Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Hey, Ma,” he said roughly, the spell broken. “I’m right on time and you know it.”
His voice was deeper. Why hadn’t I noticed that his voice was deeper?
“Would you check the dishwasher for my blue bowl?” she asked, picking up the napkins and silverware. “Put that salad in it and bring it out to the table. I think Dad’s almost done with the burgers.”
“Why can’t you bring it out in this bowl?” Titus asked as she headed toward the door.
“Because it doesn’t match.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Noel, grab the serving spoons on your way out, will you, doll?”
I opened my mouth to tell her that I had no idea where the serving spoons were, but she was out the door before I could say a word.
Leaving me alone with Titus.
Chapter 5
Noel
“They’re in the second drawer,” Titus said, jerking his chin at the cupboard as he strode toward me.
“What?” I looked at him in confusion. We were alone in the kitchen. Everyone else was outside. I didn’t know what to say. Should I say something? I wasn’t prepared. The room felt too small.
“The serving spoons are in the second drawer,” he repeated, looking at me oddly.
“Oh, thanks,” I murmured, shutting down my internal freak out.
The drawer he’d indicated was filled with hand towels.
“Um—” I turned to find him bent over the dishwasher, his jeans pulled tight over his butt and quickly spun back around. “I think this is the wrong drawer.”
The dishwasher door closed with a thump.
“Yeah, it’s this one,” he replied, leaning past me to pull open the drawer next to the one I was in. “It’s kind of a mess you’ll have to sort through.”
“Thanks,” I croaked.
It only took me a minute or two to find a few serving spoons and I was acutely aware of the man behind me. The silence in the kitchen was so thick I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. Pretending that I didn’t notice him putting the empty bowl in the sink beside me, I turned toward the door.
Just as I reached it, his arm shot past me, his hand gripping the door handle.
“I got it,” he murmured.
“Thanks,” I whispered as he held the door for me.
I squinted as I walked into the sunshine of the back yard.
“Uncle Titus!” Asa screamed. The swarm of kids raced past me and I reached out an arm at the last minute, snagging Diana as she trailed behind them.
“You ready for dinner?” I asked, settling her on my hip as she squirmed.
“I hungry,” she replied, reaching for the spoons in my opposite hand.
“Diana’s seat is on the end,” Emilia said, turning to grin at me as she reached for the spoons.
“Oh, thanks,” I murmured.
“Kids at the little table,” Heather announced, gesturing for the rest of the kids to sit. “Not you, Eloise. You’re over here by Gran.”
“I sit,” Eloise complained.
“When you’re bigger,” Heather said, scooping her up.
“This is cool,” I murmured as I reached the end of one of the picnic tables. There was a little seat that was just Diana’s size latched onto the table. Reaching out, I pushed on it to make sure she wasn’t going to go tumbling to the ground.
“It’s sturdy,” Otto’s oldest brother Mick said kindly, watching me. “We bought them last year so we didn’t have to keep dragging the high chair outside.”
“Because for some reason our mother likes to eat while gettin’ swarmed by bees,” Titus added as he came closer.
I glanced around, realizing that the only seats left open were the two across from each other on each side of Diana.
“I like the fresh air,” Heather countered from the other end of the table. “Dig in. I’ll make the kids’ plates.” She looked toward the kid table. “Ariel, come tell Gran what you like.”
Ignoring the lump in my throat at her casual inclusion of my eldest, who was happily soaking in the attention, I focused on putting food on our plates.
“Juice boxes okay for your girls?” Titus asked quietly, startling me.
“What?”
“I’m gonna grab drinks,” he said, his lips curving up at the sides in amusement. “Can your girls have juice boxes?”
“Oh.” He was so handsome. I couldn’t look away from that little smile. My eyes shot to his. “Yes. Thank you. Yes.”
Across the table, Mick chuckled quietly. From beside me, Emilia shushed him.
“You want somethin’?” Titus asked.
“Oh, uh, you don’t have to get me anything,” I stuttered.
“Grab me a beer,” Mick cut in.
“Cherry soda, please,” Emilia ordered.
Titus was still looking at me.
“Water?” I asked, my face burning. “Or whatever is easiest. I’ll drink anything.”
“Got it.”
As soon as he’d walked toward the porch, Emilia turned to me, her eyes wide, a huge grin on her face.
“Stop it,” I muttered under my breath.
“Good grief, Noel,” she murmured. “Take a breath.”
“I am,” I whispered back. By the looks of amusement on the faces around the table, the seating arrangement hadn’t been an accident.