Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 173733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 869(@200wpm)___ 695(@250wpm)___ 579(@300wpm)
“The one we’re sharing right now, Cat,” he says, lacing his fingers with mine. “Come on, sweetheart.”
He leads me forward and we step outside, and he’s right. It’s chilly and we walk the short walk quickly, and as we do, I can’t help but feel this man’s presence next to me. I’m aware of him on every level: his smell, his coat, his energy. The world, my world, is simply warmer, no, richer, is the better word, with him in it.
Once we’re in my apartment, I pack up, and Reese calls us a car to make carrying my bags easier and traveling to his place warmer. I’ve finished packing, including enough items to get me by for a week, if necessary. Once I’ve zipped up my bags, I pull on my favorite Chanel trench coat and exit to my bedroom. Reese is sitting on my bed, looking at a photo from my nightstand of me and my mother about six months before she died. My heart squeezes just thinking about that night. “Your mother,” he says, looking up at me.
“Yes. My mother.”
“You look like her,” he says, setting the photo back on the nightstand.
“I hear that a lot.”
“How old was she when she died?”
“Fifty-five. Too young.”
“When, Cat?”
“Two years ago. Christmas week. She gave me this coat for Christmas three days before she died.”
“Right when you—”
“Broke up with Mitch and left my legal career. Yes.”
He stands up, his hands sliding to my shoulders. “I admire you for what you did. You left everything, lost your mother, and re-created yourself.”
“Thank you. It was hard to make changes in my life, but my mother was miserable and that inspired me to not be miserable. And I know this, because she left me a letter. She told me that she used this apartment to get away from my father. She said for me not to live my life for my father like she had.”
“And you bravely listened to her.”
“Bravely? No. I was terrified. Sometimes, and I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but sometimes, I still am. I think—my father pretty much disowned me. I haven’t spoken to him in six months. It messes with my head sometimes.”
“But you talk to your brothers.”
“I do speak to Daniel, the one who lives in Texas, pretty regularly. Gabe, the one that stopped by my place, sometimes. Reid, he’s the oldest, and the closest, to my father. Hardly ever.” I let out a breath. “Let’s leave. I suddenly like the way I feel at your house more than here.” I twist away from him, and he catches my arm, and the next thing I know, he’s cupping my face and kissing me.
“I just needed to kiss you,” he says, his voice low and rough. “You’re beautiful and strong and I’m crazy about you.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. This is where you say you’re crazy about me, too.”
“I am,” I whisper. “You know I am. But as much as this place is about happiness to me, it sometimes suffocates me with her absence. I know that sounds silly, but it’s what I feel and I really want to leave now.”
“It doesn’t sound silly. It sounds like it’s time to leave.” He kisses my forehead and releases me.
We gather my things, including one big roller bag I grab. Reese takes it over, and heads for the door when my cellphone rings in my pocket. I dig it out to find Liz’s number on caller ID. “Hi Liz,” I answer, as Reese and I step into the hallway.
“The publisher is going back to the board for more money,” she says. “More soon.”
“How soon?” I ask as we walk toward the elevator.
“A few days at most,” she says. “When will the trial be over?”
I don’t like this question. It feels like prodding for Dan, and I hate that I feel this with Liz, of all people. “The only person who knows that answer is Reese Summer, and you’ll have to ask him yourself.”
“That was an innocent question for our negotiations,” she says. “It had nothing to do with Dan and I know that’s what you’re thinking. He is not my client. You are. You matter.”
I breathe out. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted. I’ll be in touch.” She hangs up.
Reese and I step in the elevator. “That was Liz, of course. She wanted to know when the trial was ending. You heard my answer. And in case you’re confused. I rehired her because she explained the situation.”
“Which was what?”
“She was trying to protect me from Dan’s relative that works for my publisher. Now she’s trying to get me more money.”
“Dan has a relative at your publisher,” he says. “That explains a lot.” His eyes narrow on me. “You still seem bothered.”
“I don’t like that Liz wasn’t straightforward with me. It feels like a lie, and I’ve had too many of those in my life.”