Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
After parking my car, I head inside. Declan is sitting at the desk with the phone at his ear. He smiles when he sees me and waves me over. I place his tea on the desk in front of him, and he grips the back of my thigh, holding me next to him.
“Monday will work. Thank you.” He hangs up the phone and wraps his other hand around my waist. “I missed you.”
“It’s only been a few days,” I tell him.
“Five, Kens. It’s been five days since I laid eyes on you.”
“How else am I supposed to keep you interested?” I tease.
“Just exist.”
Bending my head, I press a kiss to his lips. “You make my heart race when you say things like that.”
“Good.”
“Come on, Daddy. I need to get the car seat.” I try to step back, but he keeps his arms around me, holding me close.
“Just take the Tahoe. It will be easier than moving the seat back and forth. Leave me your keys.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t men have an issue with women driving their vehicles?” Lyle hated it when I would ask to take his SUV over my car. I hated the bitching, so I quit asking. If I needed a bigger vehicle, I just had it delivered or asked Morgan to use hers.
“Not this one.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“Not when it’s you,” he amends.
“Sorry to interrupt, boss,” a guy I now know as Gus says, sticking his head into the office from the garage area. “Those parts you’ve been waiting on were just delivered.” He waves at me and grins at our position.
“Thanks, Gus. I’ll be right there.” He stands from the chair, which causes me to step back. Reaching into his pocket, he produces a key fob. “Just use the garage door opener to let yourself in. The door from the garage to the house is unlocked.”
“Got it.” My words are muffled against his lips. “Here are mine,” I say, stepping back and placing them in his hand. “Any requests for dinner?”
“You.”
I can feel my face heat, and my body responds to his reply. A rush of warmth pools between my thighs. “Something a little more Blakely friendly?”
“I told you I can just pick something up.”
“Nope. Blakely and I are going to cook. Speak up now, or no complaints later.”
“Babe, as long as both of my girls are there when I get home from work, I’ll eat anything you put in front of me.”
“Again, with the pretty words.” My poor heart is getting a workout with this visit the way it pumps furiously inside my chest.
“Do your parents know that I’m picking her up?”
“Yes, and so does she. To say she’s excited is an understatement. I called them right after we talked.”
“I feel a little weird going to your parents’ to get her, but I’m excited to hang out with her.”
“You have nothing to feel weird about. They know we’re seeing each other.”
“Is that what this is?” I tilt my head to the side, pretending to decide whether I like that description.
“It’s a damn good start.” He kisses me once more and steps back. “I need to finish this car so I can get out of here.”
I point at his iced tea. “An afternoon pick-me-up.”
“Thank you. Be safe. Text me when you get home.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when Blakely and I get to your place.”
“That’s what I meant.” He flashes me a knowing grin, and my heart takes off, galloping once again. He kisses me one more time, this one just a peck, before grabbing his tea and walking backward toward the door that leads to the garage. “See you soon, baby.” He winks and disappears behind the door.
I take a minute for my heartbeat to regulate before climbing behind the wheel of his Tahoe and heading home.
“Kenny!” Blakely rushes toward where I stand, just inside the entry of Declan’s parents’ house. “Are we having a girls’ day?”
“Well, until Daddy gets home from work. We’re going to make dinner.” I smile down at her.
“Come on in,” Carol says.
I step farther into the room as Blakely continues to chatter. “What are we cooking?” she asks.
“That’s up to us. What do you want to make?”
She taps her chin with her index finger, and it’s cute as hell. “Cookies?”
I laugh. “We can make cookies, but I think we need something else. The cookies will be our dessert.”
“Pancakes?” she asks.
“How about we go to the grocery store and see what we can find?”
“Do you have a seat in your car? Daddy says I have to have a seat even though I’m a big girl.”
“I have your daddy’s Tahoe, and he has my car.”
“Blakely, go grab your things,” Carol tells her.
“Okay!” She shoots off across the room to gather her coat and shove toys into her backpack.
“She has things she leaves here, but she loves having a backpack to take back and forth,” Carol explains.