Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“What’s the occasion?” He asked as I towed him toward the table. “Why are all the doors open?”
“I was in the mood for some fresh air. Do you want some wine?”
“Sure.” He stopped and did a double take of this set table. “Are we having company?”
“Nope. Just us. Elara’s at your dad’s for the night.”
He frowned. “Anniversary’s in April. We started dating in June. Your birthday’s in May. Why do I feel like I’m forgetting something?”
I cut him off as he made his way to the wine fridge. “I’ll get it. What kind do you want?”
Pleased, but suspicious, he said. “That depends. What’s on the menu?”
“Um, ribs.” I wanted to get him situated and seated before I started with all the baby-themed stuff.
“Ribs?”
“Is that okay?” Hale didn’t typically enjoy messy food.
“It’s fine. I, uh, guess I’ll have…a beer?”
“Oh, I have beer!” I raced to the fridge and removed one of the cute pony bottles I grabbed at the store.
His hand engulfed the small bottle, and he chuckled. “Where’s the rest of it?”
“What? It’s cute.” I steered him toward the dining room table and pushed him into the seat at the head of the table. “You stay here. I’ll be right back with our first course.”
He caught my hand as I tried to leave. “Wait. How about a kiss?”
I paused and bent to press my lips to his. He deepened the kiss, sliding his hands up my back and into my hair. “I missed you.”
I smiled against his mouth. “I always miss you.”
“Wait,” he said as I tried to pull away again. “Where are you going?”
“I have stuff on the stove.” I laughed nervously. “We wouldn’t want anything to catch fire.”
“Fine.” He let me go.
I quickly tossed the salad, stirred the carrots, and checked on the ribs. I returned to the dining room with nicely dressed salads topped with candied pecans, goat cheese, and sliced apples.
“This looks delicious, baby. What kind of lettuce is this?”
“It’s baby spinach.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Me too.” I dug in, suddenly ravenous. The apples smelled so fresh and the sweet vinaigrette was delicious. “Oh, my God, I’m an outstanding chef.” I shoveled in another bite. “These pecans are orgasmic!”
He chuckled, taking his first bite with much more decorum than I could muster. This eating for two thing was real.
“Mmm. Delicious,” he praised. “So, what did you do while I was gone?”
I heaped another bite onto my fork. “Elara had her checkup. She’s cutting her second molars, and the doctor said it’s time to start hardcore potty training.”
“Really? I guess we need to read up on that.”
“I went to the store and got some potties to put in the bathrooms. I also made a reward chart for her.”
He smiled. “You’re cute when you do teacher stuff.”
I shrugged. “It’s the only thing I’m officially trained in.”
He neatly sliced his salad into manageable bites while I wolfed mine down as if someone might steal it from me. “Do you ever wish you stuck with it?”
“Teaching? Oh, no. I’m not a fan of kids.”
“Just ours?”
“Well, yeah. Elara’s special. I think she was always meant to be mine.”
He smiled and met my stare. “That’s how I feel.”
I leaned over and kissed him. “Willow would say the universe chose us for her.”
He pressed his lips tight, choosing to take another bite rather than comment.
When we finished the salad I brought out the pigs in a blanket. “Munch on these while I get the baby-back ribs and baby carrots.”
Hale lifted a wiener and examined it with a frown. “What are they?”
“They’re pigs in a blanket.”
“Pigs in a what?”
“It’s regular people appetizers. Try one. They’re good.”
He took a tentative bite and raised a brow. “Not bad.”
I transferred the baby back ribs to a platter, slathered them with barbecue sauce, and set them down on the table with a huff. “Those things are heavy.”
Hale’s eyes widened. “Is all this for us?”
“I went grocery shopping when I was hungry. You know how that goes. I also have baby carrots. I’ll be right back.”
He cocked his head but made no comment as I rushed to retrieve the carrots.
“Oh, napkins!”
When the table was finally set with the main course, and we were ready to eat, Hale hesitated. I plated his food, giving him a good sample of everything.
“Dig in,” I said when he looked anxiously at his food. “You can cut the meat off the bone if you want.”
Had the man honestly never eaten a rib before?
I lifted a rib and took a bite, moaning at the savory flavor. Hale rolled up his sleeves and moved his tie out of the way, draping it over his shoulder. He had yet to touch his main course.
“So, you just decided to make ribs?”
“Baby-back ribs,” I said, gnawing the meat off the bone. “And baby carrots.”
“I didn’t know you liked ribs that much.”
I shrugged. “Who doesn’t like a rib?” Maybe Hale didn’t. “Are you going to eat?”