Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“How did they take the news?” she asked, with an edge of worry to her voice.
“They were beyond thrilled. My mom wants to make up a room in her house just for the baby,” I laughed. “I guess she’s already planning on babysitting.”
“That’s so sweet. And yes, Mrs. Harper apparently has the ability to immediately know a woman is pregnant, go figure.”
I could hear her smile, as well as the relief in her voice.
“Other than your parents wanting to buy you a house, did they take the news okay?”
“Yeah. They’re supportive. I just need to figure out a way to get them off the idea of buying me a place. I left there this morning pretty angry. Is it too soon to blame hormones for my reactions to things? Like last night… I’m sorry I got so upset. You don’t have to stop having fun just because I’m pregnant. And you can still date, Caden. Which my father made sure to remind me of.”
My head jerked back in surprise. “You think I’m going to date?”
“I mean, I don’t know. You don’t owe me anything.”
“I didn’t date anyone before you got pregnant, and I’m sure as shit not going to date anyone now. And I’m certainly not going to be sleeping with anyone, Lilibeth.”
She sighed again and changed the subject. “Okay, um, well, my next client is here. I never thought I’d say this, but all the scents are making me feel sick. I’m glad this is my last one for today.”
“Are you closing the store tonight?”
“No, I opened. Moreen is closing today.”
“How about I take you out to dinner?”
“Caden, if we go out to dinner, gossip will start.”
I snorted. “My mother and father told me that gossip has already started. Apparently after my visit on Christmas night.”
“Oh dear.”
“How about I make us dinner at my place? We can talk more about you moving in.”
“Are you sure? I can pick something up and bring it.”
“Just bring yourself. What time do you think you’ll be by?”
She paused, and I could hear her moving papers around. “I’ll need to go home and take a shower to get all of this perfume off of me. Maybe six?”
“Anything I should avoid?”
“For the love of God, nothing with bacon.”
Laughing, I said, “You’ve got it.”
Lilibeth pulled into my driveway right behind me. I got out and walked over to her car.
“Perfect timing. I hope you’re not starving and were hoping for dinner to be ready.”
She got out and smiled, walking with me back toward my vehicle. “Running late?”
“Winter on a cattle ranch can be…interesting.” I took the bags out of the back of my truck.
“Need me to get anything?” Lilibeth asked.
“Nope, just head on in. Do you remember the code?”
We walked up to the front door since I hadn’t pulled into the garage.
“I think so.”
She typed it in and then we were inside, taking off our winter things before heading to the kitchen.
Setting the bags on the counter, I said, “I got stuff to make pizzas. I hope that sounds okay.”
Lilibeth smiled, and it lit up the entire kitchen. Her face was even more beautiful than usual when she smiled.
“That not only sounds good, but it also sounds like fun.”
We worked together to empty the bags.
“Something to drink?” I asked, as I pulled a beer out of the fridge for myself.
“Do you have orange juice?”
Never in my life was I so happy that I had fucking orange juice in my house. I reached back into the refrigerator and pulled out the brand-new carton I’d bought this morning when I was in town.
“I never buy orange juice, but something told me to grab it just this morning.”
Her eyes lit up.
“Why don’t you get a glass,” I said, motioning with my head to the right cupboard. Of course, she already knew from the few days she’d stayed here. I tried not to laugh when she got out a huge Yeti cup.
“Is that big enough, Lili?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know what it is, but I’m craving orange juice so bad.”
After pouring herself a full glass, she put the juice back in the fridge, then helped me with all the pizza fixings.
“What about the crust?”
Glancing at her, I smirked. “I’m making it.”
Lilibeth let out a bark of laughter. “You’re making the pizza crust?”
I placed a hand over my heart and made a face as if mortally wounded. “You don’t think I can?”
Her head tilted as she regarded me. “At this point, I don’t doubt anything when it comes to you, Caden Wilde. You probably make the best pizza crust I’ll ever eat.”
“Damn straight. You’ll be comparing this crust to all other crusts for the rest of your life.”
She chuckled. “I washed all the veggies. What do you want me to do now?”
“Start cutting up the bell peppers and onion?”
“Any certain way you want them cut?”