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)
Gray just chuckles and shakes his head, making his blond hair fall over his forehead.
I instinctively reach over and brush back a lock. Before I can pull away, Gray grips my wrist, and with his intense blue eyes on mine, kisses the palm of my hand.
And, just like that, all my lady bits are on fire.
“If you’re fucking your neighbor, you’re going to want to stop doing that.” My voice sounds way firmer than I feel, which is a relief.
When Gray’s eyes narrow, and his grip doesn’t ease, I simply lift an eyebrow.
He kisses my knuckles and then sets my hand on the table just as our salads arrive.
“Betty is my neighbor,” he begins, his voice light as if that little exchange didn’t happen. “She’s about seventy and one of my best friends. She’s raising her grandson, Willie, and I help him with his homework a couple of times a week.”
I blink rapidly. This is not what I expected to hear.
“What happened to Willie’s parents?”
“From what I gather, the father was never in the picture. And the mom?” He shrugs and pops a cherry tomato into his mouth. “Unreliable. In and out of jail. Not a good role model for a kid.”
“Well, I’m glad he has his grandma, then.”
“Yeah, Betty’s great. I got her along with the condo, and I think it was a pretty good deal.”
This man is full of surprises. In the suit and tie with the cold look on his face, he seemed so…formal today in his office.
But this man is laid-back, quick to smile, and so freaking attractive I can’t look away from him. And it’s not just the way he looks in that sexy Henley and jeans. It’s his whole demeanor. His wit. That crooked smile.
And he helps a teenager with his homework.
Why is that so damn hot? I’m going to have to ask Liv about this over martinis.
“So, you live with your cousin?” he asks.
“Three of them,” I confirm. “Haley just moved in because Olivia moved out of our house and into her fiancé’s place. Which I, of course, understand. But, damn, I miss her. Liv and I are best friends. Our moms have been best friends forever, and we’re related in a weird, convoluted way that would require graphs and a PowerPoint presentation.”
Gray’s mouth twitches. “Maybe a spreadsheet?”
“Spreadsheets should definitely be involved when it comes to my family. Let’s just say I have about a dozen aunts and uncles and more cousins than that. Most of us are in the Seattle area, so we’re very close. Liv’s parents own the house I live in, and it’s kind of been a sanctuary for our family over the years. If someone needs a place to flop or hide, or somewhere to gather themselves before moving on to the next, that’s the house they use. And now that all the cousins are growing up, we’re using it.”
I take a sip and then keep going.
“You met Haley. She’s Olivia’s younger sister. Drew and Erin also live there. And my uncles just bought the house next door. They’re going to do some renovations and open the fence that separates the two properties. Then there will be space for even more cousins.”
“A compound,” Gray says in surprise.
“Sort of, yeah. All the dads are always hyperaware of the security situation. It comes with being in a family with celebrities. I think having most of us in one place is comforting to them.”
“I get that,” Gray replies. “And I think it’s an excellent idea. The PowerPoint demonstration is also a good idea because I’m already a little lost.”
“I haven’t even scratched the surface,” I say with a laugh and then ogle the huge pizza the server sets in front of us.
It’s not just a large. It should be labeled gargantuan.
“So, where’s your pizza?” I ask Gray with a grin.
“You think you can eat this whole thing?” he asks.
“Oh, I know I can. But I’ll be a lady and share.”
I take a slice and dust a nice, thick layer of parmesan on top before biting in and wiping my mouth with a napkin.
“Damn, that’s good,” I say as I chew.
“There’s a reason I come here as often as I do,” he reminds me. “So, your family is the size of Texas.”
“Mm, I’d say about the size of Colorado.” I laugh and snag another slice. “Now, tell me more about your family.”
“Not as big as yours,” he says and sips his water. “More about the size of…Connecticut. My parents are still married, retired, and live in the same house that I grew up in, right on Lake Coeur d'Alene.”
“I bet they’re happy they bought it when they did,” I say as I twist a long string of cheese around my finger and then pop it into my mouth. “Real estate has gone bonkers over there.”