Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Little Connor was with Sailor; he went to daycare part time for socialization with other kids his age, but after that, Sailor tended to take him to one of his plant nurseries. Connor had begun his visits as a baby strapped to his father’s chest, but these days he had his own tiny gum boots and overalls, knew what plants he could and couldn’t touch, and had Sailor’s calm way about him.
The girls had spent plenty of time at the nurseries too, but it was Connor’s number one favorite place away from home. Danny was fairly certain his nephew would be a horticultural genius by the time he began to talk in full sentences. As for the girls, Danny figured he might as well take advantage of the fact they were still young enough to consider chilling with him fun. A few more short years and they’d be teens with growing social lives.
He’d pushed them both on the swings for twenty minutes before taking time out with the dogs. “I mean,” he said to his canine therapists, “four times that close together is a new thing for me, but I know four times isn’t excessive for a guy my age.” Especially after having heard some of the boasts from his mates.
Though he wouldn’t be bragging about ten times in a night like one had done—because how long could each bout have lasted if it was all over within a few hours? “Quality trumps quantity,” he told Spot, who decided now was the time to lift his leg.
Looking away to give him privacy, Danny spoke to an attentive Domino instead. “But now I’ve got quality and quantity.”
It came out a touch smug, and he couldn’t help himself. He felt smug. He knew he’d pleased Catie. She’d been soft and loose-limbed when he left, hadn’t even snarked at him when he stole a kiss on the doorstep.
“The problem,” he said as the three of them moved on, “and I don’t even know if it’s a problem really, is that even after four times, I could go over again today and do it four more times with her.”
Domino gave him a bemused look.
“Sex maniac, right?” Danny turned back toward the swings—most of the crowd today was mums with their kids, but he’d made sure to keep the girls in sight. They were his responsibility and he took that seriously. “But man, I want her.”
His stomach flipped. Because the want wasn’t only physical. He’d loved falling asleep with her, loved waking with her, loved making them both giant omelets during their recovery period. If he was honest, being with Catie just felt… good.
“It kinda sucks that it won’t last,” he said quietly. “I mean, I was just thinking—if we could make it work, it’d be the dream, right? We both do sports, our families are tight, and there’d never be any trust issues.” Yes, he was still sore about that one date who’d tried to sell her story to the tabloids; she’d only failed because she’d had zero juicy material—they’d literally just met for a coffee in a busy Mount Eden café.
But a future with Catie was a pipe dream. The two of them were too combustible for it to last. They’d be back to their antagonistic relationship as soon as the lust went cold.
Spot leaned his body against Danny’s, Domino echoing him on Danny’s other side. Bending down, Danny patted one dog, then the other.
“Yeah, it sucks,” he repeated, his chest tight and hurting. “But I guess that means I better enjoy it to the limit while it lasts.”
* * *
He got a chance to do exactly that two days later, when Catie texted him midmorning: Going to see the new Star Gen movie with Veni and the gang. You want in?
Yeah. He wasn’t as big a fan of the franchise as Catie, but he’d seen all the movies. When?
Seven p.m. showing. Usual theater.
After confirming he’d meet her there, he blew out a breath. He knew a number of her friends—a result of the fact he’d known her so long—but they’d never had a mingled friend group. This was a serious departure from their norm.
He wondered if he should wear armor. He’d also forgotten to ask if he was going to be the only guy there, because that would be flat-out terrifying. The latter fear proved unfounded. Arriving at the theater, he found that two of her girlfriends had brought their guys. Ward was also present.
Danny barely stopped himself from curling his lip. What the hell was that loser doing here? Yeah, the dick was a top athlete, but he was also such a poser. The kind of person who was always “look at me.”
Danny still didn’t understand what Catie had seen in him.
But he kept a smile on his face as he was introduced around to the friends he hadn’t previously met. He got narrow-eyed looks from the women, Veni included, that told him they were withholding judgment, and friendly hellos from the guys—all but Ward. Dude’s smile was so fake-ass Danny didn’t have high hopes for his rumored dreams of a Hollywood career.