Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Sincerity bled into his hoarse, deep voice. “Yeah, Emery, I do. It’s important to me that you’re comfortable here.”
“I’m very comfortable,” Maci peeped, completely unaware of the tension that strained between us. “I got the softest bed I ever felt.”
Kane slanted me a searching glance before he hoisted Maci up from under the arms. “Off you go. I need to finish up at the stove.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I can’t be by the stove ’cause it’s really hot,” she grumbled like he was putting her out.
“Why don’t you go change back into your sundress so you don’t get your ballerina costume dirty?” I suggested.
“Good idea, Auntie Em!”
She came flying my way, hand held above her head for a high-five.
She jumped to reach mine, never slowing as she raced through the threshold, leaving me alone with Kane.
He’d shifted around, his back to me as he tossed the meat he’d sliced into strips into the skillet that sizzled on the stove.
Cautiously, I edged up to this side of the island, needing to keep a solid object between us. “Is there anything I can help with?”
He glanced back at me, and a longer piece of his hair flopped into his eye. It made him appear almost boyish, but there was no type of innocence that lived beyond the shadows of those eyes.
“Nothing other than grabbing what you want to drink.” He angled his chin toward the refrigerator on the left wall. “Not sure what you like…unless you feel like drinking tequila tonight?”
He didn’t even try to hide the innuendo.
My stomach tumbled in a fit of greed, but I managed to scowl as I headed for the refrigerator. “You know that is not going to happen.”
I pulled the door open and searched through the ridiculous amount of drink choices he had inside, including a slew of typical children’s drinks.
How the hell had he managed all of this overnight?
Our rooms and the clothing in our closets, which mine had somehow been my exact same size, mind you, plus the refrigerator was stocked.
I reached in to grab the gallon of milk for Maci and pulled out a cherry-flavored seltzer for myself. I started to step back so I could close the door, only I froze when I realized he was right there.
Towering behind me.
His presence overpowering.
An overwhelming force that sent unfound need skittering through my veins.
He darted a tattooed arm around me, the corded muscles rippling and flexing as he reached in to grab a package of cheese.
His mouth dropped to the shell of my ear, the words a breath. “Another time, then.”
Then he was gone.
I sagged forward.
I didn’t know if it was in disappointment or relief.
I slammed the door shut with my hip and strode back to the island, grumbling, “And that time will be exactly never.”
He only chuckled one of those tempting sounds, and he hiked a shoulder to the left of him. “Glasses are in that cabinet.”
I opened it, grabbed a plastic cup for Maci, and filled it half full, before I popped the cap to my seltzer and poured it into a glass.
I carried them over to the round table on the far side of the island.
Maci came bounding back in just as Kane moved to a different cabinet and pulled down three plates.
“All done!” she shouted as she flew in, the pigtails I’d put her hair into this morning now a disaster and falling out on one side.
“Perfect time, Angel Face. Dinner is ready.”
“I fought I could smell it.”
She ran straight to the table and climbed into the spot where I’d placed her milk.
No anxiety or feeling like she was out of place or didn’t belong.
While I ran my hands up my arms, having no clue what to do with myself.
“Utensils are in that drawer right there if you want to grab them,” Kane said, as if he’d read my thoughts and knew I needed something to do with my hands.
I grabbed three sets of silverware, plus a few of the napkins that sat to the side of it, then took them back to the table. By the time I got there, Kane was maneuvering three plates in his hands, setting one in front of Maci, one in my spot, and another for him.
“Voilà,” he said with a flourish of his hand.
Maci clapped from where she sat on her knees, also waving her hand and mimicking, “Voilà!”
Kane laughed and ran a palm over the top of her head and down the back.
I nearly wept.
Never so torn.
My emotions never so at odds.
He plopped down into his seat. “Let’s eat.”
“Because you’re a starvin’ marvin like me?”
“That’s right. From all the playin’ you had me doing today. Think I could eat a horse.”
“Eww,” she giggled with an adorable scrunch of her nose. “Doncha know the lady died when she swallowed the horse?”
“Ah dang, I totally forgot about that. Guess I’m just gonna have to eat these fajitas, then.”