Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“You’re not leaving your mom. Your dad just wants to spend some time with you, so he came to visit.”
“Oh,” he mutters, and Steven gives his shoulder a gentle shove.
“I told you it was okay.”
“Yeah,” Hunter says, looking behind him to where Steven is sitting, and even though I can’t see the look in his eyes, I know he’s looking at him with admiration.
“Maybe we can all have dinner with your dad tomorrow,” Aubrey chimes in, and I fight my smile and stand.
“I don’t think that’s gonna happen, gorgeous, but you’ll see Hunter and Shel. Okay?”
“Oh, yeah, okay,” she agrees.
Steven rolls his eyes, muttering, “Bre, you really are crazy.”
“I didn’t think,” she gripes, hitting him in his arm.
“Whatever.” He stands. “I’ll unload the truck, Dad.”
“Thanks, bud.” I lift my chin toward my boy then leave with Hunter and walk him back over to Shel’s. I don’t stick around long after dropping him off. I know they need to talk without me around. An hour later, I take Shel and Hunter their bags and make sure they’re good with Max staying the night. Shel’s not thrilled about having him in the house, but insists she’ll be fine. I reluctantly leave her with a wet kiss before heading home.
Hearing a thump, and a loud, “Oh fuck, that hurt,” I roll out of bed and move to the balcony door to open it, and then hurry over to Shel, who is sprawled out on the deck.
“Jesus, baby, are you okay?”
“No, my ego is bruised,” she moans, looking up at me, and I smile down at her then scoop her up into my arms and carry her into my room, sliding the door closed behind us. “You made that leap seem so easy when you did it,” she complains, and I laugh as I lay her on the bed. I then reach over and turn on the lamp, seeing she’s in a pair of cut-off sweats, my plaid shirt I didn’t ask her to return, and socks that go up to mid-calf.
“My legs are as long as you are tall.”
“This is true,” she grumbles, rubbing her knee.
“How bad is it?” I question, moving her hand away so I can see for myself.
“I’m okay. It’s okay.” She winces as I run my fingers over the bruise that is forming.
“You should have used the front door.”
“I didn’t want to knock and wake the kids.” She rolls her eyes, and I take hold of her face in my hands.
“You could have called me, and I would have met you at the door. Then you wouldn’t have had to knock and wake the kids.”
“I didn’t think about that.” She frowns, and I lean in to kiss the look off her face.
“Well, now you know. For future booty calls.”
“This isn’t a booty call.” She laughs, leaning back, and I lean closer.
“Really? It’s after one in the morning. Why else would you be showing up at my door this time of night?”
“I wanted to talk,” she lies, and I move onto the bed, wrapping my hands around her legs and pushing them apart, making room between her thighs.
“Oh yeah? And what did you want to talk about?”
“I… um… you…” she breathes, lying back.
“That’s very interesting.” I grin, and her eyes narrow.
“You’re throwing me off. I can’t remember what I wanted to talk about, now that you are all up on me and stuff.”
“I plan to be all up in you in a minute, baby. Do you think you’ll remember then?”
“Yes, I mean no,” she says, and I smile against her mouth then go about making sure she can’t remember what she wanted to talk about, which doesn’t take long.
“Zach, you have to move. I need to get up,” Shel whispers, and I feel her fingers slide through my hair and her warm, soft body squirm under mine.
“Sleep. It’s too early to get up,” I grumble, dragging her farther under me, locking my arm around her waist.
“Normally, I would agree, but I need to get home and get ready for work.”
“What time is it?” I open one eye and see it’s light in the room, which doesn’t mean much since it’s still summer, so the light can play tricks on you here in Alaska.
“Just seven, but Hunter has camp, so he’ll be up soon, and I want to be there before that happens.”
“How long is Max staying?” I ask, getting up on an elbow in the bed and looking down at her.
“He said a few days. I don’t know what that means. I didn’t get into it with him, but hopefully a few days ends on Wednesday. I don’t know how long I will be able to handle having him under the same roof as me.”
“You can always come spend the night with me.” I smile, running my fingers through the hair at the side of her head and spreading it out across my pillow.