Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“You okay, Holden?” she murmurs.
I sniff. “Yeah, I’m good… the best.”
She leans her head back, resting her chin on my chest, and I loosen my hold on her so I can look her in the face. “Are you okay?”
She smiles. “Yeah, I’m just surprised. I never would have thought you would be a cuddler after sex.”
Hell, I’m not. I’m usually looking for ways to put some distance between me and the woman, and that’s just another reason why I know what’s happening between Cat and me is more than just sex. I lock my hands at her back. “I’m usually not… It’s different with you.”
She tenses in my arms, but I don’t let her go. It’s like she doesn’t want to believe that this is more than it is. She has to realize this is more than just some fling. She pulls from my arms and grabs the soap off the ledge and squirts it into her hands. “Come on, Mr. Gray. Let’s get you clean.”
She puts her hands to my chest and starts to wash me. I want to insist we have a real conversation, but it’s clear she wants to keep this light. I’ll let her have her way, for now. I cover her hands with my own. “If you’re going to be running your hands over my body to get me clean, then round two is going to happen sooner rather than later.”
She rolls her eyes with a big smile on her face. “Promises, promises.”
And because I can’t hold back any longer, I cup her face in my hands and kiss her like there’s no tomorrow.
24
CATHERINE
“Got it!” Cole hollers before hitting the ball. It goes over the net, straight to Chrissy.
I stand on my side of the court, knees bent, paddle ready for the ball that comes careening back at me. I hit it, and it lands in the square on the other side before bouncing out of play. “Yes!” Cole hollers, jumping up and down. “We did it, Mom!”
I’m still not sure what the rules are for pickleball, but somehow we just won a game against Chrissy and Gabe. Cole hugs me, and I soak it all in. With his arm around my waist, we walk over to the side and meet the rest of Holden’s family. I’m not sure how this happened, but this morning when I finally dragged myself out of bed and said I had to shower and go get Cole, Holden convinced me to come to his family’s game of pickleball.
“Having fun?” Holden asks.
Cole and Gabe are talking smack, and my cheeks are hurting from smiling so much. “I’m having a blast.”
“Yeah, we always have a good time when we come.”
I point around at his family. “How did you all get started playing this?”
“Well, I think Gabe and his buddies at the fire department started playing, and then Gabe started enforcing family game day once a month, so here we are.”
I try not to let my jealousy show. Man, I would do anything to have this for Cole. As I look at my son and see how truly in his element he is, I know he would flourish with a big family like this. “Well, it’s fun.”
Holden gives me a look, and he doesn’t have to say a word for me to know what he’s thinking. It’s probably the same thing I’ve thought about all morning. Last night was perfect. The sex was out of this world, but it’s more than that. We laughed, we talked, we held each other. It didn’t feel like a fling. But just as soon as my mind starts to go to that thought, I know I need to quit thinking that way. Holden is a professional baseball player, and as soon as he’s back to playing, this will be nothing but a distant memory for him.
I’m drawn from my thoughts when King holds up his paddle. “All right, me and Haven against Dom and Cole.”
Haven calls out, rubbing her round belly. “Take it easy on me, I’m carrying an extra person here.”
“I’m going to run to the ladies room,” I tell Holden.
“I’ll go with you.”
I stop him, holding up my hand. “No, it’s fine. It’s just right there, I’ll be right back.”
I walk away, and the whole way across the park, I try to get my thoughts in order. I keep reminding myself that I can do this. I can do a fling without my heart getting involved.
I finally reach the bathroom, and after taking care of business, I stare at myself in the mirror as I wash my hands. There’s a light in my eyes that hasn’t been there in a long time. I make a promise to myself that even when this is over, I’m going to do everything I possibly can to keep that light burning bright.