Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“You good?” Leigh doesn’t say anything. My hand remains where it is, giving her the time she needs to regain her composure as she closes her eyes. A tear leaks down her cheek, and my thumb swipes through the moisture. Not for the first time am I seeing just how tired she is. The façade she shows to the outside world slips when I’m around, allowing herself to be more vulnerable. I hate that she’s going through this alone. It’s one thing if the man you’ve known and loved your whole life dies for a cause, but to find out everything you thought you ever knew was a lie, that he left you and your two girls to pick up the pieces, it’s a whole new low.
“No. I will be, though.” She takes a deep breath. My cock twitches as I watch her chest move up, then down, unable to avert my eyes when I notice her nipples pebble beneath her shirt.
“Fuck yeah, you will. Get to work. We’ll talk later, when the girls actually go to sleep.” If Rory and Emmy didn’t have their noses pressed up against the windows of the truck, I’d dip my head toward hers, feel those soft lips against mine, and finally fucking taste the woman I crave. Neither of the girls argued about the front seat, apparently.
“Thanks, Nix.” Her eyes open. Gone is the sadness that was just there. Now there’s a look of determination.
“Always here, sweetheart. Now, get your ass to work. I’ve got the girls. I’ll grab a bottle of wine for tonight.” This time, I dip my knees. Our height difference makes it impossible for us to be on eye level, and right now, looking at her hazel eyes is what I need.
“Alright.” Rosaeleigh’s hand goes on top of mine, squeezing it in a reassuring way that she’s good with me helping take the load off her back today.
“Later, Leigh.” It’s hard to walk away, but this time I know I’ll be walking back to her, and it’ll be for good.
“I swear, Rosaleigh Michelle James, sometimes I think you married the wrong man.” I’m halfway down the driveway when I hear her mumbled words. Jesus, this woman has no idea what she does to me. There’s nothing I can do right now for her to see it either, and now that I’ve made it my mission to take the girls to school, which I know will include stopping to get donuts, coffee for myself and Rory—hers more of a sugary sweet concoction and lower on the caffeine factor—and juice for Emmy, it’ll have to wait. Then I’ll get the guys started at the shop I own, Drakos Auto Shop. It was once my dad’s, handed down to me with a steep price tag. One I willingly paid because he and Mom were ready to retire. I only have a few appointments on the books today, which works in my favor seeing as there’s a need to hit the hardware store for Rosaleigh’s house, and I’m adding stopping at the store to grab her a bottle of her favorite Pinot Noir.
“Finally. I’m starving. Donuts?” Emmy asks the second I open the door to my truck.
“Coffee, please?” Rory adds to it. What did I say? The girls know I’m not going to say no. Plus, I see Rosaleigh, working her ass off on every day that ends with y, and it’s a rare occasion if they eat outside of the house. That includes the diner in town, fast food, or going to eat at a nice restaurant.
“On one condition.” I get situated in the driver’s seat, start up the truck, and turn the radio down so I don’t bust our eardrums with the heavy rock I was listening to on the way home last night.
“Don’t tell Mom!” Rory and Emmy say in unison, followed by laughter. If Rosaleigh were to know about all the times I’ve taken them for donuts in the morning and milkshakes in the afternoon, it would create an argument where she feels compelled to pay me back even though we both know that would break the bank even more. So, for the time being, this will be our secret.
5
ROSALEIGH
I came home and was locked out of my own house. Yep, that was not the welcome home I was expecting, and had I not just paid the mortgage, I probably would have worried about something entirely different. Yes, I know the bank will hound you until you make the payment, but that doesn’t negate the fact that this single mother of two girls is dead on her feet. When I went to work this morning, I had no idea I’d be opening and closing the nursery, essentially working twelve hours. I was unprepared, to say the least. The lunch I packed the night before in the form of leftovers is now in my hand, long forgotten when Minnie called me stating that not only did she have the flu, but so did Derek, our other employee.