Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I was again thankful I’d woken up on my own this morning and not overslept.
“Food!” Levi called out as he entered the kitchen. “God, I love waking up here.”
At least I made them happy. I tried not to think about Huck’s reaction. I wasn’t even sure how Huck would treat me today. Would I get the hot or the cold Huck?
“Listen,” Levi said to me.
I looked at him with a serious expression.
“The Huck thing, when that stops—and it will—we want you here. Don’t go getting any ideas about leaving.”
I needed that reminder. The one about it ending. I had been telling myself the same thing, but having someone else confirm that this was a brief sexual thing with Huck kept me from getting my head somewhere it didn’t need to be.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
“I second that,” Gage said as he walked to the table with his food.
Now, if I wasn’t so nervous about Huck’s reaction to my breakfast buffet, things would be fine. I picked up a piece of bacon and ate it.
“There’s a fight on pay-per-view tonight,” Gage said from his spot at the table. “If I ask real nice, would you make one of those killer spreads of food for it?”
I finished chewing and swallowed. “Of course. That’s my job. You don’t have to ask real nice, but I appreciate it.”
The door from downstairs opened and closed. I walked over to get a cup down for Huck and pour him some coffee just so I had something to do other than look at him.
“If you bitch about the food, I will take you out back and kick your ass,” Gage said before Huck could say anything.
“It’ll be two against one,” Levi added.
I wished they’d be quiet and not make a big deal out of it. He might not even have said anything if they hadn’t pointed it out. Forcing a smile, I turned around with his cup. He was scanning the food. I waited on him to look at me. When he finally did, he wasn’t scowling, but he wasn’t smiling either. He simply gave me a nod and picked up a plate. Not the warmest reception, but I hadn’t expected him to come up to me and touch me or anything. This was sex, not affection.
Keeping the two separate would be hard. Affection was something I had craved most of my life, but was too afraid to get close enough to anyone who might give it to me. Until Hayes.
Huck put the same amount of food on his plate he always did. Three pieces of bacon, two biscuits, cheese grits, and scrambled eggs. Sometimes, he got a cinnamon roll, but today, he didn’t. When he finished filling his plate, I held out the cup of coffee for him. He took it without a word and went to the table.
This was a typical morning. Nothing different. Except my feelings were struggling.
Thank you, mind-blowing orgasms, for screwing me up.
Huck asked Gage about some transaction with a man I didn’t know. They fell into shop talk, and I put a few things on a plate, filled a cup of coffee, then made my way out to the back patio. It was warm already, but then it was late spring in Florida which was summer weather for the rest of the country. I tucked my legs under me and ate my second piece of bacon.
After cleaning today, I had to prepare for tonight, so that would keep me busy. I looked out over the pool and wondered if they’d use this area out here too. They hadn’t yet, but the warmer it got in the evenings, there was a possibility. I needed to ask Gage. If they were going to swim, then the towels needed restocking, and the outside bar needed to have ice. I should probably do an inventory on the liquor for out here too.
I finished my meal and stood up to go get things started. Huck was walking out the back door as I turned. Being alone with him after all we’d done last night made me suddenly feel shy. Something about the light of day and reality.
“I’m heading to the shop, and then I’m needed at the ranch. I might not make it back for the fight tonight,” he said, not moving to get closer to me.
“Okay,” I replied, holding my empty plate and cup.
He studied me for a minute. “You’re good then?”
No, Huck. Not even close.
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
“All right,” he replied, then turned and went back into the house.
That was painful. I could admit it. Really painful. But I could get over it. Think about other things. Not Huck.
I followed him inside the house and went to the sink and began putting away leftovers and cleaning up the mess from making breakfast. When I finished, I made a grocery list of items I needed. Gage walked into the kitchen while I was writing it all down.