Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“I wasn’t.” I leaned in, brushing my lips just below her ear, close enough to feel the way her breath hitched when I repeated, “You’re beautiful, Rae.”
A light blush crept across her cheeks as she motioned me forward. “Come on in and make yourself comfortable.”
I followed her into the kitchen and was surprised to find the counter loaded with food. “I wasn’t sure what you wanted to grill, so I just grabbed stuff for burgers and hot dogs. I hope that’s okay.”
“Dinner was my idea.” I placed my bag down on the counter. “I was going to get the food.”
“I know, but I was already at the store…”
“Still, not what I intended. I didn’t want to add more to your plate.”
“It’s really okay.”
“Well, next time, dinner is on me.”
“Next time?” She smiled. “You sure you don’t want to see how tonight goes first?”
“You don’t?”
“Have you met my two boys?”
“Oh, ye of little faith.”
She smiled that smile, and just like that, the tension in my chest eased. I just might survive this night after all.
20
RAELYN
“Temperature is everything.” Walker’s tone was low and patient as he explained, “You get it too hot, and you burn everything. Too cold and the meat will never cook.”
I leaned my shoulder against the window frame and smiled as I watched Walker teach the boys the ins and outs of grilling. He had one hand resting on the lid of the grill while the other gestured toward the flames, like he was teaching a full class of kids instead of two boys in a backyard.
Thomas stood a little closer, listening intently and asking questions here and there. Lucas, on the other hand, went from watching the hamburgers sizzle on the grill to watching Walker like he didn’t want to miss anything. Walker was taking his time with them both, actually teaching them, and letting them be a part of it instead of just taking over.
“See that?” Walker motioned toward the center of the grates. “That’s your sweet spot right there.”
Thomas leaned in, watching as Walker flipped the meat. Lucas nodded like he understood completely, but I wasn’t convinced that he did. Not that it mattered. He was there, and he was trying. That was the important thing.
My smile widened. I couldn’t help it. Things were going even better than I expected. The doubt Dan had planted in the kids’ minds didn’t feel like an issue anymore, not with the way the boys looked at him and talked to him. Walker was giving them his full attention, and that wasn’t something they were used to, not from a man.
Their father didn’t do that. He was always distracted by his phone, his buddies, or whatever was playing on the television to give them his full attention. If I ever dared to call him out, Dan would deny it and blow me off, making me out to be some kind of nag. I finally gave up and did my best to make up for his shortcomings. But I wasn’t their father, and the time would come when they would notice the difference.
Lucas laughed at something Thomas said, and Walker chuckled at them both. Yeah, it was going well. I let out a breath and pushed away from the window. I started gathering everything we’d need, from condiments to pickles, and placed them around the table. Then, I went for the drinks. I needed something to do with my hands, so I didn’t overthink what I was feeling.
Because it was a lot.
Having him here, in our space, with my boys. It should’ve felt tense or complicated or scary, but it didn’t. Instead, it felt right, oddly so, and I wasn’t sure what to think about that. But it was nice.
Walker fit in a way that made it feel like he was meant to be there.
I paused at the fridge, letting my hands settle for a second as I let that thought settle in my chest. Maybe he was really the missing piece to our puzzle, or maybe I just wanted him to be. Either way, this night was one I would remember, and I had a feeling the boys would, too.
By the time everything was ready, the boys were hungry and beaming with pride at all the food they’d help prepare. Walker placed the platter on the table, and Lucas immediately pointed to the burger in the center and said, “That one’s mine.
“No taking dibs,” Thomas fussed. “They’re all the same.”
“No way. I flipped that one, and I’m claiming it.”
“You flipped it because Walker told you to.”
“Still flipped it.”
“It’s fine,” I interrupted. “You can have that one and any other you want. Just go wash up so we can sit and eat.”
I watched as they both streamed out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bathroom. They were happy, really happy, and whatever hesitation they’d had about tonight was gone. I stepped over to Walker and placed my palms on his chest. “Hey.”