Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“That bad, huh?”
I fill my glass a little more. “Yeah, that bad.”
Taking a sip, I turn and watch Paige flip through channels for something to watch.
“Only reason I put up with him is for her,” I continue, my hand tensing with anger.
“Well, it’s just us now.” He brushes my hair from my face, his nose sliding into the crook of my shoulder and neck. He’s so touchy-feely tonight, but I like it. I really do. It feels good to be wanted.
Sitting at the table, Heston serves us his homemade dinner, giving Paige and me both a bowl. Steam rises from it, dancing into the air. It smells so good.
We all eat silently. The hot buttery food is the best thing I’ve had in a long time.
“This is really good,” Paige says around a mouthful, her fork holding a tangle of pasta mid-air.
He finishes what he’s eating and smiles at her. “Yeah, I never get tired of it.”
“Mom hates cooking,” she says, throwing me under the bus. Again.
Coughing on a noodle, I glare at her. How dare she tell him my flaws. I can’t wait until she gets a boyfriend.
He sips his wine and reaches across the table to hold my hand.
“I don’t hate it. I just have to be in the mood,” I explain. Paige’s eyes land on our hands, her face expressionless. She’s never seen me with anyone but her dad. I can’t tell if this is too much for her. Not knowing, I give Heston a tight smile and pull my hand away to reach for my glass.
“What did you find for us to watch?”
“Aquaman is the best I can do.”
“Is that the one with Jason Momoa?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’ve heard about it but haven’t seen it,” Heston tells us before taking another bite.
“Well, anything with Jason Momoa in it has to be good,” I say. He’s hot as hell and can act.
“Is that what you’re into? Big, rowdy men?” Heston questions around a mouthful of food, eyes expecting and unreadable.
My breathing catches in my throat. Is he teasing me or being serious?
“Um, I…don’t really know what my type is.”
“Mom, dating a guy like that? Yeah, right. She’s too…shy.”
My mouth falls open, and Heston laughs. Paige is telling my business without a care in the world. What the hell has gotten into her? Then again, we didn’t really get much company in the city. Not like this anyway. Which apparently made my kid have no manners.
Standing from the table, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. I clear my throat, point to the mess she left on the table, and she groans, annoyed at my reminder to take her bowl to the sink.
Shaking my head, I look down at my plate.
“Sorry about that. She’s usually not so…talkative.”
He sits back in the chair and chuckles, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“She’s great. Really. I wouldn’t change a thing about her.”
I smile and laugh under my breath. “Yeah, she’s something else.”
We put our dishes in the sink and head to the couch. I sit in the middle, with Paige and Heston on either side of me. Sometimes, in our apartment, Mom and Paige would sandwich me in while watching a movie, just like this.
Paige leans into the corner, her feet on my lap, and Heston sits up straight, one arm across the back, his other on the armrest. Paige presses play, and the movie begins. It takes me twenty minutes to focus on the movie and not Heston’s presence. His smell, warmth, every time he chuckles…
About an hour in, Paige passes out, leaving Heston and me alone on the couch.
Maybe it’s liquid courage, maybe not, but I snuggle into him more, and he wraps his arm around me. With my head just under his chin, we watch the rest of Aquaman. Honestly, I couldn’t care less what’s happening on the TV. I become more aware of every breath Heston takes, how he moves, and wonder if me being on top of him turns him on. Why hasn’t he made a move? Is it because Paige is in here, or is he not attracted to me like I am him? It has to be because of Paige—and that makes him too damn perfect.
“So, where is your art?” he whispers softly. Goosebumps rise on my arms.
“Upstairs,” I reply.
“Show me,” he breathes, the dark allure in his voice spellbinding. I gently unfold myself from his lap and stand. Holding my hand out, I help him up. His smoldering eyes bore into mine as he brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it. My whole-body heats from the contact.
10
Quietly, he grabs my mom’s gaudy throw from the back of the couch and places it over Paige. Warmth fills my chest, watching him tuck her in. I wish Paige had someone like this in her life. A man to tuck her in at night, play catch, annoy her like a dad should.