Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
He had snagged a few slices earlier in the evening to appease his growling gut, but if he ate pizza every night, his gut would be growing, too. Good for his cover as a prospect, not so good for him health-wise.
Sloane had switched on the light over the stove, but that wasn’t the light that caught his attention. It was the exterior patio light.
She must have forgotten to turn it off after using the hot tub. He was glad she was taking advantage of it since he certainly didn’t use it enough to offset the expense of upkeep.
As he reached for the light switch to turn it off, the muffled sound of the jets made him pause. She left the hot tub on, too?
The second he headed outside, he saw her head barely above the top of the tub. And in one hand, a glass of what looked like red wine was balanced on the edge.
“I figured you already went to bed…” Her eyes tracked him as he approached the tub.
“The hot tub helped me sleep the other night. I figured I’d try it again tonight,” she lifted her half-full wine glass, “with an added slumber accelerator.”
“Never heard wine called that before. I brought home pizza, if you’re hungry. Surprisingly, it’s actually pretty decent. The carb overload will also make you sleepy.”
His eyes dipped to the temperature setting on the control panel at the same time as his fingers dipped into the water to test it.
He blinked and his eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Then all the air escaped his lungs.
Was he so damn tired he was seeing things? Was his mind playing tricks on him?
When she shifted, his gaze rose from the water to her face.
With her shoulders and face glistening from the steam, her husky voice wrapped around him like a cloak when she said, “I’m not hungry for food.”
Her words didn’t quite compute because all he could think about was that he needed to extract himself from this situation before he made her uncomfortable.
He took two giant steps back, the backs of his calves running into the lounge chair that once again held her robe and towel. “I guess you didn’t go to your parents to get your bathing suit,” tumbled out of him even though that assumption was very clearly apparent.
And the wine… He didn’t keep any in the house, so she could stop at the store to pick up a bottle, but couldn’t stop at her parents to grab a bathing suit?
Her bare shoulders lifted slightly. “I haven’t had time. Between early meetings and picking up Val from school, it just hasn’t been possible.”
“You could’ve taken her along.” It was nice to know that his mouth was still connected to his brain and he hadn’t short-circuited.
Yet, anyway.
“I didn’t think that was a good idea. My parents already question my life’s choices and showing up with a child that isn’t mine, and one they don’t know, would raise a lot of questions. I’d rather they not know about our arrangement.”
“They wouldn’t approve?”
“I wouldn’t want to give them details about you or that you’re helping me find Sadie. Believe me, they would hound me for that info, even in front of Val.”
“Then, good call.” Except for the bathing suit part. She could’ve picked up a bathing suit in the last couple of days anywhere.
But then, he was usually naked when he got into the hot tub late at night, too.
“Well, I’ll head in and leave you in peace. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Or stare like a complete degenerate.
“You didn’t. This is your home, I’m the one intruding.”
“I told you that while you’re here—”
She cut him off. “Do…” She started again with more confidence behind her words. “Do you want to join me?”
That was an invitation he wasn’t expecting. Especially with her state of undress. The churning water only hid so much.
Face, asshole, keep your eyes on her face. Not her perfect tits bobbing in the water like two buoys in a churning sea.
“Not a good idea, Sloane.” Not a good idea, Deck.
“You said that last time, too. It turned out fine.”
Last time she wasn’t buck naked.
For fuck’s sake, this was so damn unfair.
Since she moved in, he’d been on his best behavior despite her checking off all his boxes. Despite being unable to rip his gaze from her whenever she was in sight. Despite staring across the breakfast table at her as she laughed without holding back when Val did or said something funny. Or...
Or...
Goddamn it. He’d been proud of himself for his restraint. And now she was trying to undermine that, even if that wasn’t her intent.
His dick was encouraging him to go for it, while his brain was reminding him that accepting her invitation wasn’t smart. In fact, it was a very bad idea if he didn’t want to fuck up their mutual arrangement.