Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Well, go on.” She sweeps her hand toward the entryway. “Don’t keep the man waiting.”
Gritting my teeth, I check to make sure it’s him, then practically twist the knob off in my eagerness to open the door.
And there he is. Casually standing on my porch with a small, white paper bag in one hand. Black jeans that fit perfectly and a tight, plain black T-shirt stretched over his chest under an unbuttoned fleece-lined, blue plaid, flannel shirt. No leather vest today. His serious expression melts into a warm smile as soon as our eyes meet.
“Hey, Emily,” he says in the deep, rumbling voice that turns my insides to lava.
“Hey,” I murmur, stepping back to let him inside. “Come in. I just need to find my shoes.”
With his free hand, he reaches out and curls his arm around my waist, drawing me closer. “Let me say hello properly, first.”
I open my mouth to answer but he presses his lips against mine, stealing my words and breath. Caught off guard, I rest my palm against his chest, almost falling against him.
“That’s better,” he says against my lips, pulling away slightly.
“Yes, that’s better,” I mimic, feeling like a cartoon character with love birds chirping and circling my head.
“A-hem.” Libby clears her throat—loudly.
Dex briefly closes his eyes, an amused smile flickering over his face. He tilts his head, staring past me. “Hey, Libby.”
“Hello, Dex. How do my sister’s tonsils taste?”
“Libby!” I whirl around, staring daggers at her.
Dex rumbles with laughter. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us today? I brought an SUV. There’s plenty of room.”
I can’t believe he’d still ask after her tonsils comment.
“No, I’m good.” She pats her laptop. “Full day.”
He holds up the white paper bag. “In that case, how about some study snacks?”
Libby sits up, eyebrows raised, eyes blazing with interest. “You have my attention.”
His free hand curls around mine and he drags me into the living room, stopping at the back of the couch to pass the bag to Libby. “Emily said you like fluffernutters. I saw these and had to get them for you.”
She frowns as she accepts the bag and rips it open. Inside, there’s a small, shiny white box with the label of a local, family-owned candy store. Pricey place. My parents used to fill our Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies and lambs from there every year. I doubt Libby even remembers. I haven’t been there since they died.
My pulse thunders though my ears, blocking out everything else for a moment.
“Ohmygod!” Libby squeals, pulling me into the present. “What the…”
“They’re marshmallows, covered in peanut butter and chocolate,” Dex explains.
Inside the white box, six fat chocolate-covered marshmallows sit in two neat rows. Libby plucks one out of the box, biting it in half.
“You may have my sister for the afternoon, Dex,” she mumbles around a mouthful of the treat.
“I have something for you, too,” Dex whispers in my ear.
Tears sting my eyes. I couldn’t care less about treats. Dex remembered an off-handed comment about my sister and went out of his way to bring her something he knew she’d like. He could have brought me two dozen long-stemmed roses and I’d still find this more romantic.
Who is this man?
“I’ll be home by dinner.” I glance at Dex to confirm.
“We can pick up dinner on the way back.” He glances at Libby. “Any requests?”
She raises two hopeful eyebrows. “Pizza?”
“There’s a great place right off the Thruway,” Dex says. “We might have to throw it in the oven by the time we get here, though.”
“That works,” Libby says. “Em and I are masters at reheating pizza.”
While they discuss toppings, I search for my hiking sneakers. “Aha!” I find them hiding under a fallen sweatshirt and shove them on my feet.
“I’m ready.” I return to the couch, leaning over the back to wrap my sister in a hug. “Call me, if anything…”
Anxiety churns in my stomach. Am I really leaving my baby sister alone for the afternoon?
She wriggles out of my hug and pats my arm. “I’ll be fine, Em.” Her serious eyes meet mine. “Really,” she whispers. “Go. Have fun.”
Dex grabs a notepad off one of the end tables and scribbles something, then rips off a page and hands it to Libby. “That’s my number. And that’s my niece’s number—Juliet. She and her husband don’t live too far from here. We’ll be about an hour away, so if anything urgent comes up, don’t hesitate to call them. Okay?”
Libby stares at the paper. Several smart-ass remarks seem to form on her lips but finally she nods and looks up at Dex. “Okay. I will. Thanks.”
That’s it. I’m done. If I thought I was smitten with Dex before, I was dead wrong.
It may seem like a few small gestures, but they mean everything. His thoughtful actions prove he understands how important Libby is to me.