Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
The toaster popped, and I headed back to the kitchen. I spread some butter on the bagel and ate it along with some strawberries. After breakfast, I took a shower and dressed in my maternity jeans, a ribbed white tank top, and a loose, fuzzy gray cardigan. I’d forgotten to pack my hair dryer and I didn’t see one in the bathroom, so I just left my hair to dry on its own. Barefoot, I wandered back out toward the living room.
On my way, I peeked into his bedroom. Not because I wanted to invade his privacy, but just out of curiosity.
He’d left the door open and his bed unmade. His clothes from the bar last night were still on the floor. Glancing over my shoulder, I pressed my lips together and took a step inside.
The room smelled like him, and my body’s reaction was swift and visceral. My nipples tingled. My core muscles clenched. Next thing I knew, I felt his bedroom rug under the soles of my feet. Knowing this was wrong and I was acting crazy, I hurried around to the side of the bed he slept on and stopped, listening for his key in the lock. Hearing nothing, I quickly slipped into his bed and pulled the blankets up to my shoulders. Closing my eyes, I inhaled the scent of his sheets.
Suddenly the heat clicked on, and the noise sent me bolting from the bed and scurrying out to the living room, my pulse pounding as hard as my heels on the wood floor. After catching my breath, I laughed at myself and vowed I would not do that again.
I had about an hour until Joe was due home, so I grabbed my phone and stretched out on the couch. But it wasn’t long before I began to doze off. Figuring I’d just take a quick catnap, I closed my eyes.
When I woke up, I discovered someone had removed my glasses and covered me with a chunky, cream-colored knit blanket. I sat up slowly and saw Joe in the kitchen. My phone and glasses were on the coffee table.
“You’re home already,” I said. “Did you get back early?”
“No. It’s two-thirty.”
“It is?” I blinked in surprise. “Oh my God. I had no idea I’d sleep for that long. I just meant to close my eyes for a minute.”
“That’s okay. Your body must need the rest.” He turned on the tap and filled a glass with water.
I slipped my glasses on. “Did you cover me up?”
“Yes. Your feet were bare and I was afraid they were cold.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by the gesture.
He popped something into his mouth and took a few swallows of water. “Some ibuprofen for my shoulder,” he explained. “It’s bothering me a little today.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He came out from the kitchen and dropped into one of the chairs adjacent to the couch. “I told the guys about the baby.”
Tucking my feet underneath me, I sat up taller. “What did they say?”
“Not much. Some said congratulations.”
“Was it weird?”
He looked off into the distance. “You know, it wasn’t as weird as I thought it would be. I think I’m finally getting used to it.”
I laughed. “Good thing.”
“So what would you like to do today? I mean, we don’t have to do anything, if you’re tired.” He leaned over to tie one of his brown lace-up boots that had come undone. He was wearing faded brown pants and a navy quarter-zip sweater over a blue plaid button-down. His hair was tousled and his jaw was stubbled, and the whole rugged, up-north look of him was enough to put my hormones on high alert.
We want more of this man, please.
“I’m good,” I said, fussing with my hair and hoping it wasn’t too matted. “I’ve certainly slept enough in the last twelve hours.”
He sat back. “Since we did hockey last night, I thought I’d let you choose today’s activity. Want to drag me to a museum or something? Broaden my horizons?”
“Like a field trip?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I bet you’re a good tour guide.”
“Maybe,” I said, “but I don’t want to drag you anywhere.”
“I was kidding. I would willingly go to a museum with you.”
“Well, the good thing is that most of them probably close at five, so the torture would last only a couple hours at most.” I thought for a moment. “Paintings or dinosaurs?”
“Dinosaurs.”
“Natural history museum,” I said, getting excited. “Let’s go.”
We spent two hours at the Field Museum, and even though I’m sure I rambled on for way too long on topics like archaeological dig methods, artifact acquisition and conservation, and exhibition design, Joe was a good sport. He listened and asked questions, and when I’d get particularly excited about something, he’d laugh—but always with affection.
“Okay, the torture is over! What was your favorite part?” I asked as we perused items in the gift shop on our way out.