Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I keep the door solid in my hand, not budging a millimeter. “Oh gosh,” I start, my mind going blank. And then the worst idea naturally comes to mind. “My stomach was really upset when I got in from work. You don’t want to go in there.”
“Oh no.” Her head tilts as her eyebrows peak in despair. “I can make you some soup if you’d like. It will just take me a quick trip to the grocery store.”
I laugh. “Nothing is quick out here in the middle of nowhere.”
“True, but I’m happy to do it for you.” She peers over my shoulder, and for a brief second in time, I imagine she sees Baylor.
I shift my weight to the other foot to block her view. When her eyes return to me, I say, “No. No. It’s fine. I feel better already.”
Raising the back of her hand to my forehead, she says, “You’re a little warm and your cheeks are flushed.” If she only knew why. “Keep an eye on your temperature and call me if you need anything.”
Throwing an arm wide, I squeak, “Good as new, and you know I will.” That’s not obvious. I’m the worst actress ever. I rest my cheek against the edge of the door and smile for her, though it comes naturally. “Thank you. And there’s always the bathroom downstairs in the shop.”
“Yes. I’ll stop in before I leave.” Just when I think it’s all settled, she sighs softly, and lowers her voice. “If you ever want to talk to me, I’m always here for you.”
Not sure where this came from, but I feel exposed under her gentle gaze, like she can see right through me. I give her a hug. “I know, Mom.” When I step back inside, I say, “Thanks for bringing the mail, too. Saved me a trip.”
“Seems you’re living here now when it’s not rented out, and it was on the way.” She starts down the stairs and adds, “Love you.”
“Love you.” I close the door and lock it behind me, inhaling deep relief into my lungs. Exhaling, I call out, “Coast is clear.”
Baylor comes out of the bathroom not disappointing me one bit that his shirt never seemed to make it on over his muscular torso. I want to lick those abs and bite his shoulder. Is that normal? Probably not, but I don’t care. He makes me want to do all kinds of things I never saw myself doing, like secretly getting married. Though I always throw the caveat of the loan in there to make excuses to myself. Deep down, it may have been the driving force, but my “I do” was for me.
Walking over to the peninsula, I drop the mail on the counter. “We need to figure out what we’re doing when it comes to others knowing about us.”
Suddenly looking sheepish, he says, “I do need to confess something.”
“Do I need to sit down for this?”
“I hope not. I told someone about our secret.”
I grip the counter for support. “Our secret that we’re married?”
Baylor comes to me, taking me by the waist and swaying me back and forth. So innocent, but I know his game is to butter me up. “He knew. I could have lied, but I think he’ll keep the secret. He promised me he would.”
“Who’s he?” I point my finger at him and poke him in the chest. “If you tell me Tagger—”
“Beckett.”
“Beckett?” I lower my hand, hooking my finger into his belt loop. “What do you mean, he knew?”
His shoulders hang high before he drops them back into place. “I don’t know. The kid saw right through me with his super senses. He asked me point blank on the plane this morning. I could have lied, but I really think he already knew.”
My heart kind of melts. I love Beckett and his intuition. It makes me wonder what he saw in Baylor that tipped him off. I might never know the answer to that, so I ask, “What did he say when you told him?”
“He said he was happy that we’re happy together.”
“That’s so sweet.” I huff and then hug him. “It’s hard to be mad about that. I just hope he keeps the secret until we’re ready to share.”
“Which is?”
I giggle under his ticklish kisses. “Something else we need to talk about before you leave again.”
His spine straightens, and he grins. “Hold that thought. I need to get something from the car. I think it’s going to make you very happy. I pray to fuck it does.”
“I’m conflicted on the praying to fuck. Is that a good thing?”
Walking to the door, he says, “Yes. It’s a good thing. I’ll be right back. I have something for you.”
I lean against the counter and watch him head out. “I love presents. Hey, you going shirtless?”