Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
After everyone gets washed up for dinner, I set the table as Colter plays with the kids and Abby and Davis finish preparing the meal. It’s a group effort, and it feels good to be a part of it.
Abby brings in the last of the food as Davis brings in the platter of grilled chicken and steaks. When Colter walks into the dining room holding baby DJ and Alexis skipping behind him, I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I want to have this man’s babies.
I don’t know where the thought comes from, but all through dinner, that’s all I can think about.
I try to focus on what they’re talking about, I really do, but it makes it hard since Colter holds the baby through most of dinner. He’s a natural.
Abby clears her throat. “Colter, have you heard anything about Zach and his mission?”
Davis chimes in. “Honey, you know he can’t talk about that.”
She nods. “I know that, but my brother has been on this mission for six months, and I haven’t heard anything from him. I mean, no one knows anything.”
I look at Colter, and he’s uncomfortable with the question. He looks down at DJ. “You know I can’t talk about it, Abby.”
Abby is frustrated, and I can’t say I blame her. If I had a brother, I would be worried too. It’s obvious that Davis and Colter know something, and she’s not going to just let it go. “Can you at least tell me if he’s alive?”
Davis reaches for her hand and holds it. “Honey, I told you he’s alive, and you know if he was in trouble, I would go and get him. But we can’t tell you anything other than that.”
She looks at her husband and nods before putting on a smile. “Right, I’m sorry. I get a little crazy, ya know. I just miss him.”
I can feel the tension around the table, but soon Alexis has us laughing at her antics.
We finish dinner and talk some more, and before I know it, I’m helping clear the table with Davis.
“Yeah, yeah, you go ahead, Colter. You get the fun job of playing with the kids. We got this.”
Colter laughs and disappears into the living room with the two kids. Abby is in the kitchen while I help load up plates.
Davis looks at me, opens his mouth, and then closes it. I’m left with the feeling again that he has something he wants to say to me, so I stop, holding the plates in my arms. “Go ahead. Ask me.”
He tilts his head to the side, and I nod. “You have something you want to say or ask me. Go ahead.”
He looks into the living room and then back at me. “He’s a good guy. One of my very best friends, and he’s been through hell.” He blows out a breath and runs his hand through his hair. “Just don’t hurt him.”
I juggle the plates in one arm and point at myself. “You think I’ll hurt him?”
His face turns red. “I’m saying this all wrong. It’s just he likes you… a lot. He’s different with you. Happy. I just…”
His voice trails off, and I know I need to step in. “I won’t hurt him, Davis. I like him a lot too.”
He sighs in relief. “Okay.”
He takes the plates from me, and after I thank him, he walks into the kitchen. He’s a man of few words and reminds me a lot of Colter. I look at the man in question, and he looks happy with the kids.
We finish cleaning up, and soon it’s time for us to go.
Colter helps me into his truck, and I’ve already slid to the middle by the time he gets in. We’re driving across town, and I can’t wait a second longer. “Colter.”
His hand is on my thigh. “Yeah, honey?”
I point up ahead. “There’s a turn up here. Can you take it?”
He looks at me, confused. “You want me to turn on the old dirt road that leads out to Makeout Point?”
I nod, glad it’s dark so he won’t see the embarrassment on my face. I mean, how do I explain that seeing him with those kids has made me feral for him, and I don’t even want to wait until we get to his house to have him?
Instead of happy, his face turns down, but he does as I ask.
“If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.”
He shrugs. “I want to go with you, but I’m struggling thinking that you’ve been here before with someone else.”
I lean into him. I love this possessive side of him. “I’ve never been there before, but I’ve heard about it.”
He’s still tense next to me, so I grab his hand at my thigh, part my legs, and bring his hand up to my core. I press his finger against the wet patch of my underwear. “That’s what you do to me, Colter, and I don’t want to wait until we get home to take care of it.”