Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“I have,” I said and got more comfortable on her visitor’s chair. She looked over my head and back at me. “How about dinner today?”
“You beat me to it. I was coming to invite you for dinner.”
We agreed that I’d pick her up at home at half past six.
I whistled as I went up the elevator towards the executive suites. Life was good. “Morning, Phyllis,” I greeted Larry’s secretary.
Her eyebrows flew into her hairline. “Morning, Mr. Rothermere.”
At lunch time, Finn drove me to the park. Since I got there before Hannah and Kayden, I picked a bench where I had a view of the entrance. A few minutes later, Hannah and Kayden strolled in, hand in hand. I stood up and almost instantly Kayden saw me. He grinned and took off on a run in my direction.
I squatted and he flew straight into my arms.
“Daddy,” he said, burying his face in the crook between my shoulder and head.
“Hey, buddy,” I said, emotions choking me up. I had no idea what I’d done to deserve him in my life, but I was going to do my damn best raising him.
Since he was dressed warmly, we decided to visit the animal zoo in the park. We bought food from a dispenser to feed the animals. Listening to Kayden’s shouts of glee as a goat ate directly from his hand turned me to mush.
“He’s so sweet,” Hannah said, coming to stand too close.
I stiffened. “Yes.” I answered curtly to discourage conversation.
She got the message because she did not speak again.
We bought some sandwiches and milk for Kayden and sat on a bench to eat. Hannah made some small talk that included Kayden, but generally she behaved impeccably in front of my son.
36
REX
“Play with me some more, Daddy,” Kayden said as I stood up from the floor where we’d been playing with his firetrucks for the last half-an-hour.
I kissed his forehead. “Do you remember I told you I have to go and meet someone?”
He nodded, but he didn’t let go of me. Kayden was not clingy at all so the fact that he was clinging worried me. Conflicted, I picked him up and held him close. He wrapped his hands around my neck and laid his head on my shoulder.
My throat choked up. We stayed that way for several minutes until Hannah gently pried him away from me.
“We’ll be just fine. I can play with you,” she said firmly.
I shot her a grateful smile and left.
Finn opened the back passenger door when he saw me. “How is the little man doing?” he asked with a smile.
“He didn’t want me to go,” I said, glad to talk about Kayden with anyone. I’d tried calling Jessica a few times but she didn’t answer her phone and the one time that she did, she sounded rushed.
“They never do,” Finn said. “But if you look inside the window right now, I bet you he’s playing happily with his nanny.”
I nodded. Finn was probably right. I turned my mind back to Willow. What was the plan? I didn’t have a plan. For the first time in my life, I had no detailed plan. All I knew was that I wasn’t going to give her up. No matter what.
Finn cruised to a stop outside her building and I texted her to let her know I was outside. I got out of the car to wait for her. She emerged, looking gorgeous.
“Hi,” she said and went on tiptoe to kiss me. “Your skin is cold. You stood in the cold waiting for me?”
“You look beautiful,” I murmured, her scent hanging in the air around me. God, I’d missed her.
“Thanks,” she said and slid into the car.
I’d made reservations at a Mexican restaurant, but to my disappointment the atmosphere wasn’t the quiet dinner I had envisioned. There was a large party celebrating something and our table was next to theirs. I asked for another table but the restaurant was full.
“It’s fine,” Willow said. “We can still hear each other speak.”
“If we shout,” I said.
Willow laughed. “But I like shouting.”
And just like that I knew I loved her. I stared at her with wonder. Yes, I was crazy in love with her.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you’re breathtakingly beautiful.”
She blushed. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you are, you’re even more beautiful than my dog, and he’s a beauty, easily the most beautiful dog in the world.”
“You have a dog?” she gasped.
“Yes, a white Swiss Shepherd.” I wished I could talk to her about Kayden, but not just yet.
“Will my Pogo get to meet him?” she asked.
“If you can get him to leave his hiding spot behind the curtains,” I commented.
She laughed. “Oh, how did you know about that?”
“You told me that while you were drunk our first night at The Lake Club.”
“How embarrassing, I can’t remember telling you. Yes, Pogo is a little monkey of a dog. My neighbor came over yesterday and he wouldn’t come out to say hello. He suffers worse mood swings than a woman.”