Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Jeb stood back hastily. Fuck. Shit. Had he really nearly kissed her? With Wyatt close by?
What was wrong with him?
Wyatt turned up with his stuffed teddy bear. “This is Mr. Bear. Mama gave him to me when I was just a baby. You can tell him all your fears and worries and he makes them go away.” He handed the toy to Casey. “Here, let him take away your fears.”
Jeb tensed. He knew what an honor it was for Wyatt to hand over Mr. Bear to someone else. That toy was his most treasured possession.
Casey didn’t know that, though. Or how it would hurt Wyatt if she rejected his offer.
But Jeb should’ve known better. Casey seemed to understand his son better than he did. Which was depressing to think about.
She crouched down to level and looked at Mr. Bear.
“I think that Mr. Beer is the most amazing bear I’ve ever seen in my life,” she told Wyatt. “Are you sure that you want me to give him a cuddle and tell him my worries?”
Wyatt nodded. “You nearly got hurt because of me.” Wyatt looked down at his feet despondently. Jeb opened his mouth to say something but Casey simply placed her hand on Wyatt’s shoulder.
“That was no one’s fault but my own,” she told him. “I’m the one who stupidly thought that she could climb to the top of that tree and set up some rope for the swing. Little did I know I’ve developed some sort of fear of heights. Not your fault at all. You did everything you should have. Remained calm. Followed your Papa’s requests. You’re so good in an emergency.”
“I am?” Wyatt stared at her with a small smile.
“Uh-huh. Not that it was an emergency,” she said looking up at Jeb worriedly. “If it was an emergency we would’ve called for help.”
Jeb raised his eyebrows as he stared down at them. “You shouldn’t have been climbing a tree, Casey. It’s too high up and you could’ve fallen and hurt yourself. That’s a rule.”
“Wait, were you serious about there being rules?” Casey asked. She took hold of Mr. Bear, hugging him tight as she stood.
Wyatt handed her one of the lollipops and she popped it into her mouth and stared up at Jeb.
“Can I have one too?” Wyatt asked.
“Go for it, sugar,” she said around the lollipop in her mouth.
“Neither of you should be eating those. It’s nearly dinnertime.”
Both of them gave him matching sassy looks.
Great.
He definitely had his hands full with the two of them.
Chapter Seventeen
God, she hated this feeling.
Guilt.
It swirled in her stomach and she’d do almost anything to make it disappear.
Maybe you should apologize for causing so many problems.
She couldn’t believe that she’d climbed that tree then panicked. That Jeb had been forced to come and get her.
Mortifying.
She was sitting on the porch swing, wishing she’d brought out Mr. Bear. Wyatt had told her to keep him for the night, but she knew he liked to sleep with the toy, so she’d snuck Mr. Bear into his room before coming down here to think.
A shiver ran through her. It was getting cold and she wished she’d brought out a blanket. The short pajamas she had on weren’t enough to keep her warm.
Why had she climbed that tree? It had been so stupid. Yeah, she’d wanted to make Wyatt happy. But she’d also liked the idea of having a swing. It was ridiculous. She was an adult.
That swing probably wouldn’t have been safe for Wyatt to use. And what if she’d fallen and broken something? How would she have gotten to Santa Barbara and her job?
Totally irresponsible.
Ridiculous.
Childish.
The words swarmed around her head. All of them spoken in her father’s voice.
That bastard.
Right. What she needed to do was prove him wrong. She could do this. All she had to do was keep Wyatt safe and alive and do all the housework. Including cooking.
Casey groaned. God, this seemed impossible.
Suddenly she heard a board creak, and turning, she saw Jeb walking toward her carrying a fluffy grey blanket. He placed the blanket over her lap.
Ooh, that was nice and soft. She wondered if his wife had bought it. Wyatt had told her a few things about his mama. But Jeb had said next to nothing about her. Was he still missing her?
That was a stupid question. Of course he was. He must have been devastated when she died, which is why Casey had no right to think about what it would feel like to kiss him. To have him hold her in his lap and cuddle her close.
That would never happen. But it was a nice dream to have.
“It’s a bit cold to be sitting out here in just pajamas,” he scolded her.
“I didn’t realize how cold it had gotten until just now,” she said as he sat down next to her on the swing.