Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Phone works both ways.”
Mitch sighed. “I’m not arguing that, just… you know him. He does his best. Like the rest of us.”
There was a long, understanding silence between uncle and nephew, and I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see them embrace in a hug that spoke of years and years of history.
Interesting, how Will never really spoke about his dad, but I knew he watched Jeopardy every night he was home because it was something he and his father used to do together. There was clearly some fondness there — but, maybe some pain, too.
I longed to know more, but knew I couldn’t ask.
Mitch squeezed his shoulder. “Alright. I’ll drop her off at school in the morning.”
With a smile and nod of his head as he passed me, Mitch let himself out. Just as I expected, he double checked that Ava was safely buckled before climbing into the driver seat. Ava waved excitedly as they pulled out of the drive.
And then it was just the two of us.
It wasn’t necessarily an uncomfortable quiet that fell over the house once that truck was gone, but it was… heavy. Charged. Like if I touched a blanket I’d get an electric shock.
Will shoved his hands into the pockets of his joggers, but he didn’t move his large frame out of my way. I shut the front door behind me, my back against it, but still, he stayed put.
He was still the same man who dropped his daughter off on the first day of school, and yet, so much about him had changed. His hair was a little longer now, the stubble on his jaw a little more coarse. He didn’t look as tired as he had when I’d taken this job. His eyes were brighter now, his skin glowing a rich bronze, his cheeks full instead of hollow.
But his golden eyes were still as sad as ever.
I wondered if that would ever change.
“Tuesday night,” he said — as if I wasn’t aware.
I smiled. “Yep.”
“Plans?”
I snorted at that. “Oh, of course. A five-course meal with a guy I met on Tinder, and then hitting the club with my girls.”
Will frowned a bit, like he wasn’t sure if I was joking or not. I rolled my eyes.
“I have a half-finished puzzle and a true crime podcast cued up,” I said. “You?”
“Nothing.”
I nodded, heart spiking a bit at the implication behind that one word. Chef had already gone for the day.
We really would be alone — just the two of us.
The last time that was the case, I’d dry humped his thigh.
“Um… did you want to talk anymore about the plans for Disney?” I asked when he didn’t budge from where he stood. “Before I go over to the pool house?”
“I think the plans for Disney are pretty set.”
I nodded again.
He still didn’t move.
Scratch that — he did move, but not out of the way. He stepped toward me, his eyes flicking between mine as the space between us slowly evaporated.
“Think your puzzle can wait another night?”
“Uh…”
“Because I find myself in quite the teaching mood.”
He punctuated that last word with a final step in front of me, his body towering over mine, eyes alight with a tease and a dare and a promise.
The scent of him was intoxicating, the warm spice of his body wash mixed with faint hints of leather and rope. I wondered if that was from his hobbies in the home gym or if there were more exciting lessons than I anticipated waiting for me.
My heart had gone from a steady beat in my chest to an erratic, wild animal thrashing against the cage made by my ribs. I wondered if he could see my quickened pulse when his eyes dipped to my throat, if he could sense my excitement the way a lion might sense its prey.
It had been over a week since we’d had sex. Honestly, it had been over a week since we’d looked at each other for longer than two seconds without one of us breaking the gaze. I’d felt a bit like walking on eggshells, unsure of if I was welcome inside any more for fear of crossing one of his boundaries.
I’d agreed not to divulge our little secret to anyone, and so I’d made sure not to speak of it to the girls — even though I desperately wanted to. I debated using the whole “Noah from school” storyline to work around the rule, but I was a bit worried one of them would see right through me.
Maven was wicked smart. Livia was observant as hell. Grace, though she was on the go, seemed to be the kind of girl who could sniff out the truth without trying.
And I was pretty sure Arushi was already onto us, so I really needed to keep it together around her.