Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 111400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
He shut the door behind us. “Not yet, but it will be. Come in, and we’ll show you around.”
Mariah led the way into the living room, where I was charmed by the fireplace, the tall windows, and what I could see of the parquet floor, revealed where someone had pulled back the musty old carpet. In the dining room, I admired the bay window and antique chandelier, which Cole hated but Mariah thought was fancy. In the kitchen, I said hello to Enzo and smiled at another guy, who was kneeling on the floor with a tape measure extended across the room.
“Cheyenne, this is Kevin Dodson. He’s going to be doing most of the kitchen remodel. Kevin, this is my girlfriend, Cheyenne Dempsey.”
Already on my way to shake Kevin’s hand, I nearly fell to the floor in a dead faint when I heard the word girlfriend.
I was Cole Mitchell’s girlfriend! How was that even possible?
I practically floated upstairs, where Mariah flitted from room to room, chirping about which one was hers, which one was her dad’s, and which room could be the baby’s.
“Baby?” Enzo’s eyebrows shot up and he looked from me to Cole to my stomach. “Is there something I don’t know?”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Yes. My daughter is crazy.”
“There’s no baby,” I said, laughing.
But later, when Enzo and Mariah were heading back downstairs, Cole tugged my hand and pulled me back into his bedroom for a kiss.
It was a deep, long, passionate kiss that made my heart race, my toes tingle, and my stomach muscles tighten. His hands traveled over my back and down to my ass.
“Cole, stop.” Breathless, I looked over my shoulder at the doorway. “What if she comes back up?”
“I don’t care. This is my room.”
“But she might—”
He reached behind me and slammed the door. “There. Feel better?”
I started to laugh, but then his mouth was on mine once more, and I couldn’t think about anything but his kiss. Pretty soon, his breathing grew heavier and he backed me up against the door. I could feel his erection against my belly as he moved against me. Even though I knew it was a bad idea, I reached between us and rubbed it through his jeans, making him groan.
Giggling, I took my hand off him. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it. Should we go downstairs?”
“I need a minute.” He pushed himself back from me, his arms braced on either side of my head. “I wish we had more time.”
“Soon.” I smiled. “Tell me what you’ll do with this room. New paint? A rug? A big new bed?”
“I’m open to suggestions. Tell me what will entice you to come over a lot.”
“Hmmm.” I ducked beneath his arms and studied the room. “Are there wood floors beneath this carpet?”
“Yes.”
“I’d rip out all the carpet and polish up the floors. Get a great big bed with a fluffy down comforter, and put a cozy rug beneath it. Over by the fireplace, I’d put another rug and maybe a couple chairs. And over there . . .” I pointed to the big window overlooking the yard. “I’d put in a window seat with lots of pillows.”
“A window seat, huh?”
“Yes. And that’s where I will sit with my mug of tea and a romance novel, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket with a scented candle lit beside me.”
He wrapped his arms around me from behind. “You expect me to build a window seat so you can come here and read a book? That’s not what I had in mind.”
I laughed, placing my hands on his forearms. “I didn’t say a window seat would be more enticing than you by the fireplace or you in that great big bed. But one of my dreams is to have a quiet place to read where I’m surrounded by books and natural light.”
“Oh.” He exhaled. “Then I guess I have to build it for you.”
Turning in his embrace to face him, I slipped my arms around his waist and smiled up at him. “You don’t have to build anything for me. You’re the best dream I’ve ever had, and you’re already right here.”
“But I like doing things for you. And I feel like I wasted so much time trying not to fall for you, I want to make up for it.”
“We’re not in a rush, Cole. This is the real thing, remember? It’s not going anywhere. And no one can take it from us.”
For a fleeting second, a shadow crossed his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing.” He pulled me close, tucking my head beneath his chin, and we stayed that way for a moment. And then from below, we heard Mariah shrieking with laughter.
“Moretti always makes her laugh,” said Cole. “She loves him.”
“What female doesn’t?” I joked.
“Actually, believe it or not, I recently met a woman from his past who seems to be immune to his charms.”