Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119093 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“I’m good right where I am.” I reach across the table and swipe a falling tear, catching it with the pad of my thumb. “So the other day, when I asked you out, the reason you looked like I stole your favorite cupcake was because you’re not ready?”
She snorts out a laugh. “Cupcakes aren’t my favorite. White chocolate chip cookies are.” She waggles her brows and jumps up. A few seconds later, she sets a plate of delicious-looking cookies down.
I grab one and take a bite, and holy fuck, they’re even better than the brownies. “Jesus, woman,” I groan playfully. “Don’t you know the key to a man’s heart is through his stomach? Keep feeding me this stuff, and I’m going to beg you to marry me.”
She chokes out a laugh. “I think we should probably go on a date first.”
“Is that your way of asking me out?” I joke.
She sucks her bottom lip into her mouth, then lets it drag out slowly. “You’re right,” she says, confusing the hell out of me. Our conversation is all over the place, and I can barely keep up. “The reason I reacted so badly when you asked me out,” she explains. “It’s because I haven’t dated since my husband died. Well, I did once, and it didn’t go well at all.”
I nod in understanding. “I get it. Well, I don’t get it, but I do,” I say, sounding like a dumbass. “I mean…” I run my fingers through my hair.
“I know,” she says with a smile, saving me. “But I do want to try… if you still want to go out with me, that is. And if you don’t? If the kids and the dead husband are too much, I totally—”
“I do,” I tell her, cutting her off. “I want to take you out.”
She releases a harsh sigh. “Well, okay, then. When?”
“Tonight.”
“Oh, I—”
“She’d love to,” her friend calls out from somewhere. “She has nothing to do, and her kids are out of town.”
“Go away!” Bree yells back, then takes a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “Yes, I would love to go out with you…tonight.”
CHAPTER FIVE
AUBREE
“That’s so cool!” I grin at the fish my son holds up, his features filled with pride.
“Papa said we can cook it and eat it with dinner.” Miles beams even though he’s never had fish before. He’s been looking forward to going fishing since we talked about the trip, and the fact that he caught something his first time has him even more excited. “We’re going to go again tomorrow while the girls go shopping.” He scrunches his nose up in disgust, and I laugh lightly.
“We’re gonna get our nails done too!” Evie yells from next to her brother, side-eyeing the fish.
“That will be fun. I can’t wait to see the color you pick,” I tell her.
The buzzer goes off, indicating someone is asking to be let up, so I say good night to the kids with a quick “I love you.” Even though it’s only six o’clock, I’m not sure when I’ll be home tonight. Brody wouldn’t give me any details about our date. All he said was to dress comfortably, and he would be here at six to pick me up.
Which doesn’t fit with the Brody Fields I Google stalked earlier today. I know, I know… I sound like a crazy person, but you can’t be too careful these days, and with me being a widow who lives alone with her kids, I wanted to make sure the guy taking me out isn’t some nut job. I couldn’t find much about his personal life, aside from the fact he’s thirty years old and in every picture of him, he has a woman who looks like a Victoria’s Secret model attached to his arm.
And if that wasn’t enough, I also learned that when he said he runs Fields Enterprises, he was downplaying it. He’s the active CEO and owns it with his father, who recently retired. The company is worth billions. Yes, billions.
I almost wished I hadn’t looked him up because now I can’t help wondering if I’m completely out of my element here and why the heck this wealthy man, who is only seen with size zeros, asked me out.
I came close to canceling a dozen damn times but didn’t want to be rude. I agreed to go on the date, so I’m going.
“Hello?” I say to confirm it’s Brody.
“Hey, it’s Brody.”
“I’m in 4D,” I tell him before I buzz him up.
While I wait for him to come up, I double-check my outfit. I’m wearing a pair of skinny black jeans with rips up and down the front and a long-sleeved, floral peasant top. It’s light and flowy, and paired with my heels, it can be casual or a bit dressy. Because we’re in the middle of summer, I curled my hair in loose curls since straightening it is out of the question, and I put on some light makeup—eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss—to finish my look.