Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84250 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
"Walker, I know," she says, glancing over her shoulder.
"What else did you talk about at Nora and Leo's?"
I swear I will go over there and have a word with that hateful woman if she was able to convince Claire to stop seeing me.
"Not much else. I told them I'd be happy to bring Larkin by to visit when they wanted to see her. I'm dropping her off on Saturday, and then they invited me to Christmas dinner. Did I tell you that Nora invited me into the house for the first time in literally years?"
"I thought it was weird she met you on the front porch the other day," I mutter.
"She's never been impressed with me."
"She didn't try to convince you to stop dating me?"
She spins around to face me. "You're still stuck on this idea that we're dating."
"Together," I clarify. "We're together, Claire. As in you're mine and I'm yours."
I can't tell if I hate or love the way her nose scrunches up as she looks at me.
"What if I don't want to be yours?"
All I can do is shrug. "Too damn bad."
"You know that's like a form of harassment."
It only takes two steps in her tiny kitchen until I'm standing right in front of her. When I lower my head, she lifts up to meet my mouth, and that's what I call progress. The kiss isn't passionate or filled with desire. It's simple and perfect and more of a promise. I take a step back, knowing there's nothing I can do to further my mouth on hers with Larkin playing in the other room.
"You know," I say, looking over her shoulder at the pan of mac and cheese. "I heard about all the snacks single mothers have when you get up the next day."
"First off, you're not staying the night. Secondly, single mothers? I thought we were together. Are you saying now I'm single?"
She squeals in delight when I grab her by the waist and pull her against me.
"If I have my way about it, you'll never be single again."
I feel like a man who has struck gold with her laughter in my ears, her warmth against my body, and my arms around her.
"Did you know I have a three-bedroom house?"
"I didn't," she says as she pulls back to stir the mac and cheese.
"That means a room for us, one for Larkin, and then another for a nursery."
"Pump the brakes," she says, but there's a hint of laughter in her tone telling me she isn't completely opposed to the idea. “It's a little too early to talk about moving in together, and it's much too early to talk about having a child together."
"I'm in my thirties," I argue. "I don't want to have to get a day pass from the nursing home to watch my kids graduate."
"Don't be silly," she says without missing a beat. "I'm sure graduation will be streamed live. You can watch it from your room."
Chapter 40
Claire
I have to give it to the old bitter hag. Nora might've had a pinched look on her face when I told her I had a date tonight with Walker, but she didn't open her mouth to provide me with another one of her unwanted opinions.
I know better than to think that she won't eventually go back to her old ways, but I enjoyed the absence of her hate speech earlier today. I didn't even argue when she suggested that Larkin stay the night with them. It gives me a little more time to spend with Walker. Even though he's come to my house for a few hours each evening after I get off from the vet's office, we haven't had any time to reconnect on any level other than chatting and holding hands. My body aches for that man.
Nerves strike me hard when I leave their driveway and head over to his house. I've never been there before, but he was adamant about me coming there rather than him coming to my house as he has all week.
I'm not a fool. I know he wants me to see what he has to offer. He can't possibly know that I've been considering the conversation we had in my kitchen earlier in the week. Once I finally let myself see this man, when I took an honest look at him, I knew how much I cared for him. I knew I had for a while, but the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. Caring for someone meant they could hurt you when they left. It gives him power I can't afford to relinquish, but I realized I cared for him anyway. It didn't matter if he walked away or changed his mind, the pain would still hit. Why not dive in and enjoy him while it lasts?
But then he looked at me last night before he had to go to the bar to work, and I saw how he felt about me in his eyes. It literally took my breath away. Instead of fighting against it and trying to put some distance between the two of us, I leaned in, pressed my mouth to his, and snuggled deeper into his arms on the couch.