Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Her hand squeezes mine. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you.”
I want to pull the truck over and kiss the hell out of her. So many women in the past three years have tried to hit on me. They all promise the same thing, let me help you forget about her. That’s what they don’t understand. I never want to forget about Holly. She was my first love. She gave me two little girls who are my world. I never want to forget her, and the understanding in Laken’s words would bring me to my knees if I weren’t already sitting.
“Are you in a hurry to get home?” I ask instead.
“I’m all yours for as long as you want me.” Her words are softly spoken, and I can’t help but wonder if they have a double meaning.
Instead of taking the road that will lead us back to Mason Creek, I turn off to a mountain lookout. I found it one weekend when Ryder and I were hiking. I just want to talk to her some more. I know that the prying eyes of Mason Creek will be all over this date, but I want some more time with her.
“Where are we?” She leans forward in her seat to look out the front window.
“It’s a lookout Ryder and I found on one of our hikes. The view is great during the day. I’ve never been up here at night.” I park the truck, roll down the windows, and turn off the engine. Removing my seat belt, I turn in my seat to face her.
She does the same. Her smile is lit up by the light of the moon filtering in through the truck windows. “The stars are brighter up here.”
I don’t bother looking, not when the view right beside me is better than any star in the sky. “I wanted to tell her about our date.” I carry on with my previous confession. “I know that makes me sound crazy, but it felt like something I needed to do.”
“Not crazy at all. Everyone heals differently. There’s no timeline or handbook for these kinds of things. We all have to do whatever it is that gets us through the day.”
“Not everyone feels that way.”
“How they feel doesn’t matter, Grayson. You and those two little girls are all that matters in this situation. You have to do what you feel is right.”
I squeeze her hand. “This feels right, Laken. I never thought I would be ready to date. I was convinced my daughters were enough, and they are but this—” I lift our joined hands to my lips. “This feels good too.”
“I’m not going to pretend I know what you went through or how you feel. What I can tell you is I will always be open and honest with you. So, here’s my honesty. Tonight has been the best date I’ve ever been on. I enjoy your company, and if you’re willing, I’d love to do it again. With that being said, I’m not rushing you. You take your time and tell me when you’re ready. All I ask is that you tell me when this isn’t what you want any longer. No harm, no foul. I just don’t want to be the girl sitting around waiting for your attention when you no longer want to give it to me.”
“Is that what you want, Laken? You want my attention.” My voice is husky even to my own ears.
“Yes. I also don’t want to take your attention away from your daughters. I know that those little girls come first, and I’m okay with that. However, if there is a weekend you have free and you want to have dinner, I’d like to be considered on the list of people you would call to keep you company.”
“I really want my arms around you right now.”
“Yeah?” she asks, equal parts surprised and interested if I’m reading her tone right.
“Damn console,” I say, making her laugh.
“I think we can fix that.” She turns to face the front window and bends at the waist. A minute later, she lifts her sandals in the air and then tosses them back to the floorboard. She takes it a step further and climbs up on her knees in the seat.
I get the hint at what she’s going to do, and I reach beside me and push the button that makes my seat slide back as far as it will go. I’m a tall guy, so it doesn’t give us much more space, but that doesn’t seem to stop Laken. She climbs, turns with her back to me, and scoots her ass up on the console, and the need to have her in my arms is too strong to wait a second longer. With my hands on her hips, I slide her the rest of the way back until she’s sitting on my lap, her legs propped up on the console.