Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
The longer we stayed inside the house or stuck close to the property, the more Mattie and I found fun making a cardboard box into a spaceship, sword fighting with found tree limbs, and turning the backyard into an alien planet. It was fun, even for me. Perhaps more so because I understood the danger very well.
He wasn’t just resilient; Mattie was also bright and charming. He was so curious, so earnest in his quest for knowledge. And unlike a lot of boys his age, he had no problems asking questions about anything he didn’t understand. Sometimes I caught myself watching him when he was busy doing something else, my chest tightening with that longing I’d given up on ages ago. It surprised me.
I’d buried that ache years ago, back when Enzo’s desertion made me question whether or not I was worthy of love. I spent years trying to survive that heartache, and when I did, I told myself love wasn’t worth the risk, which meant having a family was risky as hell. It felt too risky and too foolish to even try.
But every single smile from Mattie warmed me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I often warned my girls about the importance of keeping some distance between them and their charges. Getting attached was inevitable, but maintaining a solid boundary could make it hurt less. That’s what I told them, yet here I was, feeling that wall crumble around me.
And in those quieter moments, I understood that instinct to protect better than ever. He wasn’t mine to protect, but now I understood Enzo, which only made me admire him more for doing what needed to be done, all just to keep Mattie safe.
Those feelings were damned inconvenient.
And dangerous.
“And what are we doing here?” Enzo’s deep voice was tinged with amusement as it sliced through my thoughts. His tone was low and curious, and when I looked up, I regretted it instantly because he looked too damn good in his soft cotton t-shirt that hugged his biceps and sometimes pressed against the ridges of his abs. His hair was slightly tousled, which told me his day wasn’t going as well as he hoped. God, he looked so much like the man who’d show up at my apartment with a crooked smile and a paper bag full of groceries. The one who walked away.
I wasn’t sure if I preferred the expensive suits that at least served as a reminder that he wasn’t mine anymore or the jeans that hugged his thighs, hung low on his hips, and made me want to reach out and see if they were as soft as they looked.
It was unfair, and I tore my gaze away just as Mattie launched into a detailed explanation of what we were doing. With his little hands holding his chin, he grinned. “I said I don’t like apples,” he said seriously. “But she said I couldn’t possibly dislike all apples, so now we’re taste-testing them.” He stumbled over the last few words, flashing a proud smile when he got it right. Mostly.
“Interesting,” Enzo responded, his arms folded, his smile holding back a grin.
Mattie nodded his agreement as he gestured proudly to the kitchen island where eight small plates were lined up in a neat row, each plate containing four apple wedges. “Want to test them with us? This is a fun test, and there’s no way to fail.” His gaze flicked to me first for confirmation, and when I nodded, his smile brightened and his eyes turned expectantly back to Enzo.
“May I?” Those two words left Enzo’s mouth in a deep and rich honeyed tone that would’ve made me roll my eyes if it had been anyone else.
“They are your apples,” I replied, keeping my gaze fixed on the apple lineup instead of his too-handsome face.
Of course, he took the seat right beside me.
The chair scraped softly against the floor, and his arm brushed mine gently and accidentally. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. My muscles tensed and my breath hitched as I pushed to my feet quicker than I’d ever done before. “Who wants something to drink?” I asked, too quickly. My chest heaved, but I smiled harder as if that could make my behavior seem normal.
They both answered at once.
I walked away on shaky legs, grabbing three glasses and the carafe of juice from the fridge. I finally caught my breath, took one more deep breath for good measure, and brought the drinks back to the table. Mattie could hardly wait until the glass was set in front of him before he grabbed it and gulped down half the glass. “Slow down, tiger.”
He giggled, and that sound wrapped around my heart even tighter.
When I handed Enzo his glass, his fingers brushed mine. No, they didn’t just brush. They lingered. It was brief as hell, but my pulse spiked anyway.