Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Where the hell did that come from?
I don’t even see Lexi this vividly. No. Those images are soft and sweet.
Sex isn’t always romantic. Grandma and I agree there.
But it should be.
And I’ve never felt that connection I’m supposed to have, the one that comes from pure, deep love. From finding your other half.
Deanna isn’t my other half.
I don’t care how much I want to touch her or taste her.
She stands to get the milk, and my thoughts go right to disarray.
She walks with confident, purposeful steps. Her long, sheer dress sways as she moves, brushing against one hip, then the other.
Brushing her long legs.
Begging for my hands.
She turns to me, smiling as she holds up a pitcher of cream. She notices immediately.
I’m staring.
I want her.
I need her.
The knowledge spreads over her face slowly. A confidence in her eyes. A curl of her lips. A blush on her cheeks.
She’s nervous and sure at once.
And it’s way too sexy.
Uh-uh. No way. Thoughts in line. Now.
Deanna moves back to the table and sits without a word about my stare. She pours a splash of tea into her cup, tastes, approves.
Then a little milk in each cup.
The rest of the tea.
She holds up her cup to toast. “To a perfect ritual.”
I tap my glass with hers, bring the porcelain to my lips, and take a sip.
The drink is better than I expect for a coffee shop. Robust and creamy, with that hint of honey and malt. An excellent English Breakfast.
“Perfect?” she asks.
My eyes flit to the lipstick marking her cup. This time, it isn’t just right. It’s human. “Not quite.”
She breaks off two squares of chocolate and hands one to me. “Now?”
I let the treat melt on my tongue. It’s good chocolate. Rich and fruity, with just enough sugar to cut the bitterness.
Perfect for her, really.
“Now,” I agree.
She smiles with pride and satisfaction.
Is that how she smiles when her partner comes? When she comes?
Now that’s a mental image.
Deanna, in my lap, in that sheer black cover-up, with nothing under it, head thrown back, eyes closed, lips parting with a low, deep groan.
She lets out a low, deep groan as she tastes the chocolate.
I pinch myself to make sure I’m awake. I am. She’s here, across from me, gorgeous in the sunlight.
And she’s actually groaning like she’s about to come. All right, her groan is reasonable for a woman in need. Too reasonable.
It’s my head, my desire to watch her experience every kind of pleasure, to give her every kind of pleasure.
No.
She’s here for a reason, but I have a cause, too. If she can work me, I can work her.
“Why did you start your company?” I ask.
“Shouldn’t we head back?” she asks. “Your grandma needs her tea, too.”
Probably. “You’ll still have to answer.”
“Okay.”
“After I use the bathroom.”
She nods.
I stand and move to the back of the shop. The door is locked. And my thoughts are way too eager to return to her groan.
I pull out my cell for a distraction. The comic I’m reading maybe.
Only there are two sets of texts waiting for me. One from my sisters and one from Grandma.
I look at my sisters’ first.
North: We don’t have official family meetings, River. We use chat, like normal people.
Fern: We’re glad you’re here, but we have a system in place. You know Grandma. She hates that any of us know. She won’t accept help.
North: She’s even more stubborn than you.
Fern: Me or him?
North: Who would be more stubborn than you, Fern?
Fern: Um, rude. But, yes, we do have a system, alternating weeks. Me, North, Mom, Dad, and a few of Grandma’s friends. We’re glad you’re here but we don’t need to rework the system.
North: As long as you’re here, you can pick up my weeks. I can’t always make it from LA with everything happening at home.
They don’t expect me to stay. They don’t trust me with it. Maybe it’s normal older sibling stuff, but it’s bullshit. I bought a ticket the second I knew.
I reply with an I’ve got it and look at my messages from Grandma.
Grandma: Change of plans, sweetheart. I don’t need the iced tea anymore. I’m heading to another spot with Lexi and Fern. We took Lexi’s car. You can use mine. But I don’t want to hear from you until six. Unless it’s really an emergency.
River: If I need something at home?
Grandma: You have a change of clothes in the car. Love you, sweetheart. Have fun.
And that’s it.
Subject over.
Am I really fussing too much or is this some strange attempt to matchmake me and Deanna?
That’s not Grandma’s style, but this isn’t, either.
What the hell is she doing?
The bathroom opens. The previous occupant leaves. I step inside the small space and put my phone away.
This is some kind of setup, yes, but I can use it to my advantage.
Chapter Sixteen