Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Nelson’s gaze moves past me into the kitchen, which is also covered in boxes—some packed, some empty. The counters are covered with all the pots, pans, and dishes I’d pulled out to pack.
His face hardens, and I know what he’s locked eyes on.
The flowers I received today from Asher. And not just any flowers, but a massive bouquet of stargazer lilies and freesia that smells divine.
“Now who could be sending you flowers?” he muses out loud in an almost suspicious tone as he brushes past me. I sigh with impatience as I watch him stalk into the kitchen. What the hell does Nelson have to be suspicious of? We’ve been divorced for over a year, and I’m well within my right to date. Moreover, I can’t figure out why he would care. He’s moved on to other women.
I hold my tongue because with Hope sleeping just down the hall, I don’t want wake her. She’s seen enough of her parents fighting to last a lifetime, and I don’t want to subject her to it anymore if I can help it.
Nelson snatches the card off to read, and my skin flushes.
Not with embarrassment that he’s reading it, but because of the actual words that were written. It’s the same flush I felt when I read it this afternoon when they were delivered. The warmth it produced was unlike any I’d felt before.
Ever.
And I felt cherished beyond measure. I also realized Asher was making a very concerted effort to “date” me, even though it wasn’t something he’d aspired to do. Hell, he’s even going to help Hope and me move on Saturday, which I never asked him to do. In his bossy way, he merely told me he was going to come help.
Nelson’s eyes roam the words on the card, and I can see them in my memory since I’d read it probably a dozen times.
I’m missing you. Thought you should know. Asher.
“I knew it,” he says in triumph as he tosses the card on the table.
“Knew what?” I ask, completely confused.
“That you were fucking Asher Knight,” he says, and it is in a totally gloating way. He’s clearly not jealous or offended. He almost sounds like a guy who has bet money on something.
“I’m sorry… what?” I manage to say, just not understanding what’s going on.
Nelson swaggers toward me, his face a mask of superiority. “Your boyfriend came to one of my jobsites the week before last and offered me a guaranteed project on one of his properties if I agreed not to fight you on custody.”
There’s no stopping the way gravity pulls my jaw downward.
Nelson seems to think it’s awesome that he gets to inform me of some perfidy Asher has committed. “He told me you were a ‘valued’ employee, but I knew that smelled like bullshit. No one leverages millions of dollars for a goddamn secretary or whatever the hell you do for him.”
Oh, Nelson… if only you knew what my job actually entails.
He smugly stares down at me. “What do you think about that?”
I tap my finger to my chin and gaze up to the ceiling thoughtfully, as if I’m putting effort into pondering how egregious this might be.
When I bring my eyes back to Nelson, I say, “To be honest, I find it incredibly sexy he’d do that for me. I’m going to have to give him a very big thank you when I see him.”
Nelson’s complexion goes from white to purple, totally bypassing red. He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it because nothing comes to mind. I can see it in his eyes… he’s offended I’m not offended.
But why would I be? Asher did something so incredibly thoughtful to save me a world of misery. I could never be mad. I might be a little worried since he now has to do business with Nelson, but I figure Asher is a big boy. Besides, if there was a battle between these two men, I’d wager everything on Asher.
“So typical of you, Hannah,” Nelson spits out before pivoting on his foot to leave. He stomps through the house, then pulls the door open.
“Call next time before you come over,” I call out after him.
He flips me the bird over his shoulder before walking out and slamming the door behind him. I wince and hold still to see if it woke Hope. I don’t hear anything, so I mosey to the door and lock it.
My phone is in the kitchen, so I go grab it. I sit down at the table where I can smell the fragrance of the gorgeous flowers Asher thought to send me.
I dial him and settle in, waiting for him to answer. It only takes two rings before his rich, sexy, and confident voice says, “This is a surprise.”
What’s even better, it sounds like he’s happy about it.