Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Back to earth and breathing regularly, I turn on my side and face Coen. Tucking my hands under the pillow, I ask, “Tell me all about Pittsburgh.”
He gives me the play-by-play of his trip, which included a pickup game, an afternoon of packing up his condo, and dinner with the guys, which resulted in his decision to return to the game, and a long evening of unpacking everything he’d boxed up earlier.
“Want to know something funny?” he asks softly.
I can’t help but smile. “Yeah.”
“I didn’t need those guys to tell me what they did to get me in a place where I could return.”
“You didn’t?”
He shakes his head. “You’d already convinced me of it. The whole time they were validating me—which was amazing, don’t get me wrong—all I could think was that this was everything you’d already said. And I’d already chosen to believe you because I trust you. It’s been a long time since I’ve trusted anyone like that.”
Good thing I’m lying down or I might have swooned. I want to bask in the tenderness of his eyes, and I want to see his beautiful smile again. But he leans in, kisses me fast and hard—his signature move—and rolls out of bed.
His kisses confuse me because even though they might be swift at times, those are the ones that clearly reveal affection and care. That kiss didn’t have a damn thing to do with sex and everything to do with him wanting to show me something.
“I’ll start the grill. Want to put the salad together?”
“Sure,” I reply, sliding off the mattress and reaching for my clothes.
“Stay naked,” he says, and my head jerks up.
“Stay naked?”
“I want you naked and convenient. I expect I might want to take advantage of it before we get dinner on the grill.”
I smirk as I pull my dress over my head. “Nice try.”
Coen flashes an evil grin. “You can put that dress back on, but trust me, if I want you naked, I’ll get you naked.”
A shiver runs up my spine. I don’t doubt him one bit. And if he wants to strip me down and bend me over the kitchen table or some other deliciously sexy thing, I won’t say no. I don’t know what the immediate future looks like.
We haven’t talked about it, but I know we will. I have no clue if he’ll head back to Pittsburgh now or stay the rest of the summer.
I have no clue if our expiration date is up tonight or in a month, but I will find out.
And then I’ll deal.
CHAPTER 26
Coen
I sit on my deck, staring out at the backyard. How many times over the past few weeks have I done the same thing, looking at that line of trees, trying to find clarity?
Those trees don’t represent the same thing they once did. Before they were a wall to keep me safe. Now they’re just keeping me from Tillie.
And I’m not looking for clarity with regard to hockey. I’ve made the commitment to go back, and not only will I honor it, I’ll do so with a peaceful heart. Tillie made me see things from a different perspective, and my teammates hammered it home.
What sits on the other side of those trees is the conundrum now. I’m irritated that now they obscure my view of Tillie’s property. If they were gone, I’d be able to see right through to her house.
Movement catches my eye, and Chip bounds toward me. I hold still as he scampers up the steps, climbs my jeans, and perches on my thigh. His eyes are expressive with the expectation I’ll feed him.
Leaning over, I grab peanuts from the container. I find it interesting that the peanuts are here for him to get anytime he wants. I’ve watched squirrels raid the bucket, and I keep it stocked.
But Chip waits until I sit down to come eat. It can’t be my winning personality. Maybe it’s because I shell the nuts for him?
As I hand food over to him, I say, “Going to be leaving you, buddy. Going to have to do the dirty work yourself.”
He ignores me, eyes focused on the next shell I’m cracking.
“I’ll ask Tillie to keep food out for you.” I hand him a peanut, and it goes into his cheek. I pick up the next one. “Of course, if she moves, that’s going to be a problem. It’s ridiculous, really, wanting to move. My injunction is getting thrown out next week, and she’ll be free to cut down the trees.”
I offer another peanut and ask Chip, “Why would she move forward with buying another piece of property, you ask? Especially since she’ll not only win the court case most likely, but I’ll be moving back to Pittsburgh? No fucking clue, buddy, and we sure as hell didn’t discuss it last night. We were busy doing… well, cover your little furry ears… doing other things.”