Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Finally, after lots of tired-kid coaxing, she was in her pajamas and on the couch. She’d insisted on the movie with the princess she thought looked just like me.
As soon as I settled in beside her, the doorbell rang.
This wasn’t my house, so I wasn’t sure who to expect. Wes would have walked right in.
“Who could that be?” I asked Remy, who was tucked into my side.
She shrugged but kept her eyes on the screen. Why would she know? She was four.
The rain hadn’t started yet, but the evening sky was filled with heavy and dark clouds and the wind had picked up.
I peeked out the side window before I opened the door. Not that a bad guy was going to stand there with a sign that said, I’m dangerous.
It was a woman on the porch.
A very pretty woman. Unnaturally so. Raven black hair. Wide set green eyes. Full lips. She was tall. Slim, but had curves. I was very envious.
“Hi, can I help you?”
While I’d given the woman a quick three second assessment, she was looking me over as if judging a cow in the county fair. She took in my sloppy bun, my makeup free face, my old t-shirt, ratty jean cutoffs, bare feet.
Every inch of me was inspected. Then she sniffed.
God, did I smell? It was a warm day, and I’d been in my clay, but I didn’t think I was as rank as the way her nose curled up meant.
“I’m looking for Wes.” She leaned to the side to look inside past me.
I turned my head and saw Remy on the couch. She was totally engrossed in the movie. “I’m sorry, he’s not here right now.”
“He’s out? And you are?” she asked.
“I’m Joy. Are you a friend of Wes'?”
She laughed, set her hand on her chest. She even had a nice manicure. “A friend? Oh, honey, I’d say we’re more than friends.”
I frowned. They were together? Was that what she was insinuating?
“Ok-ay.” I drew the word out.
“He left Remmington alone with you?”
Remington? That was Remy’s full name. Cute. But I never once heard Wes use it.
What was her deal? Was she an ex-girlfriend? Jilted lover? I didn’t recognize her from Cooper Valley, but she could be new.
“Um, yes.”
Remy turned her head at being mentioned. The movie had just ended, so the little girl climbed off the sofa and came to stand beside me. “Hi. Do you know me?” Remy asked with the innocent query of a child.
The woman reached out and tousled Remy’s hair, which Remy didn’t appear to like because she stepped back and leaned against my leg. “Yes, Remington. I’ve known you since you were born.”
Remy shrugged. “I don’t remember.”
Maybe I was jealous. If this was an ex or wannabe lover of Wes’ I already hated her. She had a bad vibe, and I wanted her out of the doorway. “Well, it’s Remy’s bedtime, so we need to go.”
The woman sniffed again, giving me a cold look. “Tell Wes that Soraya stopped by. He has my number.” She looked at Remy. “Good night, Rem-Rem.” Her syrupy voice only made Remy lean more into me.
“It’s Remy,” Remy said from behind my leg.
Soraya turned and walked away.
“That was weird,” I muttered, closing and locking the door behind us.
Remy yawned. “I didn’t like her.” She sounded matter-of-fact. “Even if she is a wolf.”
A wolf! So cute, and I loved her childish creative genius. Because the woman had seemed like a predator. And had long nails.
“Me, neither,” I agreed. “Come on, I see you yawning. I’ll read you a bedtime story.”
“Okay,” Remy agreed and led me to her bedroom. She picked out a mermaid book and climbed under the covers.
I sat beside her on the bed and started reading. Remy’s lids grew heavy, and she yawned again. I made my voice soft and soothing. When I finished reading, I didn’t move. Remy was already half asleep, snuggled up against me. I quietly closed the book, and she sighed as her little body grew heavier.
Her breathing slowed.
Damn, she was sweet. I leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
Afraid if I moved too soon, she’d wake up, I stayed where I was for another ten minutes and soaked up the sweetness of having a tiny human sleeping against me. It was a preciousness I hadn’t experienced before, and it made my chest ache a little.
I’d always wanted kids.
I didn’t know where this thing with Wes was going, but I was not at all deterred by the fact that he had a kid and was a package deal. Single dads were not a turn-off for me. If anything, it made Wes all the more attractive. I loved seeing him in daddy mode–the way his gruff exterior softened when he spoke to Remy. The way she was the center of his life.