Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"I’m going to be freezing now.”
“Maybe that was the plan. Now you won’t be able to stop yourself from cuddling up to me.”
I shoved another handful of snow at him, but he caught my wrists, laughing. For a moment, we just stared at each other, breath mingling in the cold air.
Then someone cleared their throat, and we looked up to find the entire wedding party watching us with varying degrees of amusement.
"If you two are done," Dick drawled, "some of us would like hot chocolate and s’mores."
James helped me up, brushing snow from my coat with exaggerated care. “Let’s get you warmed up, baby.”
I shot him a dirty look, but as we walked to the fire pit, his hand found mine again. And this time, I didn't pull away.
18
EMMA
The bonfire crackled, sending sparks dancing up into the darkening sky. Someone—Theo, I think—had produced several bottles of expensive wine, and the usually uptight Wellingtons had gradually relaxed as the evening wore on.
I was warm despite the cold, thanks to the fire, the wine, and James' body heat beside me. He'd pulled me between his legs on the log we shared, wrapping us both in a blanket. For authenticity, he'd said.
I decided this was the kind of moment you were lucky to have a few of in your entire life. Pristine snow blanketed everything in sight. Beautiful horses and bright red sleighs glistened in the setting sunlight just a ways off from our fire. And I was surrounded by easy conversation, laughter, and practically wrapped in the most gorgeous man I could have ever imagined.
Yeah… tonight, I decided I wouldn’t worry about what was fake and what was real. I just wanted to drink this all in and make a memory of it. I’d mostly been tuning out the conversations of the Wellingtons, who had been talking about boring things like investments and money.
Dick’s voice caught my attention. “This stuff,” he said, tilting the bottle of wine in his hand and nodding appreciatively. “Remember when we had the entire basement stocked full of it?”
Mr. Wellington chuckled. He was lounging on a log with his long legs spread out in front of him, a bottle of wine in his hand as well. “I do.”
“That’s where I got it,” Theo said, leaning forward so the firelight caught his handsome features. “You sent me a bunch of it several years ago and I couldn’t drink my way through it. I figured you guys could help me tonight.”
“Ahh!” Dick said. “From our own stash! I really did miss this stuff.”
James, who had been mostly quiet as he wrapped himself around me, finally spoke. There was a note of purpose in his voice and question I didn’t miss. “Did something happen to the vineyard that produces it?”
“Hm?” Dick said, still frowning at the label on the wine. “Nope. Shit is just so damn expensive we haven’t—”
Richard cut in. “Seen the need. There are comparable vintages at more reasonable prices.” He paused, eyes sweeping across the gathered group. “Even when one has the means, spending in excess is tacky.”
Dick looked slightly mollified, but raised his bottle with a slosh. “To tackiness!” He tipped it and drained a long few gulps.
James tensed behind me, but I was too focused on his hand resting on my hip to really process the exchange. I’d bee fantasizing about him slipping his fingers farther inward until they glided over my sensitive—
"Time to head back," one of the sleigh drivers called. "It'll be too dark for the horses soon."
"I want to show you something when we get back to the resort," James whispered in my ear as everyone started packing up. "Are you in?"
I shouldn't be. It was late, and despite having planned as much as I possibly could before we arrived, I still had real work to do tomorrow. But the wine and his proximity had me nodding anyway. “Okay,” I said. “Should I be scared?”
“Terrified,” he said, lips curving upward.
I found myself dozing off in a comfortable, light sleep that came and went as we drifted through the snow on the sleighs back toward the resort. Sometimes, I watched the stars overhead. Mostly, I nuzzled into James and told myself I was only playing the part of the love-sick girl in a new relationship.
“Thank you for this,” Lily said as we all got off the sleighs back at the resort and stretched out our cold muscles. “Tonight was magical. I’m going to remember it forever.”
Marcus put his arm around my sister and smiled. “You really know how to plan some perfect activities, Emma. Good work here.”
Mr. Wellington even came up to me and gave me a small, almost grudging nod. “Good work tonight, Emma. That was nice.”
Charity stumbled out of the sleigh and had to lean on Theo’s big frame to steady herself. Either she was too drunk to glare at me like earlier, or she may have enjoyed herself too.