Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
I let out a long breath and set the phone back on the table before heading into the bathroom. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw a brand-new toothbrush with toothpaste on the counter. After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I looked at my hair, which was a mess. In the end, I left it alone. I usually wore my hair up in a ponytail, but today, it fell around my shoulders in wild curls.
“I’ll just pretend it looks good,” I mused as I stared at myself in the mirror. I had zero makeup on, my hair was a rat’s nest, and I was about to see the man I had been in love with for as long as I could remember.
Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “You have to move on, Haven. You have to let go of this stupid fantasy.”
When I opened my eyes and saw my reflection in the mirror, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to cry or laugh. I had spent the night in Nate Shaw’s house. Had most likely fallen asleep in his arms, and Lord knows what he thinks of me after that crying fit. What I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and hide. For as many times as I had wanted to see Nate, this was one rare moment I didn’t.
But I was stronger than this. So instead of hiding out in the room, I turned on my heels and started up to the main floor for the kitchen.
As I walked up the steps, I could smell bacon. My stomach growled, and I placed my hand over it, taking a deep breath through my nose. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry.
I swayed slightly when I saw Nate standing at his stove, wearing nothing but sweats, no shirt, no shoes, just sweats. I squeezed my eyes shut.
You’re moving on, Haven. Moving. On. But damn, did he make it really difficult to move on when he was shirtless and wearing sweatpants.
Opening my eyes, I cleared my throat and said, “Good morning.”
Nate jumped and then glanced over his shoulder at me. His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open some. I looked away from his intense gaze and said, “So, ummm, obviously my hair has a mind of its own. Do you know where my ponytail holder is?”
When he didn’t say anything, I looked at him. He was staring at me with a look I had never seen before.
“Your hair,” he softly said.
Feeling embarrassed, I reached up and touched it. “I know, it’s a mess. Hence the ponytail thingy that I need.”
He shook his head. “It’s beautiful, Haven. I forgot you had such curly hair.”
His words rattled the inside of my chest, and it took me a few seconds to find my voice.
“Um, yeah, I wear it up a lot. Makes it easier when I’m dealing with the dogs.”
Nate cleared his throat and slightly shook his head before he turned back to the bacon. “I think you should wear it down more.”
My eyes went wide at his admission. “Did you just give me a compliment, Nate?”
He glanced back at me. “Don’t make it seem like I’ve never complimented you before.”
My arms crossed my chest as I let out a humorless laugh. “You haven’t. Ever. Not once.”
A look of…regret…crossed over his face. Impossible. I clearly had misread it.
“I find that hard to believe.”
Deciding to let this conversation go, I asked, “Did you need me to help with anything?”
“If you wouldn’t mind watching the bacon for me. I worked out this morning and started the bacon when I got out of the shower, but I need to change.”
My eyes went over his body. He was built, but not overly built, like some guys at the gym with muscles that are way too big. Nate’s shoulders were broad, and his chest was bare of hair, which made my fingers twitch to touch his skin. Then you had his lower midsection, which had the perfect set of abs, indented in all the ways that abs should be. His sweats hung low on his hips—Lord, give me strength—and the pain in my lower lip alerted me that I was biting down on it.
“You okay, Haven?” Nate asked.
My eyes jerked back up to his, and I nodded. “Yep. Fine. I’ll, um, I’ll take care of the bacon.”
He nodded and walked off, leaving me to grab onto the counter and take a few deep breaths. It was suddenly sweltering in that kitchen.
Once I pulled myself together and reminded myself, again, that I was moving on from Nate, I walked over to the bacon and flipped it. I made my way to the pantry and took a quick look. We had eggs last night, so I was hoping to make something different. When I spied pancake mix, I smiled. I also found a can of pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and vanilla. Nate’s pantry was stocked with everything one would need to cook. He may not do fancy, but he clearly liked to cook.