Chapters (89)
- Dedication
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ONE
- HENRY
- TWO
- EMMA
- THREE
- HENRY
- FOUR
- EMMA
- FIVE
- EMMA
- SIX
- SEVEN
- HENRY
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- HENRY
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- EMMA
- THIRTEEN
- HENRY
- FOURTEEN
- HENRY
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- EMMA
- SEVENTEEN
- HENRY
- EIGHTEEN
- HENRY
- NINETEEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-TWO
- EMMA
- TWENTY-THREE
- HENRY
- TWENTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- TWENTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SIX
- EMMA
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- HENRY
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- EMMA
- TWENTY-NINE
- HENRY
- THIRTY
- HENRY
- THIRTY-ONE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-TWO
- EMMA
- THIRTY-THREE
- HENRY
- THIRTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- THIRTY-FIVE
- EMMA
- THIRTY-SIX
- HENRY
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- EMMA
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- HENRY
- THIRTY-NINE
- HENRY
- FORTY
- EMMA
- FORTY-ONE
- HENRY
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- EMMA
- FORTY-FOUR
- EMMA
- FORTY-FIVE
- HENRY
- EPILOGUE
- ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“Cookies. There’s something comforting and nostalgic about a regular chocolate chip cookie.”
“You could make something to bring to the party.”
“The party that’s going to be catered by professional chefs?” she asks inquisitively.
“Yeah, sorry, that was my pathetic, roundabout way of hoping you’ll make me cookies.”
“If you want cookies so bad, you can do it yourself!”
“What if I say please? Would that work?”
“You’ve heard of this little website called YouTube, right? They spell it out for you there,” Emma jokes, taking a bite of the muffin. I try to avoid staring at her mouth as it closes around the chocolate treat. How her tongue wipes the crumbs clean off her small, pouty lips. How her eyes flutter closed, enjoying the decadence of the dessert. Fuck, I can’t look away. “No more cookie talk! You’re distracting me from the important topics! Will I have to know everyone’s name?”
“God, no. I barely know everyone’s name and I’m related to them. I doubt they expect my girlfriend of… How many months are we saying?”
One of the many, many questions we need to have a precise answer for to ensure this goes off without a hitch.
She taps her cheek, thinking hard. “Four months. That’s a decent relationship length in today’s world, and it’s enough time for your mom to not be upset you haven’t introduced us.”
“Smart. I knew I hired you for a reason. I’ll bring you up to speed on my immediate family and fill in the gaps with the others as we go. We’ll be spending most of our time with them and I want you to feel comfortable with their names and anything else you think is prudent.”
“Perfect.”
“Also, before we go any further, I want to talk about your contract and PDA.”
“What about it?” she asks curiously, taking another delectable bite. The way her mouth forms a perfect O around the chocolate is borderline obscene. What I would give to scatter crumbs over her body and lick them off.
“I want to make sure you’re okay with me being the one who’s touching you.”
“Oh. I didn’t think about it that way.”
“I’m not going to make out with you in front of my parents. Are you fine with holding my hand? Please be honest; you aren’t going to hurt my feelings.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Arms over your shoulder? Around your waist?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” she answers. Her voice sounds strained.
“Kissing your cheek?”
“Yes, but that’s the only kissing allowed.”
“Got it. Sorry. I hope I wasn’t implying anything with that question.”