Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
The drive back to Carson Creek was uneventful if you didn’t count my endless loop of worries regarding Derek and Vicki. It was no business of mine who he did or didn’t do. He was a free man and I was a free woman. we were both free to do whatever we wanted with whomever we wanted.
“And apparently he wants Vicki Jessop.” Sick of my own thoughts, I shouted inside the truck and shook my head with a vow not to think of Derek anymore today. Or tomorrow.
Or the next day.
After that it would be easy peasy.
The house was quiet. Too quiet. “Hello? Anyone home?” My question was met with silence and my shoulders drooped and right along with it, my excitement to share the good news. It was the perfect end to a shit weekend, coming back to an empty house with no one to share in my good fortune.
For a brief moment worried entered my chest at the thought that maybe Nicola’s parents had returned and kidnapped Everest but I knew Mom wouldn’t let that happen and since the house was blood free, I assumed they were in town somewhere, probably planning the next party.
A note was propped against the napkin holder on the kitchen table in Ev’s chicken scratch handwriting. “Out in the meadow with a client.”
I frowned. A client on a Sunday? It didn’t make sense and with the worry still pinging around in my chest, I went through the back door and headed towards the meadow to see what the kid had gotten up to in my absence.
About twenty feet away I stop dead in my tracks. Derek is in the center of the meadow without his shirt because of course he was. He glowered at the camera Valona held as she circled him, snapping photos from high angles and low ones. Derek is naturally beautiful with the backdrop of the sunset, so beautiful that I can’t stand to look at him and instead of proceeding forward, I back away from the paying customers and head back inside to shower and order pizza for dinner. That was a much better way to spend time rather than pining after a man who longed for his freedom.
After the hottest shower I could stand, I dressed in sweats and an old tank top and made my way downstairs barefoot where I was immediately bombarded by noise. The noise of more than just Mom and Ev, and when I rounded the corner into the kitchen I noticed Valona and Keri chatting with Ev, and Derek charming Mom. “Hey…everyone.”
All the noise stopped and five sets of eyes turned to me, probably wondering I was wearing my best hobo costume. “Aunt Bella, you’re home.” Everest smiled and wrapped me in a hug. “I was about to start worrying about you?”
“About to start? Yeah, right. How as the shoot,” I asked him with a smile I didn’t quite feel but that was part of being a mom, smiling through the pain to make sure your child didn’t worry.
Val smiled widely, oblivious to the tension in the room. Or not, maybe she was just being a good friend. “It was great! Derek is so photogenic and photos of him will definitely raise my profile.” She turned to Derek with a sincere smile. “Thank you.”
He shrugged. “I needed some new photos and why fly someone out when there’s someone I know and love right here?” He winked. “Besides you’ve known me forever and you know all my best angles.”
“Gross,” Keri mumbled under her breath. “I’m hungry.”
“Pizza and wings are the on the way,” I said by way of an invite.
Val shook her head. “Trey is making enchiladas tonight so we’re off. Thanks for the last minute booking, Ev.” She patted his cheek and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“No problem, Mrs. B.” He smiled down at Keri who looked up at him like he hung the moon. “Oh I have that book for you. I’ll grab it and walk you out.”
“Great.” Keri recognized her response was a little too bright and her face turned an adorable shade of pink.
“I’ll walk you to your car Valona,” Mom said with a knowing, sympathetic smile. “I want to talk to you about doing some very special photos.” She wrapped an arm around Val and left the kitchen, more importantly she left me alone with Derek.
“Hey,” he said softly.
“Hey yourself.” I looked everywhere I could but at his face, or his still bare chest.
“I got your basket of goodness. Thanks.”
“No problem,” I murmur and head towards the fridge. It was late enough for a beer, wasn’t it?
“Bella,” he growled and grabbed my arm. “Please.”
I shook my arm free and turned to him with the most wicked glare I could muster. “Don’t.”
“Sorry babe, but I have to.” He grabbed me by the shoulders and yanked me close until our bodies were perfectly aligned. Then without a hint of hesitation, his mouth slammed against mine in a kiss that was intense and fiery. His tongue swept inside my mouth almost immediately and as much as I wanted to push him away, to tell him never to touch me again, I sagged against his body. I succumbed to the kiss hungrily, opening my mouth to take more of his.