Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
She carried the dress inside and hung it in the hall closet before heading toward the living room. Finding her mom in the kitchen, she managed a smile as she came around the kitchen counter.
“How’s Jace doing?”
“Still sleeping.” Closing the oven, her mother gave her a perceptive glance. “He’s due to wake any moment. I made some lasagna, and I just put in a baguette. I set the oven to warm so you can eat dinner when Moon gets here.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Moving to the fridge, she poured herself a glass of lemonade. “Why don’t you stay and eat dinner with us?”
Her mother had made a point of disappearing before Moon arrived home since she had started babysitting. By the time she had been ready to return to work, they were lucky her mom’s house had sold and she had already moved in with Priss and Lana.
“I would, but Lana, Priss, and I were invited to Sex Piston’s house. They’re having a small get-together. I think they’re trying to set me up.”
“I forgot that was tonight.”
She went to the cabinets and took out dinner plates, then brought them to the dining room, where she started setting the table. “It’ll be good for you to meet new people,” she said absently, her mind still picturing the woman riding on Moon’s motorcycle.
“Is everything all right, sweetie?”
Larissa came back to the kitchen for glasses. “Just a little tired. After dinner, I think I’ll have an early night.”
Her mother didn’t seem convinced. “You know, if you need to talk, I don’t have to go.”
“Go. Meet my future stepfather,” she teased. “I’m fine.”
“I’m worried about you.” Her mother stopped beside her. “You never smile anymore, unless you’re holding Jace. Are you and Moon having problems?”
Jace’s cry coming over the monitor gave her the excuse to escape.
“Everything is fine. Moon is a wonderful father. I’ll see you in the morning. Text me if you meet anyone interesting.”
“You know I won’t.” Her mother gave a mock shudder. “Why is it when people try to set me up, it’s with men who have one foot in the grave or have dementia?”
“I don’t know, possibly because they aren’t aware you’re a cougar?”
“How many times have I told you I dislike that term?”
“How many men your own age have you dated since Dad died?”
The look her mother gave her had her deciding to make good on her escape.
She picked up Jace from his crib and carried him to the rocking chair. Sitting down, she unbuttoned her top and unsnapped her maternity bra. She used a cleansing cloth to clean her nipple then settled him against her chest as she started rocking the chair.
She had switched Jace to her other breast when she heard Moon walk in the door. Usually, she called out to him when he came in. Tonight, she remained silent, gently rocking the chair.
Staring at her son, she thought how much he looked like his father. He was a little carbon copy of the man standing in the doorway, watching them.
“Is Jace asleep?” Moon whispered.
“No, he’s wide awake.” Using her knuckles, she rubbed the soft skin of his cheek. “He finished. Would you mind burping him so I can take a shower?”
Moon came forward to take the baby from her arms. She was aware of his eyes dropping to her uncovered breasts. Raising her hands, she pulled the two sides of her top closed over her breasts as she got up from the chair.
“Dinner is in the oven, if you’re hungry. You don’t have to wait for me.”
As she passed Moon, she kept her face averted from him.
“How was your day?” he asked as she was about to walk into the bedroom.
“Good.” Usually, she would ask how his day had been. Today, she went into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
She took her time showering and only dried off when couldn’t postpone getting out any longer. No longer having the desire to wear the new dress she had bought, she pulled out a pair of buttery soft jeans and slipped on a wine-colored crisscross top that tied at the waist. Then she padded barefoot down the hall to the living room. Moon was sitting on the couch with his feet propped on the coffee table, Jace wiggling on his lap.
“He’s getting bigger every day.”
Moon might not love her, but it was obvious he loved his son.
“Yes, he is,” she agreed on her way to the kitchen to take the lasagna out of the oven.
When he saw she was setting the food on the table, Moon placed Jace down in the small portable crib they kept in the living room, then wheeled the crib to the table and sat down.
Placing the bread on the table, she took the chair opposite of his. She served him a generous mound of lasagna before she gave herself a smaller portion. She did the same with the bread.