Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Friends.” I respond automatically and listen to him sigh softly. “Just friends.”
“Why?” He asks and rubs my shoulders gently with his fingers and thumbs.
“Because…”
A banging at the door breaks the moment. I pull away and dart from the room, hoping he doesn’t see my flushed cheeks and, if he does, I hope he thinks they’re from embarrassment and not from arousal.
“Oh my god.” I laugh as my mum stumbles inside. “You look like a drowned rat.”
“Towel.” she shivers.
Still laughing, I race to the cupboard under the stairs and pull out a large bath towel. She pulls her coat off and kicks off her soaking jeans before wrapping it around herself and vanishing up the stairs.
I go back into the living room, still laughing. “Mum’s home.”
“Okay.” He relaxes back into the chair and switches on the TV.
I look at him curiously. “Don’t you have to leave? It’s getting late.”
“Did I not tell you?” He cocks his head, a sneaky smile on his face. “My appointment is in town tomorrow. I thought I’d stay the night.”
Blink. “What?”
“Yes, well, it makes sense. You have room.”
“I have a couch.” I snap, my hands on my hips. “A ten year old couch that I know you won’t want to sleep on.”
He shrugs. “I guess I’ll just have to sleep with you.”
“What!” I shriek, stumbling backwards into the couch before falling onto it on my arse. “No… no way.” My libido can’t handle it and it’s… well it’s not fair on Eric. Right?
“We’ve slept in a bed together before.”
“What?” Great, mum’s here.
“Hello.” Nathan says to her, his face blank. “I hope you don’t mind; Guinevere has invited me to stay for the night. I have a meeting in town tomorrow.”
My mum looks at me, as shocked as I feel inside. “No, that’s fine of course.”
“Thank you, you won’t even know I’m here.” Nathan winks at me. It’s so unlike him.
“I will…”
“What’s that?” Nathan asks as my mum tightens her robe around herself and asks. “Tea anyone?”
“Please.” Nathan responds before looking at me again. Mum waits for my answer.
“No thank you, Mum.” She nods and leaves the room. I glare at Nathan. “Are you crazy?”
He thinks about it for a moment. “Yes.”
“You can’t stay here.”
“Are you going to make me leave?”
Am I? I growl and bring my legs up to my chest. “No.”
“Good.” He grins and changes the channel on the TV. “It’s been a long time since I watched TV, although I usually put the kids’ channels on for Dillan. He likes the colours.”
I look over at my sleeping son and smile. “Yes, he does. I’ll go and get the blankets.”
“What for?” Nathan frowns. I can’t help but notice how adorably confused he looks.
“So I can sleep on the couch.” I respond, standing and stretching my entire body. His eyes go to the bare skin of my midriff as my top rises with my tall stretch. When I relax back to my normal posture, his eyes come to mine. He looks annoyed. “You don’t honestly think my mum will let us share a bed, do you?”
“I think she will. I think it’s you who has the problem.” He waves his hand in the air, as if dismissing me. “Do as you please.”
“I shall.” A gentleman would never normally allow a female to sleep on a couch, but Nathan won’t be able to sleep on here. I understand that. The couch isn’t exactly sparkling clean. It’s as clean as a couch can be, but it holds stains from long ago that can’t be shifted. I should know; I’ve tried everything.
Mum enters with a silver tray full of snacks and drinks. She places them on the coffee table and passes them out, leaving the biscuits and cakes on the platters. “Thank you.” Nathan smiles politely at her and sips his drink. I snigger when he cringes. We share a look, mine of mischief from knowing my mum’s tea making abilities are not great, his of scorn when he realises I knew what he’d be accepting.
“Be right back.” I sing song and skip from the room.
Dillan starts crying as I’m gathering blankets, but I don’t worry. I know my mum or Nathan will deal with him until I return. As expected, Nathan has Dillan on his chest when I return to the room. I place the blankets on the arm of the couch and go to take my son from his uncle, who waves me off.
“Do you want dessert now?” I almost forgot about the chocolate shots I made.
“Yes!” Mum announces and looks at Nathan. “I’ve been wanting to try these since she started making them yesterday.” Fortunately she doesn’t mention Eric. My mum can be quite intuitive.
“Yesterday?” Unfortunately, so can Nathan. “Seems a stretch to make dessert.”
“I just had them ready yesterday.” I shrug, playing it off as nothing.