Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Fine. I’m coming out to see her.” Guy appears, pushing through the kitchen door. “But, if the bacon burns, it’s your fault.”
I watch, laughing as Sadie and Guy argue over who gets to hold Hope. I feel River tug on my sleeve.
“Got a sec?” He nods to the side.
“Sure. Everything okay?” I ask, following him to a quiet spot around the other side of the counter.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just …” He blows out a breath. “I didn’t just stop here by chance.”
“I know. You said you were out for a walk because Hope was being fussy.”
“No. I mean, she was. But that’s not why I came in the diner to see you.”
“Okay. So, why did you?”
“Well, I actually came to see Sadie.”
“Sadie?” I glance over at her, confused, and then back to River.
“Yeah … I, uh, I wanted to ask her for a favor.”
“Which is?” I’m also kind of wondering why he’s telling me this right now.
Then, a thought, like the thudding of a dumbbell dropping on me, hits.
Oh no. He’s not … with Sadie, is he?
No. Surely not.
I’ve never seen an inkling of anything like that between them. He barely speaks to her, to be honest.
And Sadie knows we’re not together, together, but she’s aware of my feelings for him. A girl needs someone to talk to about these things.
And Sadie would never break the girl code.
I think.
“Well … I was going to ask Sadie if”—I don’t think I want to hear this. Would it be childish of me to stick my fingers in my ears right now?—“she would watch Hope tonight while I take you out for dinner.”
What?
“What?”
“Dinner, Red. You and me.”
“You want to take me out for dinner?” I say slowly.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He gives me a look that says I should already know the answer. “Because you’re my girl, Red.”
My heart literally skips a beat. I’m his girl.
“I am?” I say through a mouth that feels like it’s filled with cotton.
“Yeah. And guys take their girls out on dates.”
“Uh, River … did I miss a step or something?”
“Nope. We’ve kissed twice.”
“Yes … but … the first was when I was still pregnant with Hope, and the second was right after she was born. And there’s been nothing since. Not even a hint of anything between us. I figured …”
“What?”
“That you weren’t interested in me in that way.”
He steps closer, and my breath stutters.
“I’m more than interested. Always have been. But you were pregnant, and I didn’t want to cross any boundaries. And then Hope was born, and you needed time to adjust to being a mom to a baby.”
“She’s still a baby. So, why now?” I ask quietly.
“Because I’m done waiting.” His hand slides around my waist, pulling me up close to him. “Hope is two months old. It’s time to make this thing with us official.”
“This thing?”
“Yeah, Red.” He leans into my ear and whispers, “I’m taking you out tonight. We’re gonna eat. Have fun. And then, afterward, I’ll drive you home in my truck, and we’ll make out on the front seat like a pair of teenagers.”
I lean back to look in his eyes. The gleam of desire there is unmistakable. My whole body heats up. If someone struck a match next to me, I’d go up in flames right now.
“Only make out?” I tease the edge of my lip with my teeth.
His eyes fix on that spot, and his mouth tips up at the corner. “We might get to second base. Third, if you’re a good girl.”
I press my cheek to his, my lips at his ear. “And, if you’re a really good boy, then I might even let you hit a home run.”
I step away from him and sashay into the kitchen, grinning, knowing that his eyes are on my swaying ass the whole time.
Carrie
River drives us out of town to a seafood restaurant in New Braunfels. I know he doesn’t like being around the people of Canyon Lake. He probably thinks people will stare and whisper if we went out to dinner together in a restaurant at home.
But I don’t think he’s realized that folks are used to seeing us together now. And that they don’t stare and whisper anymore either.
Sadie’s at my house, watching Hope. When we left, Sadie was sitting down with Hope and Buddy to watch Frozen even though Hope won’t have a clue what’s going on. I think Sadie just wanted an excuse to watch it herself.
River’s taking me to a seafood restaurant. The man clearly pays attention because I love seafood, and most of it is a no-no while pregnant. But, when breast-feeding, seafood is actually a good thing. The omega-3 is good for babies, which is passed on through the breast milk.
Win-win for me and Hope.
It is weird, being all dressed up and out without her.
Normally, I’m in sweats or pajamas right now, at home with River and Hope.