Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Snapping one more photo, I catch her eyes on me. “What are you doing?” There’s nothing but a smile built into the question.
“I don’t want to forget this.”
She hugs him and kisses Max’s head. “Will you send it to me?”
“Of course.”
Setting him down, she comes to me and settles on my lap. With her arms draped so casually around my neck, she says, “You’ve been busy this morning, but I wanted to check in with you. A lot happened last night.” She glances at Max. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.” I wouldn’t tell her otherwise. No need to add to her worries. I still need time to think about this outside of the situation, but for now, I didn’t lie.
I let my eyes trail down her body from the neck to her breasts before a finger pulls my attention back up. “Eyes up here, sweetheart.”
Chuckling, I readjust her so she’s more stable on my legs. “They’re gorgeous to stare into.”
“Back at ya.” She looks down, and her words are reluctant. The smile has faltered as do her shoulders when I finally get her gaze shining on me again. “You’re taking everything in such stride. It’s a lot. Life changing. Do you want to share your thoughts? What is your heart telling you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not overthinking this. I’ve just been going off instinct.”
A gentle smile rolls across her face, the corners of her eyes softening. Dragging a finger over my chin, she leans in to kiss me before resting her forehead against mine. “You’re amazing, Noah. You’ve . . .” She takes a calming breath. “You stepped right up, but what happens next?”
“Maybe,” I say, pulling back to see her eyes again. “Maybe we don’t define it just yet. I’m his dad, and I want to be whatever that entails, but otherwise—”
“But otherwise, you and I should wait.”
“I didn’t say that. Is that what you want?”
“No. I just feel like I’ve dropped you into this world without your permission, and you think you need all the answers to move forward, have the perfect plan in place, and know how this should play out. You don’t. We don’t. Do we?” She licks her lips and then says, “This wasn’t a trap—”
“Is that what you’re worried about? You’re worried that I think this was a ploy to get me to what? Stay? Hang around? Date?” A humorless chuckle escapes me as I rub her leg. “Do you really think I’d fall for a scheme so easily?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m trapping you into a life you didn’t ask for.”
“I haven’t had time to process everything. Time is a luxury I’ve been given, but you weren’t.” I tread carefully not wanting to open boxes I’m not prepared to unpack. “Listen, Liv. We have time to figure this out. But I need you to hear me. For Max, I’m here because he’s my son and I care about him. For you, I’m here because I want to be. But if you get tired of me invading your space, I can head home.”
“Maybe that’s what I’m worried about. I don’t want you to leave.” I reach up and caress her face, rubbing my thumb over her soft skin. Her body is sheltering in itself. I don’t want that. I want her to be the bold woman I know she is. “And that scares me, too. I’ve put you in an impossible situation.”
I tilt up to kiss her. I kiss her again and then again, tasting her confessions that she was brave enough to share. “It’s not impossible if I’m being given the option. I want to stay.”
Her smile returns. “You do?”
“Yeah, I do.” Tightening my hold on her hips, I straighten my back. “What if we spend the weekend together? We’ll go see Cassandra and then grab some lunch—”
“Take Maxwell to the park?”
“Absolutely. Whatever we want. We can stop by my apartment on the way to the hospital. I can take a shower and then grab a bag for the night. Dinner in and whatever we decide to do after that?”
“I know what I want to do.” Honestly, it doesn’t matter what she says next. I’d never deny this incredible woman a request. “Do you think . . .” She drops her head into her hand and laughs. “God, this is so embarrassing.”
“What?” I ask, rubbing her hips, egging her on. She’s so fucking sexy. “Tell me.”
She looks back at Max sitting on the floor, playing with a hairbrush, and then leans in conspiratorially to whisper, “Have you ever . . .” Biting her lip, she glances to make sure Max isn’t listening before pressing her lips to my ear. “Watched Sons of Anarchy?”
“The motorcycle show?” She’s nodding so much that I reach up to put the back of my hand on her forehead. “Are you feeling alright? Having a fever dream?”