Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
“That’s a relief.”
“Yes. We have nothing to worry about. No skipped days.”
“That’s good.” I’m not a baby person, but they take to me like Mack and Posey have. It doesn’t mean I want kids of my own. Do I?
Having kids isn’t something I’ve been in a situation to want. I look over at Cat, who has propped her elbow up on the door and is staring out the window. “Oh,” she says, looking back at me, “an anonymous tipster can call in a blind item about how they had to get a few stitches after having sex with you?” She’s so eagerly hopeful that I almost feel bad letting her down.
“You’re a little too good at this, babe.”
“I’m a quick study.”
I’ve tried to keep it serious since it usually is when my dick is the topic of conversation, but I chuckle, letting her win this round. She’s too cute not to. I pull off to the side before I reach the line of cars exiting the shopping center. Looking at Cat sitting so contentedly beside me, I run my hand over her thigh. “I’m not holding you to the forty-eight hours. We’re back in Los Angeles.” Glancing at the line of cars lengthening, I add, “We’re right around the corner from your apartment. I can drive you home.”
“Is that what you want?” she asks, all joy stolen from her eyes.
“No. I want to spend time with you, but I want to do it without the threat of legal proceedings. I want it because you want to be with me. I want it—”
“I want to be with you, Shane.” Her voice is steady, her hand resting on mine. Her eyes are set on mine, and there are no doubts hidden anywhere in her body language.
I nod, then pull into the line to exit. Ferraris aren’t uncommon in this city, so I don’t worry about outsiders catching me, but I do wonder if we should be going to my house versus her apartment. Giving her leg a little squeeze, I lean over and kiss her. And then a car’s horn blares, driving my eyes back to the green light ahead. I start driving, heading to her place. At the gate, I look over at her once more. “What do you think about coming to mine? You don’t work until Tuesday. You’re already packed. You can grab whatever else you need, and we can go over there for a few days.”
In her smile, I see what I thought was only a dream—a future with her and the possibilities that come along with it. “I like that idea.” After pulling into the complex, I drive us to her building. When I park, she adds, “I only need a few things. I’ll run in and be quick.”
I watch her hop out and rush to her door. She doesn’t need to. I’ve waited ten months for her. I can wait five minutes. Sitting in the car builds the anticipation for what’s to come, a lot like a first date—slightly nervous, more excited.
I don’t know that my house offers more than her place does, but it gives us privacy, and that’s worth its weight in gold to me. My phone rings. Laird’s name appears on the screen on the dashboard. “Hey, what’s up?”
“You’ve gone radio silent,” he says. “Thought I should check on you.”
“I’m touched,” I reply sarcastically. “It’s been like two days tops.”
A chuckle frequents the other end of the line. “Seems longer. Hey, I have a new riff I’ve been working on. I think you’ll dig it. You have some free time this week? I can come over, and we can mess around your studio.”
“Tuesday onward.” I’m not going to lie about Cat, but I don’t need to blurt out every detail of what’s changed in my life practically overnight.
“What do you have going on this weekend?”
This is where I need to decide how I’m going to handle it. Straightforward is always best. “I just got back into the city from an overnight at Deer Lake.”
“Oh yeah, Poppy mentioned you were doing that. With a girl or just getting away?”
Wife comes to mind as the correct adjective, but he doesn’t know Cat and I are even dating. Hell, I didn’t know we were until yesterday. Things move fast. Life even quicker. The pieces came together because it was right, but I should probably ease the family in on the marriage detail. “Yeah, a woman I’m seeing.”
“Is it serious? It sounds like it, considering you called her a woman, not a girl or chick.”
He knows me well. “It’s I-took-her-to-Deer-Lake serious.”
“Damn, dude. This came out of nowhere.”
“Not so out of nowhere, Laird. You’ve just been busy with the twins and new music.”
“Yeah.” I hear crying in the background. He says, “Mack’s throwing a fit because he missed his nap.”