Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
The problem was, it didn’t have anything to do with being cautious about returning to my house.
It had everything to do with the man who would be waiting for us at his place.
Mom’s head angled a fraction to the side. Barely enough to notice, but enough to know she’d picked up on something. “And how was your date last night?”
“Good.”
A throaty chuckle rolled from her. “My, my, aren’t you just full of the adjectives this afternoon? Don’t you think you could do a little better than that? You did promise to tell me all about it this morning, and then you dropped Kayden off so fast I barely caught sight of your face.”
I let go of a slight giggle. “Sorry, it was just a long day. The date was…fine.”
Her brows lifted, and that time I laughed. “Brad’s a nice guy, but I don’t think there are going to be any wedding bells in our future.”
“No sparks, huh?”
“Not even one.”
But I sure had felt one later. I had to bite back the flush that threatened to steal across my skin.
“Well, that’s too bad, but I’m glad that you at least got out and tried. It’s been a long time since you went on a date.”
She looked at Kayden then.
I hated how all of them speculated. How I’d kept it like a dirty secret.
It wasn’t like I thought of sex as that. It was just where my mental state had been at that time. How it’d left me feeling gross after.
The depths of the heartache that I’d been lost in, how desperate I’d been to erase it and fill it.
“I guess now that the café is on its feet and Kayden is getting a little older, it’s time for me to have a little fun.” I managed to keep it light.
She hooked her shoulder on the wall and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m thinking it’s time for a lot of fun.”
“Mom.” I laughed, shaking my head as I set Kayden on his feet, then I sent her a wry arch of my brow. “As if you’re one to talk. I don’t think I’ve ever known you to go on a date in my entire life.”
“You never know, this old girl might get a wild hair and decide to start looking for a man herself.”
“I hope you do. You deserve to be happy.”
Her smile was soft. “I am happy, Dakota. You and your brother and sister make me happy. Our little man right here who loves to keep his gammy company makes me happy.”
Her gaze was tender as she looked at my son.
“And I’m happy, too,” I promised her.
“You are, but I’ve also seen the hole inside you, Dakota. One that clearly is longing to be filled. It’s the only reason I’ve been pushing you.”
I didn’t know that vacancy had been so obvious.
“I’m trying, Mom, and I’ll be okay, no matter what. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m stronger than you think.”
She clucked a gentle sound. “Not worry about you? Impossible. And I know how strong you are. You make me so proud. I don’t think you have the first idea. How I see my fierce, brave, kind girl. You’re the whole package, Dakota.”
I choked over the affection. “Thank you. For everything. I couldn’t do any of this without you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
She brushed her thumb under my eye. “Love is on the house.”
Everything swelled and rushed. “Thank you for teaching me that. What it means.”
“It’s who we Coopers are.”
I swiped a tear that got loose from my eye. “And now that I’m crying, thank you very much…” I drew out, forcing as much lightness as I could into it.
I blamed it on the whirlwind that was Ryder, all these emotions that were simmering at the top.
“Sorry about that.”
“No you’re not,” I told her around a grin.
Her laughter was easy. “You’re right. I’m not. I’ll forever be telling you how great you are.”
Sniffling, I turned back to the living room that was a complete disaster.
Ryder was right. My son was nothing but a tiny tornado.
“You’d better pick up your toys if you want to go to Ryder’s house.”
Kayden jumped into action, running around and tossing all his toys back into the bin. “Watch me. I fast, Mommy.”
“Hmm, someone sure loves that Ryder, don’t they?” Mom mused from behind.
Yeah, we definitely did.
“He spoils him rotten, that’s why.”
“Only because someone loves Kayden, too.”
More moisture threatened at my eyes, but I bit it back. The last thing I wanted was my mom to pick up on the scent. She would hound me until I confessed, and I was most definitely not ready for that.
“All done!” In victory, Kayden threw his arms into the air. “We go right now.”
He came bounding my way, and I scooped him up, laughing with a flurry of emotions.