Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
And she wasn’t half bad.
On my journey to the kitchen, I hesitated outside Dair’s door, wondering what he’d do if I went in and climbed in bed with him, just to cuddle.
It’d be interesting to see what cuddling with that big, strong body would feel like. Pressing up against it while kissing was sublime. Cuddling, I figured, would be everything.
He’d probably want more than cuddling, though, (so did I). And since, during our first kiss, it felt like we were two seconds from banging on the kitchen island with his mum and my dad right outside, I didn’t think it was a good idea to tempt fate.
He’d kissed me a lot while we were in Sedona. Small pecks or hard presses here, there and everywhere. Whenever the urge took him, he curled me into him and laid one on me.
We didn’t bicker about that.
On no we did not.
I loved it.
Even so, it was a daylong tease.
And again, they were leaving.
It was way too soon (in my estimation) to level up in that manner of our relationship. And it wasn’t the time, with Dad and Dair’s family around.
But with the way Dair was, all of it, not to mention my very long, very dry spell, I knew I wouldn’t want to wait too long to do that levelling up.
Like, when I was in Scotland.
I had a feeling that was something to look forward to.
Very much.
But now he was going to be over three thousand miles away (and yes, I looked it up). And that was when I was in New York. It was a lot further from Prescott.
On this depressing thought, I resumed my journey to the kitchen and found Kenna there making a cup of tea.
“Good morning,” I greeted.
“Guid mornin’, lass,” she replied on a smile.
I studied her closely.
The heavy was still in her bearing. The pain etched into her face. Neither was a surprise.
But the smile was authentic.
“I came down to see what to make for breakfast,” I told her. “Any preferences? Or I could run into town and buy some donuts from Bosa.”
“Ah, American donuts,” she sighed longingly.
That decided it.
“Are there donuts you particularly like? Davi? Dair?” I needed to know them all, but I was especially interested in Dair.
“Both my children have sweet teeth, as do I, so whatever ye decide. I doubt they’ll be picky.”
I’d get several of each selection so no one would feel like they didn’t get what they wanted. I certainly wouldn’t mind having leftover donuts around when they were gone (Dad was leaving tomorrow). They might get stale, but nothing ten seconds in the microwave and a quick scarf down my gullet wouldn’t cure.
“I’ll go get dressed and pop into town,” I said, moving to set up a travel mug so I could take some coffee with me.
“I’d wait if I were ye,” Kenna advised. “Dair’ll want to go with ye.”
“To pick his donuts?”
“To be with ye. My son won’t be best pleased if he gets up in the half an hour you’re gone and you’re not here. Especially with us leaving today.”
This made me feel all warm inside, because I sensed it was very true.
“Can I talk with you in the meantime?” she asked.
Oh boy.
Was this the mum-with-the-son-I’m-dating talk?
Already?
Or worse, the-mum-with-a-son-who-was-interested-in-a-messed-up-woman talk?
Eek!
“Sure,” I said hesitantly, and with no choice, I warmed my coffee, splashing cream in, and met her in the breakfast nook.
She started it. “I asked your father last night. But he’s leaving, and he requested I ask ye too, since you’ll be around for a while.”
Okay, maybe not the mum-with-the-son-I’m-dating talk.
“You asked Dad what?”
“If I can stay here at your house for a wee spell.”
“Of course,” I said immediately.
The skin around her eyes got soft.
And then my heart broke when her eyes got plain sad.
“I just don’t want to go home yet,” she murmured behind her teacup before taking a sip.
I could totally understand that.
“I’m certain Dad said the same thing, but as far as I’m concerned, you can stay as long as you like,” I offered.
She nodded.
“And Genny and Duncan are in town. They have a posse of friends, not to mention, there’s Judge, Chloe and JT. And Alex and Rix will be back in just over a week. If you want company after I leave, you can have it,” I continued.
“That’s lovely, dear, but I’ll be needing some time to get my head on straight.”
“Just in case,” I said.
“Just in case what?” Dair asked, strolling in wearing faded jeans and a lightweight, light-blue button-down he’d rolled up at his forearms. A shirt, not incidentally, that did amazing things to his eyes.
His dark hair was wet and curling around his ears.
God.
My mouth started watering.
And this man was about to fly thousands of miles away from me.
Torture!
“Get some coffee, love, while Blake puts on some clothes. Ye two are going into town for donuts,” Kenna told him.