Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
One look at the bride and he recognized her. He glanced up at Aria and then frowned. “This is your sister?”
“Yeah, her name’s Isabella,” she said.
He’d not gotten any names when they had fucked around several months ago. He didn’t know exactly when, but it was before he saw Aria at the veterinary clinic.
“Everyone loves her. She had men lining up wanting to marry her, but she fell in love with Michael.”
“How long were they seeing each other?” Grant asked.
“Not long.”
He nodded. But it still meant he fucked Aria’s sister while she was probably already engaged. Shit. This wasn’t good.
Staring at the photo, though, he saw what Aria meant. Her arm wasn’t even in the frame. No part of her was, and just seeing that pissed him off.
“Your mom sent you these photos?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Please don’t worry about it.”
“And this is why you’re going to the gym.”
“Grant, stop it. Stop trying to pretend there’s nothing wrong with me. Trust me. I’ve always been told that I don’t quite measure up. Actually, that has always been the problem. My measurements. I’ve been on every single diet known to man, and I’m … I’m doing this for me. I want to do it.”
He didn’t believe that.
“Your mom’s a piece of shit,” Grant said. “You’re gorgeous and I’d have loved to see what you looked like in that bridesmaid’s outfit. Weren’t you the, er, shit, what is it called?”
“Maid of honor?”
“Yeah?”
“No. One of Isabella’s friends was. The one our mom decided would look best for the cameras.”
She didn’t show any sign of tears or anger, or even upset. Nothing. Aria was fucking used to this shit. He ran a hand down his face.
Like you’re one to talk. You used to bully Maddie. Still did until you got your head out of your ass and realized you didn’t need to put on a shit show anymore.
Grant closed his eyes. There was no way he could judge Aria for what she was doing. He did it all the time growing up. His father didn’t want him falling for a fatty.
Bull wasn’t the only one who was attracted to curves. Grant had been for the longest time, but once you get a beating that leaves you in bad shape, you learn not to go after what you crave. You start to lash out, like he did with Maddie.
He was never attracted to Maddie, but he did like her. Even in high school he did. Pushing those thoughts aside, he got back to making their dinner. Aria came to join him as he was adding tomatoes to the pot, bringing the heat up to a boil, and then simmering it down.
He found her seasonings and quickly added some salt and pepper. He took the leaves off the basil plant and placed them on the chopping board. The water for the pasta had come to a boil, and he quickly threw in a packet of pasta. He was starving.
This was not what he planned for their first official date, but it would have to do. He’d spent most of the afternoon with Dylan, trying to see if there was a connection to the missing dogs, any strangers in town, anything. They had come up with nothing. He knew he didn’t have a choice. He would have to go to his brother, and that idea pissed him off more than he liked. Dylan had been useless.
He knew the arrangement Bull kept, and it was only in rare circumstances that they crossed paths.
Stirring the pasta, he had to wonder if this had anything to with the Vito Crew Cartel, or if it was something else. Was this a greedy person trying to start up the dogfights again? He wouldn’t have that, but he thought they had killed everyone involved, or at least pushed them out of town.
Unless there was a different play going on.
Grant paused and looked at Aria.
For all of his and Bull’s bad blood, they were still brothers. Was there a threat to the club that had forced him to suspend him? Is that what this was about?
“Are you okay?”
He pulled out of his thoughts to smile at Aria. There would be time to solve his bullshit, but first he wanted to enjoy his date with Aria. He’d been the reason there was a shitty start to the evening, but he’d more than make up for it.
“Yeah, everything is fine.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“You’ve never been on a date before, have you?” he asked.
“Yeah, I have. I’ve been on a couple of dates.” She shrugged. “Why? Does it show?”
Grant laughed. “I’ve never been on a date.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“I’ve never dated women, Aria. With my connection to the club, they just throw themselves at my feet.”
“Oh,” Aria said. “Is this supposed to make me feel better?”