Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I take a second to consider the question. “Kind of.”
Her eyebrows perk. “That’s a story I’d like to hear.”
A nervous laugh escapes me. “There’s not much of a story there. I met a man one night. We hit it off and hang out sometimes.”
Her hand moves to the center of her chest. She taps her fingertips over a button on the front of her dress. “Does your heart go pitter-patter when you hang out with this man?”
I mimic her movement, but instead of a light tap of my fingertips, I pat my palm against my chest. “It goes boom, boom, boom.”
“That, my dear, is the seed of love being planted in there.”
I shake my head. “He’s very handsome. That’s why my heart does that.”
“It’s more than that.” Her hand drops to her lap. “Give it time and space to grow, Abby. That small seed will one day wrap itself around your heart, and you’ll know it’s love. You’ll know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Declan
Work, time with my family, and a night spent watching Kirby while Rook entertained a new client at dinner have meant that I haven’t seen Abby in days.
We’ve talked.
That happened two days ago on a crowded elevator on our way to our respective jobs. We’ve also had a few text conversations where the woman I’m crazy about told me her boss assigned her a string of mundane tasks to keep her busy until Kalina’s new counsel reaches out.
I’d be pissed at Rook for monopolizing her time, but I know how deeply Abby values her career. It’s one of the things I love most about her.
Or like…or maybe this is the first stirring of love I feel?
I shake my head while my brother continues talking about children’s books.
We’re in a bookstore in Brooklyn while he picks through a stack of books written and illustrated for curious young minds.
Since the bookshelf in Hailey’s nursery is already stacked with hundreds of books just waiting to be read to her once she arrives, I pat him on the shoulder.
“Maybe you should consider investing in some books for kids in their teens.” I smile. “I’m pretty sure you own a copy of every book ever written for a kid under ten.”
He shoots me a look that includes a perched eyebrow. “Who is about to be a parent, Decky?”
I pat the middle of my chest. “You’re looking at a future godfather, so I think I can weigh in on this.”
His hand moves to tap my cheek. “From the day she’s born until her fifth birthday, that’s a hell of a lot of nights that require bedtime stories.”
“To be precise…” I interrupt what he was about to say. “It’s one thousand, eight hundred and…”
He returns the favor by cutting me off. “Who the fuck cares? It’s a lot, so I need a lot of books. I don’t want my daughter getting bored.”
“Some kids love repetition.” I raise a hand to stop him from saying anything. “Kirby has one favorite book about a girl and her dog. I’ve read that to her hundreds of times.”
“Seriously?”
I laugh. “Seriously. So I think you can step away from the books, Saint. For now, at least.”
He sets the brightly illustrated hardcover book in his hand back on the table in front of us. “I can do that.”
A chime from my phone lures my gaze down.
Sean’s eyes follow. “Is it about the shipment? Has the issue been resolved?”
I glance at him. “No. It’s Abby.”
“Abby?” He pushes on my shoulder. “My future sister-in-law requires all your attention, so focus on her while I look at the thriller section.”
I smile. “I’ll do that.”
I read the text again.
Abby: Are you busy tonight?
If I were, I’d cancel whatever the fuck I was planning on doing to be with her.
Declan: Not a chance in hell. Tell me where and when I can see you.
I send the message, not giving a shit if I seem desperate. I am desperate, and that’s not stemming just from the need to touch her. I want to stare at her. I’m craving the sound of her voice and her laughter.
Her response is almost instantaneous.
Abby: Dinner at my place at 8?
An uncontrollable smile settles on my lips. I catch my brother looking in my direction. I toss him a wave while I tap the icon on my phone’s screen to initiate a call.
She answers quickly. “Declan?”
“Abigail.” Although I’m tempted to walk out of the bookstore in search of a spot on the sidewalk that will offer more privacy than I have here, I stay put.
Sean senses that I’m falling for this woman, so why try and cover that up?
“So, you’ll come for dinner?” she asks hopefully. “You’re sure you’re not busy?”
“Give me your address,” I spit the words out quickly. “I’ll be there right at eight.”
She tells me the address of a building not far from where I am.