldn’t hear from Hamish McCulloch again anytime soon.
We’d also bought six new chickens and a rooster to get us started on the henhouse, and despite my lingering sadness, I named them all. I’d named the chattiest hen, Cathy, and she, like Ginger, was the first to run to greet me in the mornings.
Our life was bliss.
That sounded overblown and insincere, but for me, it was bliss.
After years of trying to fit into a life that never quite fit, I found Scotland. Then miracle upon miracle, I found Jared. While he split his time between working the farm and managing the ongoing work on the glamping pods, I painted in this new style I’d discovered within myself. I’d also reached out to an estate agent to see if there were any buildings available to rent in Ardnoch for opening my gallery.