Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76559 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“If there’s no evidence, probably not. Given how wrong they were about you murdering Father Eric and what it cost you, I would think you’d be happy they’re taking their time to solve the crime.”
Sadie’s reminder had the desired effect of shutting Bonnie the hell up.
Thank goodness.
“So Kat, how was your road trip with Terry?” The sparkle in Sadie’s eyes made me wonder if she’d seen something she shouldn’t.
“It was…interesting.”
Ma’s bark of laughter had my hand reaching for the decanter of whisky.
“Oh please, that boy has had it bad for you since his balls dropped.”
She fucking snorted at that. So did Maisie, surprisingly.
“No, he doesn’t. Terry barely tolerates me. And what do you know about his balls, anyway?” Way less than I did for sure. “He’s only around because Jas asked him to babysit me.”
“Bullshit,” Sadie laughed. Again. “You’re so clueless that I almost feel sorry for you.”
Maisie shook her head in disbelief. “How can someone be so good at business and so oblivious when it comes to her love life?” To bring her point home, she raised a fresh glass of wine in my direction. “To Kat, finally figuring it out.”
I shook my head, not because they were wrong, but because I refused to let that hope take up residence in my heart. It was foolish and would only lead to inevitable heartbreak. The fact that we were still running around, enjoying each other’s company on the sly, told me he would never be mine. Not really.
“Jasper won’t be happy about it, but it’s up to you and Terry,” Ma advised. “He’s protective, possessive of you both. His best friend and his only sister,” she sighed. “Where will that leave him?”
“Exactly where he is now, with Terry at his side and me filling in for him at HOA. He has nothing to worry about, trust me.”
But I couldn’t stop thinking about Ma’s words during dinner and afterwards.
Was Jasper really worried about losing his best friend to his younger sister? No, the answer came quickly. He would be pissed because it was something he couldn’t control.
Well he can’t control me, I thought later as I paced the length of my living room, anxious and unable to stop thinking about Terry. Thinking was getting me nowhere, so after a quick shower and change, I grabbed my keys and went to the man in person. The drive was too short for me to gather my thoughts, so I went straight to the front door and knocked while my heart beat like crazy inside my chest.
The locks disengaged and the door opened to reveal Terry’s squinting face. “Kat?”
I nodded and took a step forward. “It’s me. Invite me in, Terry.”
He stood up taller and slid one hand through his mussed hair, a smile slowly spreading across his face as he took a step back.
“You don’t need an invite Kat.”
“What are you doing here?” Terry’s tone was half sleepy and half curious, his shirtless body making my mouth water.
“I knew you wouldn’t come to me, and I wanted to see you. Is that all right?”
Suddenly I felt nervous, like the gawky teenage girl who’d fallen for him all those years ago. My heart raced against my chest like a runaway train, expecting the worst.
“It is. I just saw you. Earlier.” His lips quirked into a lazy grin that I desperately wanted to kiss.
I took a step forward. “That was earlier. This is now.” I felt as if this was something different between us. Something new. The heat swirled around us; the air electrified as we each moved until we were toe to toe. Eye to eye.
“Hey, Ter.”
His lips curled up again. “Hey, Kat. Good to see you.”
I put a hand on his shoulder and slid it up until the slight scruff of his jaw scraped against my palm. “It’s good to be seen by you.” Finally, my heart whispered. It was so damn good to look into those blue eyes and see the heat and appreciation. So, so good.
“Yeah?” His smile stole my breath and nearly melted my panties, so I just nodded. “Good,” he growled and brushed my hair aside so he could put his lips to that strip of skin between my neck and shoulder. “Very good.”
I moaned at the feel of his lips on my skin, his hands gripping my ass gently. “Terry.”
“I’m right here, Kitty Kat.”
I laughed, wondering how I ever could have hated that damn nickname because now, nothing sounded better coming from his lips. Except the moan I pulled from him when the back of my hand grazed his cock over his gray sweatpants.
“I can feel that,” he moaned.
I couldn’t wait any longer to taste those smiling lips, practically attacking him the way I wanted to do from the moment I knew what kissing a man felt like. This kiss was different, it wasn’t just hot and hungry and full of need. I mean, it was all those things but it was also something more. Something deeper as I slid my tongue between his lips, savoring the taste of maple syrup. “Pancakes?”