Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Yes. Heeding my warning that it was hot would have helped you. You are, however, not an idiot and not stupid. I don’t want to hear you speak poorly about yourself.”
“Let me guess. That’s going to be another rule,” Mack said, laughing.
“Yes.”
At that simple answer, Mack looked at him in surprise. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it as if he’d had second thoughts. Mack stirred his soup, letting some of the heat disperse and cooling it off with the ice cubes.
“You can tell me anything, Mack,” Grey told him softly.
Mack looked back up at him and nodded before looking back at the bowl. “You really mean this, don’t you? It’s not like a game you’re playing.”
“Look at me, Little boy.” Grey waited for Mack to gather his courage and look up. When he did, Grey assured him, “I don’t play games. That isn’t fair to you, and it won’t benefit me. Hopefully, we’ll discover we’re as good of a match as I think we are. Maybe it’s not right. We’ll never know until we try. Are you willing to take a risk? To be honest about what you need and want?”
When Mack hesitated, Grey added, “You’re safe here. If this doesn’t work out, you can stay here for a couple of months as a friend getting back on his feet. No pressure.”
“You’re really that great of a guy? I thought you said you were a lawyer,” Mack said, obviously trying to ease the tension with a joke.
“I am. Fair warning. I plan to take advantage of our friendship when I stop in at Armando’s. Free bread for me while you live here.”
“Everyone gets free bread at Armando’s,” Mack said, looking confused.
“Then that works perfectly. Eat, Mack. Relax. We’ll talk about the tough stuff tomorrow. You’ve had enough happen today.”
CHAPTER 5
Waking up in the racecar bed was almost as epic as falling asleep in it. Mack ran his hand over the side of the bed frame. He could feel the raised striping under his fingers. Mack didn’t think he would have loved this bed more as a five-year-old than he did now. It was spectacular.
He checked the time and saw that it was nine. Mack hadn’t slept that long for years. Definitely not while he’d stayed at John’s house. Joanie didn’t have a quiet mode. She started yelling the minute her alarm went off at five. Mack shook his head. His sorrow for his friend was tempered by the recognition that this was the woman John had chosen. She had to have some redeeming qualities. Maybe Joanie was better when they didn’t have a guest.
Pushing the couple out of his mind, Mack stretched. He’d have just enough time to go for a run before figuring out the bus situation to get to work. His gas tank was full but taking his car was a hassle. Finding a parking spot in the happening area was tough and expensive. The bus would be fine.
Mack pulled on boxer briefs and shorts before opening the bedroom door. “Hey? Anyone here?”
No one answered. He used the bathroom and washed his face before pulling on a shirt, socks, and shoes. The question of how he could get back in the house after his run popped into Mack’s mind. He walked to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Maybe there was a back door he could leave open.
He stopped in his tracks. In the middle of the kitchen table stood a tented sheet of paper with his name on it. Walking over, he picked it up to find a garage door opener and a key arranged underneath. Mack flipped the paper over to read,
Good morning, Mack!
I hope you slept well. These are yours to keep so you can get in and out easily. I think you mentioned running. There’s a park about a mile away. Turn left when you leave the house and take Elmwood Lane to reach it.
Make yourself at home. Eat breakfast. I’ll see you soon!
Grey/Daddy
P.S. Onelia, my housekeeper, arrives at nine-thirty. She knows you’re staying here. Say hi. Onelia will have a million questions for you.
Mack realized he was grinning. What a contrast to yesterday morning, with Joanie pounding on the bathroom door demanding he get the hell out. He debated which opener to choose and finally took both, just in case something didn’t work.
Grabbing a glass of water to hydrate, he guzzled it down as he reread the note. Before going out to run, he returned to his room and slid the note into the pocket of his suitcase. He wanted to hold on to that.
When he returned, Mack found a short, curvy woman attacking every surface of the kitchen with dedication. No wonder Grey’s house was so clean. There was no way a germ could survive there.