Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112762 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
After I’d gotten my fill of baby cuddles with Lennox, Brodan took his son from me. “I’ll put him down for a bit. Let you two ladies catch up.”
I reluctantly released the warm bundle of adorableness as Monroe stared at her husband and son with such love and tenderness, it made my chest ache.
“Would you want another one?” Roe asked as she watched me watch Brodan climb the impressive staircase in the center of their living space.
Their house was spectacular, much like the rest of the Adairs. I’d been in all but the youngest brother Arran’s, and Brodan and Roe’s had a splash of extra that made your breath catch. There was a lot of glass to capture the views of the North Sea beyond their windows. Their kitchen was a kitchen of dreams—lots of counter space, a huge island, a farmhouse sink, an Aga range, and the biggest integrated fridge and freezer I’d ever seen. The space had been designed with Roe’s more traditional tastes in mind. The whole place was a wonderful, eclectic mix of modern and traditional. It amazed me that Brodan had pulled off the build so quickly, in time for Lennox’s arrival.
“Hmm?” I turned to Roe.
“I asked if you’d want another one. Another baby?” She eyed me thoughtfully, and I noted the dark circles under her eyes. She was also a little pale. But I knew that was because Lennox wasn’t sleeping very well. Callie had been the same. I didn’t get a full night’s sleep until she was about two years old, and even then, those nights were sporadic until she was around four.
“It would be nice to do it all over again as an actual grown-up,” I said with a wry smile. “But not right now. I’d have to find the right guy first, too, you know.”
“Haven’t you?” Roe gave me a knowing smile.
I rolled my eyes. “Walker Ironside is not the right guy. He’s just a guy I want to climb like a tree and do very wicked things to.”
My friend chuckled. “Well, why haven’t you?”
“Oh, I’ve been trying,” I insisted, leaning forward in my chair. “This past week I have been putting it out there that I want him. And I think he finds me attractive—”
“Of course he does.”
I smiled at her loyal, quick answer. “But I think maybe he must think I would want commitment.”
“And you definitely don’t want commitment?”
“I want … would it be awful if I said I just want an escape right now?”
“An escape?”
“Something exciting and thrilling that isn’t serious. Two people taking what they want from each other. Roe … I haven’t had sex in five years.”
She nodded in sympathy. “Been there. Trust me. I know that dry spell, and it is not fun.”
“Right? The last guy I had sex with, it was in his car on a date—before Nathan threatened to kill him—and it was quick and satisfactory, but not much else. I … I have never been as attracted to someone as I am to Walker, and … I don’t want to miss the chance at great sex. I’ll take it without the relationship stuff. And if I were to develop feelings, I’d stop.”
“You seem pretty certain. Why not go for it?”
I chuckled unhappily. “Didn’t you hear me? I’ve been trying. I’ve been touching him and batting my freaking eyelashes at him. The man is immune. He would rather sit in his car watching my cottage than have sex with me.” With a disappointed sigh, I flopped back in the oversized armchair. “I think it’s time to give up. I’m … I’m making him uncomfortable, and if it was the other way around, you’d call that sexual harassment.”
“Then tell him the truth.” Brodan’s voice broke through the living room, startling me so much, I jumped in my seat.
“Brodan,” Monroe huffed. “Were you listening?”
He snorted as he took the last of the stairs down. “You weren’t exactly whispering, my love, and Lennox’s room is at the top of the stairs.” Brodan strolled to Monroe’s seat and sat on the edge to slide his arm along her shoulders. His gaze fixed on me. “Might want to turn the volume down if you’d like private girl-talk time.”
My cheeks flushed as my heart raced a little. “You heard all that?”
He grinned boyishly. “Almost every word.”
“Oh, God.
“Brodan.” Roe slapped his thigh gently. “Stop it.”
“I found the whole thing very enlightening. So would Walker.”
“Brodan.”
“No, no, hear me out.” He held up a hand, looking at me. “Sloane … just tell him.”
My pulse stuttered. “Tell him …?”
“Walker does nothing but a casual one-night stand, maybe the occasional one-month stand. He probably thinks that you, with your whole situation and being a single mum, are looking for serious. That’s why he’s ignoring your come-ons.”
My come-ons. Ugh. “Right.”
“But if you lay it out for him that you want to use his body for your own pleasure, I’m sure that will do the trick.”