Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
The fine hairs on her arms rose and heat rushed through her at his deep chuckle.
Where did that damn reaction to him come from?
The other night she’d been so focused on finding Sadie, she hadn’t really focused too much on him personally. Plus, at the time, she thought he was Hatchet, a prospect with the Deadly Demons.
Today was different. The man came to her room as Owen Decker. His real self. A man who seemed to put others’ needs before his own, whether as a cop or adoptive father.
“You’re right, I couldn’t come close, but that’s not why I’m bringing it up. Your employer’s website had you listed as a legal assistant. That’s the only hitch I see with my proposal of you moving in and helping with Val. Like I said, I need someone to be around when I have to work. I assume you work out of the Pittsburgh office and was surprised you’re not staying somewhere closer.”
Damn. The man had really done his research before showing up at her door. “I’m here because it’s cheap. Surprisingly enough, it also has Wi-Fi. But you’re wrong about me working out of the Pittsburgh office. I work remotely as a virtual legal assistant for all four offices.”
Because of that, her job would not interfere with what he was proposing. For the most part, anyway. She could work from anywhere as long as she had internet. Even better, her hours could be flexible, if needed.
Since his niece attended preschool in the morning, she could get the majority of her work done then. Sloane would only have to work around her virtual meetings, because she swore a work day didn’t go by without at least one.
Holy shit, was she actually considering his offer?
“Then the arrangement would work out better than I thought. And bonus, I have an office in my house I rarely use. I can find somewhere else to pay my bills and do paperwork so you could make it your own. I’d set it up however you’d like.”
Damn, the man kept sweetening the pot and making the offer harder to resist. So far, all she heard was positives. There had to be some negatives. Besides the obvious one of taking care of an active four-year-old.
She chewed on her bottom lip.
Would it be wrong to ask to see pictures of his house to make sure he wasn’t a hoarder or that she wouldn’t be exchanging one dump for another?
“Sloane, you don’t have to decide this second. Unless you’re going to outright say no. If so, I need to start searching for someone else. But if you’re even leaning a little toward saying yes and you still need time to consider it, I only ask you to decide soon. I’m running out of options. Like I said, I’m looking for someone to be there for her when she needs it. And right now I’m scrambling to find anyone to watch her. I don’t like having that kind of inconsistency in her life and having a revolving door of babysitters is just that.”
Sloane nodded and contemplated the man before her, as well as everything he had said since showing up at her door.
Good lord, she really was giving his offer serious consideration. “Does Val know what happened to her mother?”
He shook his head. “She only knows her mother died. I’ll tell her the details of how once I believe she’s old enough to understand and handle it.”
“Can I see your home and meet Val first before deciding?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t expect anything less. When do you want to do that?”
Her gaze flicked over to her open laptop. “I still have a bunch of work to get through today and a mandatory virtual meeting at three. So, this evening?”
Decker rose to his feet. “How about you come over for dinner? I’ll cook.”
He even cooked? Well, damn, this man was full of surprises.
But, again, there had to be a negative somewhere. She only hoped she’d figure it out sooner than later.
Chapter Eight
With her Honda parked on the street in front of his home, she kept the engine running and the heat blasting while she waited. Creeping up on November, the temps had been dropping to the unseasonably low twenties at night. A shiver shot through her simply thinking about the upcoming winter. Especially if it was getting this cold this soon. It made her pull her coat tighter around her in anticipation of getting out of her toasty warm car.
She’d already set out on the forty-five-minute drive to his home when Decker texted her to let her know he’d be late. He apologized about being called in to do something for the Demons, but he didn’t say what. Not that it was any of her business.
The charcoal gray house before her wasn’t huge, but big enough for an adult and a child to live comfortably. It was actually cute and unexpected for a man she met wearing a Demons’ prospect cut. While driving through the middle-class neighborhood, she found that none of the homes were fancy, but they all appeared newer and well-maintained.