Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“I will anyways,” I say in a shushed tone, straightening my back and putting on my game face for my mother. There’s no need to add to her worry any more than I need to.
“I’m sure you will,” Samuel replies, a smirk on his face. A few steps off the elevator, a right turn, and a short walk later, my mom comes into view. The soft brunette hair with natural blonde throughout she’s given me is still true in color, not a gray hair that I can see. She truly is beautiful. I make a mental note to head to her and Dad’s house once he’s out of surgery. She’ll need a change of clothes, toiletry, yarn and needles to keep her busy while she sits and waits.
“Mom, I have someone I want you to meet,” I get her attention. She comes to her feet quickly.
“You must be Samuel. It’s so good to put a face to a name. I’ve heard so much about you.” She doesn’t shake his offered hand but instead hugs him, and Samuel doesn’t miss a beat in returning her embrace.
“Only good things, I hope,” Samuel says as they pull apart. “Anything I can get you ladies? Coffee, snacks, a magazine?” he asks.
“Oh, my girl. She’s got nothing but heart-shaped eyes for you.” Moms, I tell ya; they let the cat out of the bag in the weirdest of times. “I’m okay for now, thank you,” Mom responds, head swiveling toward me, winking while mouthing, He’s a keeper. I’m not sure if I should be appalled or happy. I guess he’s won her over with only a few words spoken between them. I get it because Samuel Kavanaugh won me over with one look.
CHAPTER 20
Eden
“Don’t forget the crossword puzzles I picked up for your dad,” Samuel tells me while he makes a cup of coffee for his morning commute. It’s been three days since Dad came out of surgery, upset with himself for being injured and hearing the news that he’d be down for six to eight weeks.
“They’re packed. Thank you for stopping at the store to grab them. Are you meeting me at the hospital after work, or will I see you here?” I ask. I’ve yet to go back to work, though that will change come next week.
“Here, unless something comes up and you all need me up at the hospital. I’m going to cook dinner for us and your parents to take them tomorrow.” A literal saint. Hospital food sucks. Dad grumbles about it incessantly. Mom doesn’t say a word, only dealing with it. My goal today is to shoo her out of the room to go home, grab a nap, a shower, and real food. The first time all week, if I can make it happen.
“Thank you.” I walk toward him, needing to make a cup of coffee myself. The goodie bag I’ve been preparing is abandoned.
“I keep telling you to stop thanking me.” I shimmy between him and the counter, arms going over his shoulders, playing with the hair at the base of his neck.
“Thank you.” I kiss the underside his jaw. “Thank you.” I move to his cheek. “Thank you.” My lips land on the corner of his lips. “I’m always going to thank you, Samuel. You’ve done so much for me, and don’t think we won’t discuss the fact that I got a call from Judge Michael’s this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
“I told you I’d take care of you, and I’m doing exactly that. Did you decide if you’re taking the offer?” Judge Michael’s called my cell phone early this morning, unprepared for what this call could be about. The Cliff Notes were that he didn’t want me to leave; it was up to me with three options: stay as a court reporter with Samuel, I could be reassigned to a new judge, or I could take a different position, one with more pay and also more of a headache. I still have yet to make up my mind. A change in job sounds fun, but do I want that on my shoulders? There’s so much to think about, and with Dad in the hospital, I’ve yet to come to a final decision.
“Is it bad that I may pass up the position? If the fraternization clause is gone, I’d kind of like to stay where I am. With you.” I must have given Samuel the right answer. His hands grip each of my hips, lifting me up off the floor until I’m wrapping my legs around his waist, still in my nightgown, unlike him in his suit pants. The feeling of him pressed against my core leaves little to the imagination.
“That’s exactly where I want you, Eden.” My ass and thighs meet the cold countertop. He steps closer, hand between us, mouth attaching to mine in a mind-numbing, soul-consuming kiss. I hear the clank of his belt, the rasp of the zipper, and then I’m feeling the head of his thick and heavy cock, bathing himself in my wetness.