Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Considering the telescope by the window, did Arch ever sit up here, looking up at the sky?
He was just downstairs. With a shock, she realized that she had found it peaceful working while he was in the house. She usually preferred to paint alone and never quite felt comfortable hiding her activity in clients’ houses. But this felt different. Something about being here felt comfortable. Like everything was just right.
She checked her watch and was startled to see that two hours had passed since she’d opened her box of paints. She’d been utterly engrossed in her work all this time. Hoping Arch was okay, she took the painting off the easel and found a shelf in the closet where it could lie flat to dry. She washed her brushes and her hands in the en suite so that no trace or smell of paint was visible on her skin and headed downstairs, annoyed with herself for losing track of time.
But when she entered the living room, she saw that Arch hadn’t moved an inch. He was deep into reading the script. She smiled. Like her, he’d been so absorbed in what he was doing he hadn’t noticed the time passing.
“Hi,” she said quietly.
He looked up, surprised. But as soon as he saw her, warmth flooded his face, and his eyes twinkled. Just the way Margaret had teased her about.
He put down the script and replied, “Hi.”
He stared at her, a look that seemed almost to be wonder, and she worried for a moment she had paint on her face or hands or clothes. But no, she was thorough in hiding her time painting. She didn’t make mistakes like that.
“It’s almost seven,” she said. “I think we both may have lost track of time.”
He nodded. “This script is good. Plus, I found that I liked knowing you were in the house, even though you were upstairs.” He flashed her a way-too-sexy grin. “And I didn’t even call you back down here for no reason… though the thought crossed my mind once or twice.”
She found herself laughing, even though he was laying on the charm way too thick. She should be putting up bigger walls to protect herself, but instead, she said, “I’m glad you’re a fast learner. I wouldn’t have taken kindly to a prank call.”
“Oh yeah,” he said. “I’m definitely a fast learner.”
She pretended not to notice the sexy undertones or the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, even as her face grew warm. Instead, she swiftly changed the subject and asked if he was ready for dinner.
That twinkle undiminished, he replied, “Oh yes, I’m hungry.”
For food?
Or for her?
The thought was way too potent for her to linger on. Forcefully shoving all thoughts of being touched by Arch out of her head, she said, “Celebrity Tonight will be on soon. I can bring you a tray so you can stay on your lounger with your leg elevated, if you’d like to watch it.”
“Only if you’re eating in here with me.”
She looked at him. She’d eaten all her meals with Margaret, but Margaret hadn’t made her pulse pound. She needed to keep her distance from Arch if she was going to protect her heart, so she said, “Oh no, I’ll eat in the kitchen.”
He burst into laughter. “You’re joking.” But the laughter soon faded when he saw she was serious. “Come on. You can’t leave me to eat all on my own. It’s… well, it just doesn’t seem right. Especially when we’re going to be living together for so many weeks. I don’t want you to feel like ‘the staff,’ forced to eat in another room.” He paused for a moment. “And also, I’d really like your company.”
Giving him a small smile, she nodded. “Okay, then I’ll eat with you from now on, if I’m not out grocery shopping or taking care of something else for you.”
While she was still determined to keep her emotional distance as much as she could, she understood how lonely it could feel to eat alone. Her husband might have grown more cruel as he’d become more ill, but after his passing, she still remembered how alone she had felt sitting at the table eating dinner by herself.
A few minutes later, she brought in their meals. “This looks amazing,” he said, staring in wonder at his plate. “It’s a work of art.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Not as good as your mom’s oatmeal cookies, I’m sure, but definitely more nutritious.”
Arch nodded and then took the first bite of his food. After he had swallowed, he told her it was delicious. She glowed at the compliment. It was always nice when your cooking was appreciated. Most people didn’t realize how much time and care it took to prepare something that tasted good while also being good for your health.
“So, we know my mom’s specialty is cookies. Now tell me about your mom. Is she more into health food like this?”