Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Her lips curve. “That way we can talk. Tonight. After Chase goes to bed.”
“I would love that,” I murmur. “I think about talking to you all the time.”
She grins. “I mean talking. For real. Just talking.” She shrugs before adding with a wink, “At least at first.”
After Mel has Chase dressed for sledding, we head out for what I already know is going to be one of the best days of my life.
Because I get to share it with them, these people I’m starting to hope might be my forever.
Chapter 23
Melissa
I’m never going to forget this day.
I know that before we spend a fantastic afternoon sledding near Aaron’s grandmother’s house. Before we have hot chocolate at the indie bookstore downtown and buy new picture books for bedtime. Before we pick Nutty up at the shelter and he rides on Aaron’s good shoulder back to the vacation house, trembling with excitement and petting Aaron’s beard the entire drive home.
The dark secret beneath the apple tree and the police presence early this morning ensured that this particular snowy, February day will forever be branded in my memory. But it’s the way I feel cuddled up on the couch with my little family after dinner that’s made it one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever known.
I can’t believe I was going to end things with Aaron. If I’d sent him on his way, we never would have had this perfect day filled with laughter and fun and so much love.
I’m in love with this man.
He’s in love with my baby and me.
And suddenly all the lonely nights spent crying myself to sleep are worth it because every single one brought me here.
“More fizzy water?” Aaron asks, squeezing my thigh beneath the blanket.
I shake my head, whispering, “No, I’m good.” I glance down to where Chase is passed out on the floor with a train still in each hand. “It’s probably okay if we skip brushing his teeth just this once. He’s so tired.”
“I think so,” Aaron says, his hand sliding a little higher, sending fireflies swarming through my belly. “We’ll brush them extra good in the morning.”
Nutty barks as if in agreement and bounds back up to Aaron’s shoulder, resuming his obsessive petting of his beard. I snort and Aaron sighs but tolerates the squirrel’s affection with the same good-natured patience he displays with all small creatures.
“He loves you so much,” I murmur, grinning.
“He loves my beard, you mean,” Aaron says. “I think he’s trying to sweet talk it into running away with him into the forest, never to be seen again.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Nah, it’s you, Boudreaux. You’ve got star quality. Nutty and I see it. We think you’ll go far.”
He grins at me around the squirrel’s short tail. “Yeah? You really think so?”
“We do. And Nutty loves Chase too much to run away with your beard.”
Nutty barks again before dashing down Aaron’s arm, hopping off the couch, and running over to where my son lies incapacitated by his fun on the carpet. He curls up under Chase’s armpit, making Aaron and I both emit “aw” sounds.
“He’s sweet, for a perverted little ground rat,” Aaron says.
I grin. “He is. And much less anxious now that he’s part of a family again. Do you think his old owners miss him? Wherever they are?”
“Maybe. But I’m sure they’d be glad to know he’s being loved and taken care of. That’s all that really matters, right?”
“Yes.” I sigh. “But I’d rather take care of my people myself. I’m greedy that way.”
“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his hand now so high on my thigh that he’s a whisper away from brushing against something more intimate and my skin is humming all over. “Thank you. This was the best day.”
“It was,” I agree. “Even with the tragic start.” I turn toward him, biting my lip as his hand creeps a whisper higher. “I wish you never had to leave, but since you do, maybe we should—”
“Talk about how to make long distance work?” he cuts in as he shifts his grip on my leg, rubbing the side of his hand against my clit. My breath rushes out and my nipples instantly pebble inside my bra.
“Yes, talking would be good.” I scratch my nails along the rough denim of his jeans. “But maybe we could make the most of the fact that we’re both in the same place first?”
“But you said we should just talk.” He applies more pressure between my legs. My hands ball into fists as I fight to hold back a moan. “That’s what morning Melissa said anyway.”
“Morning Melissa is stupid.”
“Nah, not at all. She’s very smart, and she sounded pretty sure of herself, so I—”
I cover his lips with my fingers and whisper, “You. Me. The bathroom in five minutes. I’ll tuck Chase in and meet you in the shower.”