Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
A grin tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Yup. My twin, Willow, has two. A three-year-old and a one-year-old who screams like he’s auditioning for Broadway.”
Her eyebrows lift. “You have a twin?”
“Yup.” Unable to help myself, I swallow up the little bit of distance that separates us. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Callie.”
Even though she stands her ground, I catch the flash in her eyes and the pulse that flutters faster against the delicate flesh of her throat as she realizes just how close we are. Heat flares to life between us as the scent of her floral shampoo mixes with my cologne.
She has no idea how much I want to get my hands on her.
With one blink, she pulls herself back together again as her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. “Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.”
I lean in close enough that she has to tilt her chin upward to hold my gaze.
“Besides,” I say, “I’ll be there afterward to make sure you get home safe and sound. And Beau knows it.”
It would be impossible not to notice the way she stills as I slip my fingers beneath her chin. “If he touches one hair on your head, it’ll be the last thing he ever does.”
Her eyes flare as her lips part, but not a single sound comes out. For a second, all her quiet defenses falter as she stares up at me like she’s never heard words like that before.
Which kills me.
She deserves them.
This woman deserves to be worshipped like a queen.
It takes a moment for her to recover. “I don’t need a knight in shining armor.”
No, she doesn’t.
She’s more than capable of taking care of herself.
She’s had to.
“I never said you did. Looks to me like you’ve got it all under control. You’re a single mom and a business owner. No one needs to ride in and save you, Callie. But that doesn’t mean we don’t all need a helping hand every once in a while. And I want to be that for you.”
“Why?” she asks, brow furrowing.
“I think the answer is pretty obvious.”
I see the exact moment she swallows hard and decides not to push for more answers.
When she remains silent, I attempt to lighten the mood. “Do you really think I can’t handle Nora?”
“It’s not about you handling her. It’s about me not trusting just anyone with my daughter.”
“That’s fair,” I admit. “But you can trust me.”
Unable to help myself, my gaze dips to her mouth.
Just for a beat.
Long enough for her to see it.
Long enough for her to feel it too.
She turns away, grabbing a rag to wipe the counter. “If you’re sure—”
“I am.”
“Okay then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow night. Do you need my address?”
“Nope, I already have it.” Mission accomplished, I waltz out of the bakery with a smile on my face.
It might not be a ton of progress.
But it’s more than enough.
For now.
9
Callie
It’s just a business meeting, I remind myself.
Nothing more than that.
I repeat the words like a prayer as my hands flutter over a dress I haven’t worn in three years. It’s a little snug at the hips and a lot more low-cut than I remember, but it’s one of the few things in my closet that screams I’m still put together, even if I feel anything but.
And it shouldn’t matter because this isn’t a date.
Just as I swipe on lip gloss, there’s a gentle tug on my leg.
“Me!” Nora demands, pointing to my lips with the commanding tone only a toddler can pull off.
With a grin, I bend down and give her a gentle kiss, smacking my lips together for effect. “There. Now we both sparkle.”
She giggles with delight before running off with her stuffed giraffe clutched in her arms. My heart aches as I watch her. She’s growing up so fast, and I’m doing everything I can to give her the life she deserves.
When the doorbell rings, my stomach flips.
I tell myself it’s nerves about the meeting.
That it has more to do with what’s at stake and absolutely nothing to do with the man who volunteered to watch my daughter for a few hours.
My hands smooth over the fabric of my dress one last time before opening the door and finding River on the other side with a crooked smile and wind-tousled hair.
He’s wearing a blue crewneck sweater that is the exact hue of his eyes and hugs his chest like it was tailored specifically for him. He shrugs out of his jacket, and the way his muscles shift beneath the fabric makes me forget how to draw oxygen into my lungs for half a second.
Maybe more.
His gaze slowly sweeps over me. “You look beautiful.”
My cheeks heat, and I find myself trapped within his stare. “Thanks.” My voice comes out sounding unsteady, and it only makes my face flame more.