Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21278 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 106(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
The moment I’m home, I’m hugging on my twins and reassuring them that they’re OK and Dad is here.
“Cartoons in the big bed?” Leo asks me. Despite the fact that they have perfectly good beds in their bedroom, I wake up most mornings to find they’ve crawled into mine with me. Now he wants to watch cartoons in my bed before he goes to sleep, a rare treat.
“Only if you and Lyla brush your teeth and put on your jammies first,” I answer.
They hurry off to do the assigned tasks and Cam rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry to interrupt your night. He wasn’t relaxing and I worried he’d start hyperventilating—”
I wave away his words and move to the fridge to grab a water. I offer him one before saying, “You did the right thing.”
“You have lipstick on your neck,” Cam smirks at me. “You get some?”
I rake my hand over the lipstick, looking at the shade of red on my palm that will always make me think of the curvy woman from the club. I wonder if she’ll be there on another night then instantly dismiss the thought. Even if I could find her, I’ve blown my shot by walking out of the room so abruptly. Hell, I didn’t even think to check in with her.
“Are you going to hook up with her again?”
Asheville’s a huge city and I’m only at the club a few times a year. “Nah, I didn’t get her name. I’ll never see her.”
Lucy
“Home?” Scarlett asks the next morning as I sit in the passenger seat of her car. She’s driving me to Courage County, and she’ll drop me off there before making the trip back to Charleston.
She didn’t come back to our hotel room last night. But she did text me where she was, and she checked on me. I didn’t tell her what happened until this morning because I didn’t want her to stop her night to come babysit me.
I nod miserably as I pick a bite off my apple cranberry muffin. I should have known he would be a dick. I have no idea what to do with men. That’s why I started reading romance novels in the first place. I’d hoped the stories would help me find my own hot alpha hero.
“It doesn’t have to mean he’s a cheater,” she offers. But she doesn’t sound convinced, just like I’m not convinced. “Besides, it’s not a big deal. He was just a quick fling. Better to find out now than later.”
I nod along, not sure why my feelings are hurt. It shouldn’t matter this much. I barely knew the guy. “How did things go with the bouncer last night?”
She gives me a wicked grin. “Apparently, there’s a reason they call him Desmond with the big D.”
I take a sip of the overpriced latte she bought me. She fills me on all the details about her night with the hot bouncer, going into more description than a romance writer. By the time she’s done, I’m smiling. “Will you see him again?”
She shrugs one shoulder. “You know I don’t do things like that.”
Yeah, she’s had a pretty messed up life and she doesn’t let anyone close now. Except me.
I gather my bag as she slows the car in front of a pretty one-story farmhouse in the heart of the quaint little town. It looks like the type of place you’d see featured on one of those old family sitcoms. There’s even a white picket fence surrounding the front yard. “You should take a chance on him.”
“We’ll see,” she says before eyeing the house. “You want me to wait for you?”
“No, it’s better if you’re gone. I’ll call you tonight.” I give her a quick, awkward hug since she’s still bound by her seatbelt.
I grab my suitcases out of the back and stand in front of the picket fence. I wave at her until she leaves. Then I turn to face the house. As my new home goes, it’s clean and neat.
The lawn is mowed and there’s a swing set out front along with various toys scattered through the grass. On the sidewalk, there are chalk drawings that definitely look like they were done by children.
The front door opens, and a boy and a girl come bounding out of the house. They’re both laughing and wearing matching overalls except they have different colored shirts on underneath.
The pair heads for the swing set, clearly racing each other for the best one. But they pause when they see me. I give them my brightest smile, the one that promises endless juice boxes and plenty of crayons. “Hi, I’m Lucy. What’s your name?”
I already know these two are Lyla and Leo. They have to be based on the picture the agency sent me. Their blonde hair and dark eyes make them striking beauties.