Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I know you didn’t really invite me to help you tonight,” I say, stopping at a red light, “but I gotta tell you that this has been one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.”
“It was pretty great, right?” She grins then tips her head to the side. “I know you probably want to get home to sleep, but if you’re hungry, I’m planning on making waffles when I get home. You’re welcome to join me for breakfast.”
“You know how to cook?”
“No, I was going to ask my housekeeper if she could whip us up a batch,” she says sarcastically. “You know I’m going to start getting offended by all your assumptions pretty soon.”
“Sorry, baby, but most women who look and dress like you do not know there way around a kitchen.”
“That’s a tad bit sexist, Tyler, and please do not put me in the same bag as all the bar bunnies who have warmed your bed over the years.”
“What do you know about the women who warm my bed?” I glance over at her, hoping like hell she doesn’t believe half the shit people talk about. Not that I would blame her if she did, since I never really took the time to get to know her because of the things people said.
“I know they never stick around very long.”
“Maybe because none of them made me waffles.” I shrug.
“I changed my mind about breakfast. I’m suddenly feeling tired.”
“It’s too late. You already asked me, and it would be rude to take back your offer now.”
“Whatever.” She huffs. “But if you annoy me, I can’t promise I won’t try to poison you.”
Laughing at her statement, I know I’m screwed, because I now have a serious crush on Milly Hendricks. I just hope like hell that she’s as interested as I am. Otherwise, things might become awkward if I have to start stalking her.
It’s okay. Everything is okay. I force myself not to visibly freak out about the fact that Tyler Speeds is in my house, in my kitchen, looking like he belongs here. I know I shouldn’t read into the situation, but I swear he was flirting with me while we were in his truck, and he for sure held my hand more than once.
“Your house is beautiful, babe.”
His comment forces me to look at him, and when I do, I notice he’s looking out the double doors at the backyard.
“I know you can’t tell right now with all the snow, but in the summer, the backyard looks like magic with all the flowers in bloom and the fish pond bubbling away.” I continue talking as I go into the walk-in pantry and get the stuff to make buttermilk waffles, the same waffles my mom used to make for me when I was a kid. “I know it wasn’t smart to buy a house based on the backyard, especially living here, where it’s only really summer for three months a year, but it’s the only reason I bought this one.”
“I bought my house because of the basement.” He smiles at me, and my heart flutters. “I wanted a man cave, and it was the only one I could find in town.”
“Well then, I have to show you something.” I open one of the doors in the kitchen and flip on the light. Without telling him to follow me, I head down into the basement and flip on the lights there, turning to catch his expression when he clears the overhang of the stairs. “This house belonged to Mr. Dorty. I don’t know if you remember him, but he was famous in town for his poker nights. When he sold, he left everything, because he and his wife were moving into a condo in Florida.”
“Shit, this must be heaven.” He spins around, taking in the full kitchen and bar, pool table, poker table, leather couch, and large-screen TV.
“You sound like my dad.” I laugh. “Three times since I’ve moved in, he and his buddies have hid out down here playing poker and watching football.”
“It’s a great fucking space and not something you’d expect to find in a house that looks like this one.”
“I have a feeling Mr. Dorty gave his wife free reign upstairs and outside so she’d leave him be down here.”
“Smart man.” He smirks, and damn if my entire body doesn’t tingle. “Are there any other hidden surprises in this house?”
“A couple, but I can’t give all my secrets away in one night.” I smile, and he chuckles as I turn off the lights and head back upstairs.
“What do you want me to help with?”
“Do you know how to make coffee without one of those fancy machines with the little cups?” I ask, motioning to the coffee pot on the counter.
“Since I don’t have one of those machines except at the bar, yeah.”