Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100202 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“It’s just pancakes from a box and sending the girls home,” she assured me. “I’ve got—” Her mouth dropped open as her attention snagged on my hands. “I have nail polish remover, and we can get that off in seconds.” She pivoted like she was about to start scrubbing my nails right now.
“It can wait.”
“They’re purple.” Her gaze jumped to mine.
That area behind my ribs went tight again, a sensation I was not only starting to expect every time we locked eyes but anticipate. Damn it, I liked the way she made me feel with nothing but a glance, like I wasn’t just needed but wanted. Like she worried about me.
The feeling was inconveniently addictive.
“I’m secure enough in my manhood to rock the purple nails.” I scrubbed my hand over my head and a few pieces of glitter fell to the ground. “Not sure about the sparkles, though.”
“Oh, you pull it off.” Her mouth curved into a smile, and I battled through the urge to kiss her.
Instead, I lifted one hand and cupped her cheek. “Tell me you’re really okay, and I’ll go. But if you’re not, I’ll figure something out and stay.” Her eyes went liquid, and she leaned into my touch.
“I’m fine. If I need backup, I’ll call Ava.” She put her hand over mine, holding me to her. “I don’t know what to say about last night.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“You don’t have to say anything.” I bit back a smile at her wording, but she saw it.
“What?”
“I just thought if you said those words, it would be under very different circumstances.” Circumstances that had to do with me in her bed, or hers in mine, for more than just sleeping and reading. Circumstances that required way less clothing.
“Oh, really?” She grinned, but it slipped quickly. “Really, though. I’m not used to someone taking care of me.”
I stroked my thumb along the flawless skin of her cheek. “Then you’re going to have to raise your standards, Calliope.” Bending forward, I brushed a kiss over her forehead.
She melted.
I got the hell out of there before I did something even stupider, like move that kiss to her mouth.
“So you survived the gaggle of women in your house?” Theo joked as we finished tucking the bird in the next day. “I keep forgetting to ask.” The storm had blown through last night, leaving us thirteen new inches of powder, and the skiers we’d taken up this morning had already booked another trip for February, which made for a stellar morning.
“I’m standing here, right?” I rolled my shoulders. My muscles were stiff and sore from the amount of time I’d spent on the mountain in the two weeks since opening. Taking every-other-day shifts with Theo helped, but even the gym time I’d put in over the summer hadn’t prepared me for the full-body torture I was putting my body through. Sure was fun, though.
“I’m…” He shook his head as we headed into the office.
“You’re what?” I asked, falling into my chair and firing up the computer. “Shocked?”
“Impressed,” he said, reaching for his coat. “You’re evolving. It’s pretty damned intriguing to watch.”
“Like I’ve been a Neanderthal for the seven years we’ve known each other?” I glanced up over the monitor as the accounting software loaded. I would have called Maria in to my defense, but she’d already gone home for the day. The best part of working our own business was definitely setting our own hours. It was only four p.m., and we were already closing up shop.
“I was going to go for reclusive asshole, but I guess Neanderthal works.” He grinned. “How are the books?”
“What makes you think I’m looking at the books?” I clicked the page that showed our bottom line.
“Because I know you.” He came around the desk to stand next to me. “And I know you’re stressed.”
I hadn’t been this nervous waiting for the promotion list to come out, but I’d never had so many people’s futures riding on my own choices before, either. My eyebrows hit the ceiling when the page loaded.
“Holy shit.” Theo grinned and shook the back of my chair. “Look at that!”
“We’re in the black.” At least for the month we were. We’d more than made enough to cover the payment on the bird, our salaries, and tuck money away for the summer payments. Relief surged through every cell in my body.
“This is going to work. We’re going to make this work!”
“Hell yeah, we are.” I nodded and clicked over to our scheduling software. The bookings next month were already filling up quickly. We really were taking off. “No regrets?” I asked Theo as he shoved his arms into his coat.
“What? About giving up my military career seven years before retirement to risk it all on this little venture with you?” He zipped his coat. “None.”