Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“You were pushing a child on a swing, and at first, I thought she was your little girl, but then a woman came over and the two of you talked for a minute before she picked up the child and walked off, looking back to wave at you. The little girl blew you kisses, and you blew one back to her.”
“That was Betsy and her mom, Abigail. Abigail is going to school to become a hairdresser. I met her in the park. She was sitting on a bench watching her daughter play, but tears were running down her face. I couldn’t help myself; I went over to her to see if I could help. We struck up a friendship, and I watch Betsy when Abigail’s mother can’t and I’m not in class myself.”
Andrii’s arms tightened around her. “I watched you taking care of that woman and her daughter. There was also a man with two sons you sat with in the park for a little while. He left, and you took over watching the boys until he came back. He didn’t return for nearly two hours.”
“That was Bradley. His wife died in childbirth and left him with twins, Luke and Teddy. They’re five now and a bit of a handful. He’s trying to date again, but he works two jobs. Sometimes his sitter falls through, and he can’t get home to be with the boys when they get out of school. I fill in for him too.”
“I noticed Bradley looking at you like he’d prefer to date you.”
She didn’t respond.
“Zelie? Has he asked you out?”
His voice was low and compelling. Insistent on an answer. Azelie nodded. “Several times. I didn’t want it to be weird between us because I kept turning him down, so in the end I lied to him.” She knew she sounded mortified because she was. “I really hate lying, but he needed help, and if I kept turning him down, it would get awkward.”
“Your lie?”
She should have known he would insist on knowing what she’d told Bradley. She twisted her fingers together. “I told him I was in a relationship already and very much in love with my partner.”
Azelie turned her head so she could look straight into his eyes. “I really don’t lie, Andrii. It just seemed kinder.” She knew lying would be a huge problem for him. She shouldn’t be apologizing. She should be happy he would think she was a liar, but she couldn’t bear for him to think that of her. She also didn’t want to see his disappointment in her, but she wasn’t a coward. She believed, in this instance, she’d done the right thing. “Bradley’s children need someone to be with them in the interim if their regular sitter is ill or has something she can’t get out of, like a medical appointment. It doesn’t happen that often, but it’s important that the boys have someone they trust to look after them. I don’t go to his home, and I made that clear. I watch them in the park, or if it’s bad weather, we go to the rec center.”
“I understand why you believe you did the right thing, but it’s important to me that you’re always truthful with me, even if you’re afraid it might hurt me.” His palm cupped the side of her face. “You don’t believe you’re in my league, and you’re right, Solnyshkuh. You’re so far above me it isn’t funny. If I were a decent man, I’d walk out just like you want me to and leave you to find a good man.”
Azelie couldn’t look away from the darkness and deep sorrow in his eyes. He was telling her the truth as he saw it. She had developed a sense of radar ever since her family had been murdered. Even before, she had become concerned when she was around her brother-in-law. At the time, she thought it was because she didn’t like the way Quentin treated his wife and children. He’d grown selfish and overbearing, using drugs and drinking quite a bit. It hadn’t occurred to her that she often avoided certain people because they felt off to her. Andrii might feel dangerous and even powerful, but he didn’t feel at all the way he portrayed himself.
“I’m not easy. I’ll never be easy. I’m not even a good man, and you deserve so much better, but the truth is I have no intention of giving you up. I’ll work hard to make you happy. I believe that we’re right for one another and that I can do that—make you happy.”
“Andrii,” she cautioned, not sure what she was going to say to protest. She didn’t want to protest. She wanted to be his. She just wasn’t sure she had enough trust in her to develop the kind of relationship he needed.