Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
“We’ll be in the kitchen,” I say, passing by her to answer the door.
“Hey, man,” I greet Chase.
“Hey, is that Gabby’s car in the driveway?”
“Yep.”
“Gabby!” he calls out, already en route to the living room. “You have to stop stalking me. It’s getting embarrassing.”
Gabby’s face turns red. “Waste of sperm,” she mutters, shaking her head.
“You,” I point to Chase, “kitchen.” I push on his shoulder to get him moving. “Ease up on her, man,” I say once we’re out of earshot.
“What? It’s Gabby. It’s what we do.”
“Maybe that’s what you used to do. It’s been months since you’ve seen her.”
“I know. I’ve missed it.” He grins.
There’s no point in trying to reason with him. Instead, we make our plates and sit at the island. He fills me in on what’s going on at the gym, and the new location. I was worried that stepping back like I have would get to me, but it’s nice to have the break. If I had the choice, I’d choose more time with Winnie any day of the week. For the first time in ages, I feel like we’ve got this worked out, and everything is going to be okay.
Chapter 10
Winnie
* * *
“Is there a reason you keep glancing over your shoulder toward the kitchen?” I ask, unable to hide the smile on my face. She’s only looked his way ten times in the last ten minutes.
“I’m not,” Gabby argues fruitlessly. It’s written all over her face.
“Liar.”
My sister rolls her eyes. “He’s just so frustrating. I wish he wasn’t so good-looking. I can deal with cocky and arrogant, but the good-looking part? That’s maddening. Jerks shouldn’t be allowed to be hot too.”
I set my empty plate on the table, surprised I ate it all so quickly. I guess I was hungrier than anticipated. “He’s not really a jerk,” I say, taking a drink of my yummy chocolate milk.
Again, my sister rolls her eyes. “Of course he is. He snapped my bra the last time I saw him! In the middle of the supermarket!” she bellows loudly, evoking two chuckles from the kitchen.
“I didn’t realize you could snap a training bra like that!” Chase hollers from the other room.
“See? Jerk!” she yells boisterously. “I stopped wearing a training bra in sixth grade,” Gabby says a little quieter, looking directly at me. Of course, because her eyes are on me, she doesn’t see Harrison’s best friend enter the room.
Chase crouches down behind where Gabby sits. “You’re gonna have to whip them out so I can see, sugarplum. It’s for research purposes.”
Gabby glares icicles over her shoulder. “Your mama should have swallowed and saved us all the pain and suffering.”
I burst out laughing, quickly followed by Chase. He just throws a wink and a grin at my sister and strolls back into the kitchen. Gathering up my dirty dishes, I follow in his wake, not wanting to interrupt but curious as to what they’re discussing.
“You’re right,” Harrison says when his friend takes the seat across the table. “Everything is right on track.”
I try to steal a peek at the papers he’s reading, but after catching a glimpse of him wearing those dark readers, my focus is pulled elsewhere. He’s wearing worn light-colored jeans that mold perfectly to his thighs, an old college T-shirt, and his feet are bare. How is it that a man can take off his shoes and socks and still be completely mouthwateringly sexy?
When my eyes finally meet his, there are small laugh lines crinkling around his big brown eyes, holding humor. The corner of his lip turns upward in that totally kissable way, and he doesn’t call me on my obvious gawking. Thank God. How embarrassing to be caught staring at your ex-husband while he’s working with his best friend, but in my defense, he’s totally yummy and completely doable.
It must be the pregnancy hormones.
“How’s it going?” I ask casually, averting my eyes.
Harrison’s hand snakes out and grabs me. He gives me a gentle tug, causing me to stumble onto his lap. Instantly, I’m assaulted with the scent of his body wash. It’s been so long since I’ve been this overcome by his smell that it brings tears to my eyes. It’s so familiar, yet so foreign at the same time.
Rapidly blinking them away, I keep quiet as Chase continues. “The contractor is two days ahead of schedule and thinks he’ll be done soon on the west property. It’ll be complete and ready to open before the south site.”
“That’s awesome. How about the plumbers?” Harrison asks, keeping his hand on my hip. I try to get up, but he just tightens his hold. When I glance his way, he holds me close and places a kiss on the side of my brow.
Since I’m apparently not going anywhere, I listen as they go through papers, discussing the upcoming opening of his new gym. When we were married, Harrison had purchased a large abandoned building two towns to the west with the intent of converting it into a new gym. Many of their residents drive to Fair Lakes to work out. They had a gym, but it was small and outdated, and once Harrison’s gym took off into the stratosphere, the small gym eventually closed down. Harrison saw the writing on the wall before it had actually closed the doors, however, noting the need in their community, which is why he’s expanding. He also purchased a location to the south, which was in a little worse shape. Its remodel appears to be taking a little longer.