Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
“I can only imagine.” He’s still staring at me like I’m a wounded animal he’s found on the side of the road. I hate seeing pity shape his handsome face, but I feel better for unloading.
“I’m not telling you so you feel sorry for me. I’m telling you so you understand that although I carry the Bancroft name, it’s always been on borrowed time. It’s like the lease will run out eventually, but I just don’t know when.”
“I grew up with money. Not helicopters. That’s all Harbor’s doing in the past couple of years. Our house was happy for the most part. We’ve had our trials and wins. As long as we had each other, we could get through anything. But a big family has different personalities to contend with. I can’t say I’ve had a hard life because I haven’t. But as a family, we’ve faced a few demons.”
“How are things now?”
Grinning, he replies, “I think with my brothers settling down, a serenity has come over the family.” He looks down at his shined shoes. “They put my parents through hell, and in response, that made it easy on Marina and me. My parents realized they wanted to slow down and enjoy time with their family.”
My chuckle barely contains any humor. “So what you’re saying is there might be hope for my father?”
He exhales a long breath. “I don’t have the answer to that. I know there should be. On the other hand, I’m starting to be in the fuck-him camp.” He adjusts the headphones and asks, “How does he feel about Max?”
“You mean because he’s the male heir my father supposedly always wanted?” I shake my head and look out the window at the beauty of the wooded land below. In the distance is a large lake, but I turn back to Noah, finding him much more interesting. “One day, he’ll try to step into Maxwell’s life and take that accomplishment away from me as well.”
“Over my dead body.” The venom in his voice leaves me breathless, not in fear but some other emotion I’m unfamiliar with.
My chest feels fuller, my heart thunders, and a lightheadedness spins my head. Oh my God . . . No . . . can’t be. Is this what love feels like?
Am I in love?
I know I’m in lust with this man but love as well? The pilot tells us to prepare for landing.
It’s too late. I’ve already fallen.
Oh no. It’s true. I’m in love with Noah Westcott. Will it be possible to keep ignoring the feelings blooming inside? I must. I have no other choice. This weekend has been amazing, even more so that Max has his father in his life. My relationship with Noah has been nothing less than incredible, but am I pushing this too far?
The last thing I want to be is clingy.
God, how embarrassing would that be? I’m sure women fall at his feet on the regular. Do I really want to be that needy?
No.
But why’d he have to go sounding all growly and protective over our son? Does he realize what that does to the ladies? To me, specifically?
The helipad is situated in the middle of a grassy field surrounded by trees on two sides, a large home with a pool, and another building that appears to be a smaller house. Is he kidding me with this? “That’s quite the property,” I say with my eyes fixed on the stunning home. Bancroft holds weight in New York society, but damn, I wish I was a Westcott about now. Wait . . . what?
I need to get my head out of the clouds.
He says, “That’s my parents’ home.”
Glancing back at him, I ask, “That’s where you grew up?”
“Yes. It was great exploring the woods, fishing at the lake, swimming all day on the weekends, tasting freedom in a way that some will never experience. We were allowed to run wild out here since there were no immediate neighbors.”
Seeing him smile as he looks out the window, there’s a distance in his eyes, not a longing but maybe memories springing to life. He has me wondering about the son we share and the life he wants for him. “Is that where you want Maxwell to grow up?”
Stretching his arm out, he angles toward me, rubbing my leg. “I want him to grow up with us present in his life. That matters more than the location.”
A lump in my throat has me nodding, though I cover his hand with mine in a show of solidarity when I’m unable to speak. I’m not sure why I’m so emotional. I would love for Maxwell to experience a place like this. As Noah said, to run wild without regard to concrete surroundings or people hurrying to get elsewhere.
I can already feel time slowing down just as we land. “He’d love it here,” I say, finally able to speak.