Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Adam sits in his wheelchair at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. Craig stands behind him, hand on his shoulder. Adam’s brother Paul steps into the kitchen and his lips are moving.
I touch the volume button on the screen and immediately hear them talking.
“…loves Gran. She’d wanna know.”
I straighten up.
“Already told you we’re finished, and I broke her heart. She doesn’t wanna hear from me after all this. ”
My chest flares with emotion.
Paul looks frustrated. “Maybe I’ll call her.”
“No.”
“She’d wanna pay her respects before it’s over, bro.”
My heart sinks. Adam’s grandmother is wonderful. Sweet. Of course I would want to pay my respects if she’s critically ill. I like Paul. I get along fine with Adam’s older sister Ruthie. I’ve only met his other sister Vera once; she lives in France. Adam’s dad is nice to me; it’s his mom who’s tepid with me, but everyone else has been great.
All this with me and us and now he will lose his gran? Adam looks utterly broken. A crushing weight feels like it’s sitting on my chest.
“Chloe?” Derek calls from the other side of the door.
I immediately back out of the app, then twist the lock and rip it open.
“What? I can’t even have privacy to use the bathroom?” I’m about to move past him but he blocks me by leaning a shoulder against the doorframe.
“You were snooping.”
I scoff, holding out his phone. “You’re accusing me of snooping? Talk about rich.”
“I heard a male voice. Who was it?” He takes the phone and eyeballs it.
“I was peeking in on my ex on your camera feed, as if you couldn’t guess. You have some fucking audacity, don’t you? I was peeking in on my ex in my house on your stalker app. Take those cameras out, Derek.”
“I’ll take them out eventually,” he says with a shrug. “And that boring little box is no longer your house. This is.” He gestures.
“My name is on that mortgage.”
“We’ll get it off. Your name is on this deed. No mortgage.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll show you.” He takes my hand and I can’t wrench it free, so I have no choice but to follow him downstairs to the kitchen. He opens the roll up bread bin on the counter and there’s a folder. He opens it and shows me.
“Derek and Chloe Steele?” I mutter. “I’m not Chloe Steele.”
“You will be,” he states, wrapping his arms around me. “Tomorrow. I got your bag if you need to check your phone.” He gestures to it on the island. “What do you want me to make you to eat? Brunch portions were measly,” he says. “I could eat, too.”
“You don’t need to make me food. I’ll find something myself.” I step out of his embrace, open the fridge and see the ingredients that were in his penthouse fridge. Figuring I’ll eat something and then look for an opportunity to find out what’s happening with Adam’s grandmother, I pull out some Cajun spiced shaved turkey breast, some pepperjack cheese slices, a cucumber, mayo, and some Dijon mustard. There’s a bag of buns in the bread box he pulled that file of paperwork from.
The butter got put in the fridge, so I pop it into the microwave for twelve seconds.
“You want one?” I ask.
He looks surprised and I realize I’ve offered out of reflex.
“I’d love one,” he says softly, putting a hip to the counter and watching me root around through cupboards and drawers for plates and a knife.
Despite everything, I don’t have it in me to take the offer back, so I wash my hands and get to work on the sandwiches without looking at him despite knowing he’s watching my every move while standing close enough I can smell his bodywash.
“I think we should put a pool in,” he states as I wash the cucumber. “What do you think?”
I give him a dark look and say nothing before I turn my attention to slicing the cucumber.
He moves behind me and takes my hair into a bunch at the nape of my neck, then presses his lips to my throat while he wraps his other hand around my waist. “Lots of space out there. Place behind is up for sale. Four acres of land and a decent house. We could get stables. Horses.” His thumb goes up and down over my belly, the rest of his fingers stay still.
I hold my breath while I butter the buns. I’m not sure if he found out about my love for horses. Maybe not. A lot of women have childhood dreams of owning their own horse.
“You look beautiful today,” he whispers against my skin, and I get a head-to-toe shiver that I’m unable to hide. “Covered in things I bought for you. I like that. You’ve taken care of yourself for a long time. I like taking care of you. Providing for you.” His hand grazes my under-boob area and I find myself holding my breath as his lips dot kisses along my throat before he lets go of my hair as he announces, “I’ll pour the champagne.”