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)
Don’t notice her, you asshole.
Keep your eyes glued to the wall.
Does it matter? It’s not like I’m going to do anything about it, never mind the raging heat in my veins urging me to reach out and touch her.
“Thank you,” she says again with a sigh. “I know you keep saying it’s cool and it’s all for business, but you saved my skin tonight. If there’s any way I can repay you, Patton, please speak up.”
“I don’t need repaying. I’m not a damn machine.”
She raises her head as she looks at me, her hazel eyes glinting with gold curiosity.
“You say that now, but you came all the way out here, and you…” She raises her hand helplessly as her voice cracks. “I don’t know. It just feels like a lot.”
“I’m happy to help. Sincerely. Without sounding like an ass-kisser, I appreciate what you do for Higher Ends. The mentorship isn’t much of a bonus, all things considered.”
She snickers and mutters an apology.
“Sorry. But that sounds like you’re being a huge kiss-ass.”
“Well, I mean it.” Somebody stop me before I say something else I regret.
But hell, she’s here with her kid and a business she has no stake in. I don’t know how she handles it.
“I suppose it’s good to finally get a real compliment out of you,” she says.
I swivel to face her. “Do I make you feel unappreciated?”
She hesitates.
“…it’s more that you could just be nicer,” she says slowly, but it’s more of a yes than I want to admit. “I’m not saying you’re the bad guy. I’ve messed up a few times and made everything harder than it needs to be.”
“Everyone fucks up. That’s life.” I wave a hand. “Even me, if you can believe it.”
Her eyes crinkle as she smiles.
Such a stark contrast from the way I first found her tonight, when her eyes were wide and dark with fear. Even after she was safe, she had that devastated look.
Now, in the safety of her own home, she’s relaxed, and it’s smoothed away the tightness around her face that I’ve often seen around the office.
“You?” she teases. “I can’t believe it.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in, but I’m far from perfect.” I smile back at her. She blinks, like she wasn’t expecting it.
Maybe we’ve both been too busy, shutting ourselves down, spinning this delicate dance where we’re too fucking scared of offending each other to let us be real.
After tonight, I’m done playing.
“It must be a lot,” I say carefully, looking around the room again. “Balancing all this and Arlo and your job at the same time.”
Silence swarms us again.
She slowly loses her smile, stiffening and sitting up like I’m passing some sort of judgment.
“I didn’t mean to pry. Just telling you what I see,” I venture.
“It can be hard sometimes, I guess. But it’s worth it.”
She doesn’t deny that she’s doing this alone like I thought.
“I didn’t mean to make you dwell on it. Or imply you’re not doing a great job.”
Her hands relax slightly.
“He’s a lot sometimes. I love him to death, don’t get me wrong.”
“Isn’t that every kid? If you hear my mom talk, we were little nightmares growing up. Ironically, Archer was the worst. First kid, you know. Big brother got real pissed when the rest of us were born and he was no longer the golden boy.”
She gives me a bittersweet smile.
“I think Arlo would be the same way. Not that it’ll ever happen.” She tucks a stray lock of hair back behind her ear.
“Why’s that? You’re young. Plenty of time for more babies.”
The hectic flush on her cheeks fades now, but that doesn’t stop my imagination or my curiosity.
Usually, it’s a blessing, helping me visualize fresh ideas. Now, though, it’s a curse.
I’m too damn close to slipping up in ways I know I shouldn’t. Not just poking my nose into her life where it doesn’t belong, but letting my hands wander.
For the last time, get your brain out of your dick.
“I suppose I’d need a guy for that, and that means dating. Yuck.” Her face screws up and she makes a disgusted sound.
I chuckle. That’s one feeling we share, even if my reasons are very different from hers for keeping my bachelor card.
“Yeah, that’s the hard part. A bigger family lightens the workload, though,” I tell her. “Mom had Dad until I was small. He’s gone now, but when we were kids, he’d take us out so we didn’t destroy more of Mom’s antique furniture.”
“That must have been nice.”
“I think Mom would’ve gone mad a long time ago if he hadn’t.” I’m not being even remotely subtle now, but fuck. I need to know for sure if this is it, all she has in her life. “Does anybody ever help you with Arlo when it’s too much? Your parents?”
She looks down.