Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
She finished the braid, winding an elastic over the end and tucking it into the start of the braid before sticking a few bobby pins through it.
“All done!”
Fin popped up and ran to the mirror, where her jaw dropped. “It’s a crown! I have a crown!” She flew back in, wrapping her arms around Morgan and smacking her cheek with a kiss. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Morgan’s eyes slid shut as she hugged Fin tightly.
Then Fin took off to put her hair stuff away, leaving us alone.
Morgan rose from the love seat.
“That was astonishing,” I told her as I stood. “How do you know how to do that?”
“YouTube.” Her smile was soft but real.
“She adores you.” Fin liked a lot of people, but that blatant look of affection she’d lavished on Morgan was usually reserved for me or Vivian.
“Well, the feeling is mutual. She’s phenomenal.” We locked eyes briefly before Morgan looked away.
“Thank you. You’re amazing. You know that, right?”
Pink tinged her cheeks. “Not really. If you knew the real me, I’m not sure you’d think that.”
“And what would change my mind?” I hoped she wasn’t alluding to the anxiety attack she’d gone through with the truck.
“Okay, I’m ready!” Fin exclaimed, arms up in victory as she twirled in the newest dress Vivian had bought for her. It was a step beneath a ballroom, but it wasn’t exactly classroom, either, and on her feet, she wore her favorite pair of black Vans.
“You look absolutely wonderful. I’m sure they’ll all remember you when it’s time to go back next year!” Morgan praised before I could question my daughter’s thought process.
Finley cocked her head at me, motioning to her dress. Her very sparkly dress.
“I love it.” I loved even more that she felt good about herself in it. If that was the confidence boost she needed, I’d fill her closet with fluffy dresses.
Morgan gave her a hug. “You guys have a great night, okay?”
“Walk us out?” I offered as Fin slipped on her jacket without the usual fight.
“Sure,” Morgan agreed, her hand finding Fin’s as we headed out the door.
By the time I locked up behind us, Morgan and Finley were down the steps, lost in some animated conversation that I wasn’t privy to, but I heard Fin mention Vivian.
Right. Next weekend was Vivian’s with Fin. Usually, I’d grab a drink with Sawyer and Garrett, but what if I didn’t? What if I spent the time with Morgan, instead? Would she even say yes? Shit, was I actually nervous about asking a woman out?
Absolutely.
I got Fin buckled in her car seat, then turned the Land Cruiser on so the air conditioning would circulate for my little redhead.
“Hey, Kitty,” I called out when I caught her walking away from me.
She turned, tucking her hands into her back pockets just outside our open garage door. “Jackson?”
There it was, that little uptick at the corner of her mouth, the one I couldn’t wait to trace with my tongue. God, if the woman said yes, I was going to have to wait an entire week to take her out.
“I hate that I have to work this weekend.” Wait, why the hell did I say that? I was rusty as shit when it came to someone I actually wanted.
“That seems fair.” She tilted her head to the side.
“Sorry, that wasn’t what I meant to say.”
She smiled, and it was real.
My brain emptied. She was beautiful in more than her body or her face—that was a given, and in my experience didn’t always carry any deeper. Morgan’s beauty skyrocketed with that sparkle I caught right now in her eyes, the hint of playfulness, the glimpse of another stunning facet of her I had yet to discover.
Because I hadn’t earned it yet.
But I would.
The timing was wrong. I wasn’t sure she was ready. I hadn’t been interested in more than a few hours with someone in over five years. She had a broken heart, and I had a kid whose heart I couldn’t risk. For God’s sake, I was standing outside my garage, which wasn’t exactly romantic.
But none of that mattered…or maybe it did, but I was going to give her every reason not to let them matter.
I was going to earn the right to see her smile and hear her laugh.
“Are you okay?” Her eyebrows furrowed.
“Yeah, absolutely.” Just busy talking to myself. “So I have to work this weekend, which we’ve already covered. But I’m off next weekend.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“You feel up for seeing a little more of the island with me? You haven’t gotten out much.” Holy shit, Montgomery, did you just quasi-insult the woman?
“Oh. I’m not really one for bars anymore.” She rocked back on her heels.
“I was thinking more along the lines of nocturnal sightseeing.”
“Sightseeing?”
“Yes.”
“At night?”
“I believe that’s the meaning of nocturnal.”
She stared at me for a moment, her pause almost awkwardly long, but I waited. I had a feeling that was the key to Morgan, taking small steps and putting the choice in her corner. I’d never been a wait-for-anything kind of guy, but I’d so fucking learn if it meant having a shot with her.