Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Then the door bursts open and Arlo comes rushing in.
“Mommy!” he says excitedly. “Delly took me to the kitchen. We made cinnamon buns and cocoa.”
Yeah, that’s Mom, all right. I’m sure it took her five seconds to suss out the kid’s favorite snacks.
“Did you now?” Salem plops him down on her knee where he can’t do any damage.
“Is this your son?” Evelyn asks breathlessly, her face lighting up. “What a delightful little boy. And what’s your name, pumpkin?”
“Arlo,” he informs her.
The second Mom walks in, shutting the door behind her, Arlo grins at her.
Damn. At least he likes someone in this family.
“We had a lovely time, didn’t we?” She takes a seat beside Evelyn. Salem stiffens. “I hope we’re not intruding. Poor Arlo didn’t want to be away from his mommy any longer.”
“No, we were just wrapping up. And I’m sorry if he started getting restless, he’s very attached,” Salem says carefully. “Hopefully he behaved himself?”
“A delight,” Mom gushes.
Of course, she’d say that. She’s so desperate for more grandkids, she’ll practically adopt someone else’s munchkins. She loves Colt to death, but I think she’d like ten more just like him. Don’t know how Junie and Dex show their faces around here and survive all the hints she keeps dropping.
The sooner they get around to making babies, the better for all of us.
Arlo looks at me with his beady little eyes.
“Your mommy makes good chocolate. Way better than yours,” he says matter-of-factly. There’s a dark smear around his mouth.
Salem notices it just as I do, wetting her thumb and rubbing it away.
“Arlo!” Salem hisses. “What have I told you about being nice? Mind your manners, big guy.”
“But Mommy, he’s not nice to you.”
Aw, hell.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Salem’s face burst into flames. Mom and Evelyn both look at us like we’re the center of attention.
Goddammit, here we go.
It would be so easy to say something about Salem giving me the cold shoulder, but that wouldn’t get us anywhere.
“Kid, I’m learning. I’m thirty, not a hundred years old. That isn’t too far gone to grow a little empathy, right?” I keep my tone light while Mom gives me an epic frown. Salem glances at me in surprise, then looks away. “Mom, don’t look at me like that.”
If we were alone, she’d be wagging a finger with some choice words.
I glare at Arlo, trying like hell not to let on how annoyed I am.
Way to go, little man. You think I got you into trouble with your mama, and now you’re paying me back.
“But Mommy makes the best hot chocolate,” Arlo says, throwing his sticky arms around her neck.
Thankfully, even a future Machiavelli still has the attention span of a bug when he’s only five.
“Boys that age are such a handful,” Mom says, giving Salem a smile that says she’s seen it all before. “He said you were going sledding, yes? Give me a moment and I’ll bring you a thermos for the road.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
“Nonsense. Everyone needs more cocoa. Even Patton.” She eyes me with a look that says, shut your mouth. Be nice. Drink up.
“Thank you so much,” Salem says.
“We’ll meet you by the front door.” I decide it’s in our best interests to get out of here before Arlo has a chance to demolish my reputation more. “I’ll give you that ride to the river I promised.”
“That’s so kind of you,” Evelyn whispers. “You remind me of Walt. He was always so good with his employees, he never failed to treat everyone like family.”
Salem blanches.
Her goodbye feels stilted as she practically runs from the room with Arlo bouncing along next to her.
I hold in a snort.
Real sweet, Lady Bug. Next time, let’s make it more obvious how much you hate me.
“Take care, Evelyn. Always a pleasure,” I say, giving her a quick hug.
“You don’t know how much I appreciate you meeting me like this, and I adore the opportunity to work out a new venture.” She beams at me. “Enjoy your sledding! And say, if she’s single—”
“Not my type.” I back away. “Sorry.”
Shit, I need to go.
I don’t bother telling her I have no intention of sledding myself, and I join the others at the front door. Mom hands us a tall thermos and cups, and we head for the vehicle.
Salem straps Arlo in while I put everything in the front. The boy grins at me like he knows he’s my personal inquisitor.
Yeah, fuck spending a second in the snow with them. I’m not trusting him anywhere near a sled and my balls.
I just need excuses to stay in the car.
Preferably before he has a chance to plow into me and put me in the hospital.
9
BLIND BET (SALEM)
Okay, I’ll admit it—I didn’t think Patton Rory had it in him to be nice.
Like, not sincerely nice-nice.