Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
I stopped dead in my tracks, instantly blown away by the vision in front of me. An obscene amount of food was laid out on his bed, all of which were still my favorites.
Pepperoni pizza.
Chicken wings.
Breadsticks galore.
My mouth watered by simply taking it in.
I was exhausted, tired of fighting my emotions with this man, and we’d only just started what could be described as pure and utter torture for the next six months. I was in for a rough ride if this was any indication of where we were headed.
“Felicia said you needed to gain weight, and since you’re on bed rest, I brought food to you.”
“Is that from Mariano’s?”
“It used to be your favorite restaurant.”
“I haven’t eaten there since I moved.” Narrowing my curious gaze at him, I cocked my head to the side.
“Did you order the—”
He lifted the dessert plate I was going to ask about.
“You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“I’m just taking care of my baby.”
“I’m not your baby.”
He smiled wide. “You’re not the one I’m referring to.”
“Right…” I blushed, feeling foolish. “Are you planning on eating some because that’s way too much for me?”
“Is that your way of saying you want to have dinner with me?”
“No,” I lied, making up an excuse, “but I can’t eat all of that, and I don’t want it to go to waste.”
“In that case, I guess I have no choice but to join you.” He eyed me up and down. “You look good in my clothes.”
I peered down at my outfit that was swimming on me. “Good isn’t exactly what I’d call this.”
“At least you’re finally covering your body.”
I made my way to the bed, sitting on the edge as I grabbed a slice of pepperoni.
“I cover my body.”
“Since when?”
“All the time.”
“You call what you were wearing today covering your body?”
“It’s a pantsuit, so yes.”
“Your tits beg to differ.”
“I can’t help that I have big boobs for my small frame.” I took a bite, moaning in delight.
Ledger smiled. “Good, huh?”
“So good,” I replied with food in my mouth. “Let’s just hope it stays down.”
“Just so you know, your tits are one of my favorite things about you, but you don’t need to share them with the world.”
“I do if I want women to buy my clothes.”
“Women aren’t the ones I’m worried about.”
“Ledger, this whole possessive, controlling thing you have going on is really not necessary. I’m a big girl. I can wear what I want.”
“Sugar, you have men all over the world fucking their fists to the sight of you.”
“You’re exaggerating, but I’ll take that as a compliment.”
We ate in silence for a bit until, out of nowhere, he requested, “Tell me about your brand.”
“What do you want to know?”
“How did it start?”
“With a shop on Etsy.”
“You mean the one I told you to open for years?”
“Are you trying to say I’m successful because of you?”
“You’re successful because you’re passionate about everything you set your mind to. I always knew you’d make all your dreams come true.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Did all your dreams come true?”
Another moment of shock tore through me when he shared, “Not yet, but ask me again after our baby is born.”
I grabbed my stomach, suddenly feeling queasy. “Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick.” Hauling ass to the bathroom, I was on my knees in front of the toilet, hurling into the bowl before I could help it.
Ledger was behind me within seconds, holding my wet hair away from my face. He rubbed my back the entire time I hurled up all the food I just ate. We stayed there with my cheek on the seat for what felt like hours but was probably only a few minutes.
“You okay?” he asked, still caressing my back.
“So much for pizza being on the approved menu. Your kid seems to hate food. You can go now. I’m humiliated enough.”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you throw up.”
“Don’t remind me. To this day, I can’t even smell cinnamon.”
“I told you not to down that bottle of Aftershock.”
“Well, you were fucking Denise or Stephanie or whatever her name was, and alcohol was the only thing I had for comfort.”
“I left her to take care of you.”
“Yeah, and then she hated me for the rest of the year.”
“My baby needed me.”
All in one breath, he spoke with conviction…
“And this time, I’m referring to you.”
Sixteen
Hazel
“Ledger!” I hollered, driving the golf cart up to the stables where he was feeding the horses on his property.
He glanced at me. “You need to be in my bed.”
I ignored his double innuendo. “I can’t find my laptop or cell phone. Do you know—”
“I have them.”
I jerked back. “Umm… excuse me, what?”
“Felicia said no stress, and you need to relax for the next week. You can have them back after she clears you.”
“Are you for real?”