Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
I slip into my sweater and jeans, not even bothering to be quiet, but Gray doesn’t stir. He’s not snoring, but his breathing is nice and even, and his lips are parted in sleep.
He’s adorable.
I walk out of the bedroom, and when the kitchen comes into view, I stop short.
A boy is sitting at the island, staring at his phone and eating cold cereal.
He looks up, and his expression is as startled as the one I’m sure I’m wearing.
“Uh, hey.”
I just wave a hand and then run back to the bedroom to shake a sleeping Gray.
“Wake up,” I hiss as Gray blinks in confusion.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t tell me you had a kid.”
Gray wipes his hand down his face as he sits up, and then he frowns at me. “To the best of my knowledge, I don’t have any kids. And good morning. It’s nice to see that you weren’t an incredible dream.”
He makes a beeline for my neck, but I dart away.
“Oh, hell no. There’s a teenager sitting in your kitchen.”
Gray scratches his scalp and then chuckles. “That’s Willie. We usually have a homework session on Saturday mornings. He lets himself in.”
“We’re both very lucky that I didn’t decide to make breakfast naked.”
Gray frowns and then takes me in, realizing for the first time that I’m fully dressed.
“Wait, were you about to sneak out of here like you were doing the walk of shame?”
I roll my eyes. “No, I was going to buy the ingredients for breakfast so I could make you a meal while you slept and surprise you.”
His face softens. “I’d like that a lot.”
“Yeah? Me, too. If there wasn’t a strange kid out there. Now he knows what we’ve been up to.”
Gray just laughs and stands from the bed. He slips a plain white tee over his naked torso and pads out of the bedroom to the kitchen.
“Hey,” Willie says with a smile. “Sorry if I interrupted anything back there. You were late, so I ate some cereal.”
“Willie, this is Stella,” Gray says as he moves to the coffee maker and slides a fresh pod into the device before hitting brew. “Stella, this is the annoying kid I was telling you about. My neighbor, Willie.”
“Right,” Willie says with a laugh and then rolls his eyes. “Gray’s the annoying one. Nice to meetcha.”
The young man circles the island and holds out his hand to shake. His grip is firm and confident, and his smile is kind and full of just the right amount of teenage mischief.
I already like him.
“I can come back another time,” Willie offers, but I shake my head before Gray can respond.
“Absolutely, not. I know you just had Lucky Charms, but do you like pancakes? Bacon? Eggs?”
His eyes light up. “Are you kidding? The Lucky Charms were just an appetizer. I’m a kid. I could eat all day.”
I laugh and nod. “Yeah, I know. I have uncles and cousins who eat like it’s their last meal all the time. I’m going to run down to the store to gather the makings for the meal since Gray doesn’t believe in groceries.”
Gray’s lips twitch as Willie laughs out loud.
“Do you want me to come and help?” Willie offers.
“Nah, you stay here and get started on your homework. By the time you’re done, I’ll have breakfast ready.”
“That’s the best offer I’ve ever had in my whole life,” Willie replies and reaches for his book bag, heading for the kitchen table.
“I’ll just walk you out,” Gray says as I step into my shoes and reach for my purse.
Once in the hallway, Gray leans in and cages me against the wall.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” he says quietly.
“Do what? Be nice to a kid?”
“Offer to include him. You can tell the offer made his fucking week.”
I grin and pull my fingertips down Gray’s cheek, enjoying the way the stubble feels against my skin.
“I like him already. We all have to eat. It’s no big thing.”
Gray takes my hand and kisses my knuckles before letting me go so I can walk to the elevator.
“I think you’re wrong about that. Be careful out there.”
“It’s only a block away,” I assure him. “I’ll be right back.”
As the elevator doors close, I see Gray walk back into his apartment. When I’m alone, I take a long, deep breath and let it out slowly.
Holy shit, Grayson Sterling is a damn potent man.
It’s early enough on a Saturday morning that downtown is pretty quiet. It rained last night, so the sidewalks are wet, and the sky is gray, but I don’t mind.
I’m from Seattle, after all.
The market is also quiet, and it doesn’t take me long to fill my basket with the things I need. I toss in a pound of bacon, turn around, and run right into a hard chest.