Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“No one’s ever made me breakfast before.” Her voice holds a note of awe. She looks so damn happy, I almost forget to give the eggs another swirl.
Guess I’m good for more than orgasms after all.
“Well, it seems like you have a busy day.” A smirk tugs at my lips. “And you already got a late start because of me.” I wave the spatula in my hand toward the counter. “Sit.”
The eggs won’t win any awards for presentation but they look edible and I didn’t burn the toast.
Margot sticks a forkful of eggs in her mouth and hums with happiness. “They’re perfect.”
I reach behind me and hit my phone to stop the Perfect Fluffy Scrambled Eggs Every Time video from playing.
Margot’s lips curve with amusement, but she doesn’t say anything.
I set water and coffee next to her plate. “I’ll clean all this up.” I wave a hand toward the sink. “I won’t leave a mess for you.”
“Thank you.” She flicks her gaze to the stove. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
I’d been too focused on getting her food right to worry about it. Besides, I have more time than she does this morning.
“I’ll eat after I hit the gym.”
She raises her eyebrows and makes this sexy humming sound.
“When will you be done with work today?”
“Late, probably seven or eight. There’s always a lot of last-minute stuff.” She rolls her eyes. “Especially with a family as difficult as this one.”
“That’s not the same one with the jumbo casket, is it?”
“Gosh no.” She squints. That must’ve been a dumb question. “They make that family look like perfect customers.”
“So if I come back at nine, does that work?”
“Yes.”
“And you need me to clear out early tomorrow?”
“Clear out makes it sounds so nefarious. But I have a meeting with the priest at eight.” She chuckles, then sips her coffee. “So maybe.”
I smirk, resisting the urge to make the obvious joke about how much sinning we’ve been doing.
“All right.” She sighs and slides off the stool, taking her plate to the sink. “I better go before Dad starts hitting the buzzer.”
“Does he really do that?”
“Sometimes.”
“Well, let’s get you downstairs, then.”
She pushes out her bottom lip into the cutest little pout. “But I don’t want to leave you.”
I pull her into my arms, holding her close, not wanting to admit I don’t want her to leave, either. “I’ll be back tonight.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Jigsaw
The ride out to Jezzie’s apartment was peaceful. The ride to Zips was not.
First, Jezzie complains about my bike. Then she squirms and moves around so much behind me, it fucks with the bike’s stability. I have to work hard to control the steering and not overcorrect to compensate for all the shifts in her weight.
By the time we finally roll into Zips, every muscle in my body screams from the constant battle to keep us upright.
“I’m not getting back on that thing. So either you find a normal vehicle,” she huffs, glaring at the cracked pavement as if blaming it for the ride, “or I live here now.”
I point to the back of the bleachers. “You can find shelter there. I’m sure it’ll be cozy.”
“Ugh.” She stomps ahead of me.
I raise my hands to the sky and tip my head back. What the fuck did I do to deserve this?
“Slow down.” I jog to catch up with her, while pulling out my phone to check my texts.
Rooster: When are you getting here? Dex’s about to throw down with Torch.
Fucking Torch. I better not see that orange-haired prick, or I’ll knock him out myself.
Did Margot ever break that date?
Me: We’re here. Dealing with a Jezzie tantrum.
Rooster: What’d you do to her?
Exist? I don’t fucking know.
I tap out a text to Margot.
Me: You cancel that date with Torch?
Then I erase it. She’s busy working a double funeral today. She doesn’t have time for my jealous antics.
We’re approaching the track when I spot Dex and Emily by the bleachers in a heated conversation. Not sure how I feel about her yet, or if she’s ol’ lady material. But Dex is into her. Never seen him so fucked up over anyone before.
Torch is nowhere in sight. Smart guy.
I nudge Jezzie’s elbow. “That’s one of my brothers. I want to introduce you.”
“Gee,” she says with exaggerated, wide eyes. “I never would’ve guessed, with the matching outfits and all, brother dear.”
“What crawled up your butt today?”
She blows out an annoyed breath. “Nothing. I’m hungry.”
“We’ll get some food in a minute.”
We stop in front of Dex and I grin at him. “Hey, happy campers. What’d my boy do now, Emily?”
“Boy.” She flashes an amused grin at me. “Isn’t he older than you?”
“So he says.” I pat Jezzie’s back. “This is my sister Jezzie. Jezzie, this is my brother Dex and his girl, Emily.”
Emily half-lunges forward like she’s going to hug Jezzie hello. My sister’s face must be in full prickly hedgehog mode, though. Emily stumbles and puts her arms down.