Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“I’m okay,” she whispers.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Thanks.” She picks up her water and takes a sip. “I’ll be happy when this part is over.”
“What part?” Barrett asks, and Franny’s expression turns panicked.
“She was just saying that she can’t wait until the bidding starts,” I cover quickly, and her shoulders, which had tensed, relax.
“Oh, are you going to bid on something today?” Barrett asks, picking up the card on the table with the list of things that are going to be up for auction.
“I was thinking about going for one of the spa days. Maybe I’ll take Mom.”
“That would be nice, but I figured you’d try to win the wine package.” He smiles.
“I would, but I’m currently doing that no-alcohol trend that’s popular on social media right now.”
He raises a brow. “You should have your brother do that with you.”
She snorts. “Jacob wouldn’t last a week without drinking.”
“Unfortunately, you’re not wrong,” Barrett says, cutting into his salad, and the color once again drains from Franny’s face.
Reaching under the table, I wrap my hand around her thigh, hoping to distract her. Her skin is smooth and warm, and the little gasp she makes reminds me of the noise she made when I slid inside of her. I’ve thought about that night a lot—the sounds she made, the way she felt wrapped around me, and how everything happened so fucking fast. The instant it was over, I regretted taking her like I did and hated that I couldn’t say no when I should have. Then I regretted not taking my time with her, enjoying the moment, stretching it out as long as I could. I also think about how I ran like a fucking coward because the first thought in my head after I fucked her was once would never be enough.
Covering my hand with hers, she presses her fingers into my skin, and she looks over at me with her bottom lip caught between her teeth.
“Okay?” I mouth, and when she nods, I slide my hand off her thigh.
As lunch carries on, she doesn’t eat any of the food placed in front of her; all she does is move stuff around on her plate to make it look like she did. I want to ask her if she’s been eating and keeping any food down, but now is not the time to do that, and honestly, I don’t know if it’s my place to ask her at all.
I’m walking a very thin line, trying to be supportive while keeping myself distant. It’s difficult, and I have a feeling it’s just going to become harder the more time that passes. And it will likely become impossible when I can confirm that she is pregnant with my child—something I already believe, even with the knowledge that it should not be possible.
Maybe I would feel differently if I thought she had something to gain from naming me as the dad. But I don’t have money—not much of it, anyway—and I’m a fucking nobody, especially when you look at her social circle and who her father is. She’s surrounded by men who could provide more for her baby than I would ever be able to. So, if she were looking for financial security, she wouldn’t have to look very far. And I have no doubt that most of the men she comes in contact with would tie themselves in knots in order to give her whatever she wanted if she were willing to give them a chance.
Including her ex-husband, who made it clear the night we met that he wants her back.
When the auction finally comes to an end, and people start to leave the room. Barrett looks between Franny and I as we get up from our table. “What are you doing the rest of the day?”
“I think I might try to take a nap. Molly came over last night, so I was up late with her.”
“We haven’t seen her in a while. Is she doing okay?” he inquires as we make our way toward the door.
“Yeah, just working. Ted’s been keeping her pretty busy.”
“He wants her to take over the business, so that makes sense.”
“I guess,” Franny agrees as a man approaches Barrett and asks if he wants to go play another round of golf.
“Do you want to join us?” Barrett asks, looking down at Franny.
“I would rather have my fingernails pulled out one by one,” she tells him, and he laughs before looking over at me.
“What about you? Are you up for another round?”
“I would, but I have some work to do.”
“All right.” He reaches out to shake my hand. “I’ll see you at the Hoffner event, right?”
“I should be there.”
“Good.” He lets my hand go and pats my arm, then looks at Franny and kisses her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner.”