Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
“Thought you said fate was changeable.”
“But we already found the certificate and ever so reluctantly grew feelings for one another. Those events are now established,” I said. “Though by that thinking there’s no avoiding us getting married and divorced. Because both of those events are also established by the certificate’s existence. Which is sad. And a little confusing.”
He rested his head against the back of the seat. “You just admitted you have feelings for me.”
“You already knew that.”
“No. I suspected. You were fine with friendship and sex. But when you didn’t want to date, it made me wonder.”
I sighed. “Feelings, huh?”
He just grunted.
“What we really need is a physicist to explain holes in time. How the certificate could have come to be in the wall.” I thought it over. “Do you think I should get a priest to bless the house? Or a mystic, maybe?”
“I love how science, religion, and magic all kind of happily coexist for you.”
“Got to keep an open mind. Though I’ve never really given any of them that much thought. I was always more of a creative type than a deep thinker.”
“And what am I?” he asked.
“You build and fix and plan. You’re smart and good with your hands. Very good.” I smiled back at him. “What can I do to help with the pain, Lars?”
He stared solemnly at my chest region. “Can’t think of any sex position that wouldn’t hurt, unfortunately.”
“I love that your thoughts went straight to my crotch. But I was thinking more like running you a bath or finding you a heat pack or something along those lines.”
“Oh.” His face fell. “No, thanks.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Will do. And my mom will love you when she gets to know you.”
I looked away. “Yeah.”
Thirteen
“What are you doing?”
Lars looked down at me from his lofty height halfway up the ladder. “Drilling holes for the picture hooks you wanted. This was where you wanted the first one, right?”
It was Wednesday. Four days postaccident. And apparently he was done with taking it easy. I set the grocery bags on the floor. This was so not the day for him to pull this shit.
“Lars, get down, please. Slowly.”
With a heavy ass sigh, he did as asked. “Smoothed off some of the plaster work in the bedroom too. Wasn’t quite happy with it. I’ll repaint later.”
“You’ve been busy.”
“I’m sick of watching TV,” he grumped.
“Then read a book.”
“I don’t own any.”
His bruises were starting to fade. Lots of yellow with splotches of purple. The stitches in his cheek should start dissolving in a couple of days though the cast would remain on his wrist for another week. The grazes up his arm and on his chest were healing well. All of which were on view since he’d taken to only wearing a pair of athletic shorts around the house. A decision I could only applaud. Still, treating himself with some caution, however, would have been the sensible thing to do. Because the idea of him hurting himself more freaked me right the fuck out.
“Read one of my books.”
“They’re all Romances.”
“So?”
“All right.” He groaned. “I’ll read one of your books.”
“Great. Enjoy.”
“You’re in a mood,” he said, giving me a wary glance. “How’d the shoot go?”
“The business owner brought his new partner with him. He’s a visual person and very active online so he had lots of helpful hints for Cleo and me. Because we both love having our jobs mansplained to us. Made the shoot take twice as long as it should have.”
“Damn.”
“Then some charming asshole followed me around the grocery store asking for my number and refused to take no for an answer.”
His brows descended. “What the fuck?”
“Indeed. Then I come home to find you performing daring physical feats. Dr. Lopez said gentle movement. Do you honestly believe climbing ladders falls under that purview?”
He set the drill on the coffee table. “You’ve had a bad day.”
“Yeah. I really have.”
“How can I make it better?”
“Keep your feet on solid ground, please.”
“Got it.”
“Thank you.” Which was when I saw it. A black shoe box with silver writing sitting on the dining table. “What’s that?”
“Take a look.”
The logo that adorned the lid... My heart was stuck in my throat. “You bought me Pradas?”
“I didn’t know what you wanted. So if they’re the wrong size or style or whatever just send them back.” He scratched at his head. “It’s my way of saying thank you.”
I opened the box with all due ceremony. Within layers of tissue paper sat a pair of black block heel sandals. Such strappy retro gorgeousness. “Oh my God.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“They’re beautiful.” I would not cry. It had just been a hell of a day and his thoughtfulness had caught me off guard. My father hadn’t remembered my birthday for over a decade and Aaron had been too busy with work to celebrate my thirtieth last year. But Lars bought me these beauties just because. It kind of blew my mind. “Can I kiss you?”