Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
I’d forgotten how magical this could feel. Floating instead of spiraling. Being in the moment instead of distracting myself to avoid each moment at all costs. The night sky stretched out above me, and just for now, the clouds that had come in with those insane gusts of wind and dumped a world of hurt on my house were nothing but a memory. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen so many stars.
“The stars at night, are big and bright…deep in the heart of Texas. There’s a meteor shower tonight at around two. Come watch it with me by the pool, pumpkin.”
“Two in the morning? Maybe next time, Mom.”
And the magical moment was over.
“I brought the cooler and slid a few sodas in there if you want one.”
“T-thanks.” I sank, nearly swallowing a mouthful of water when I saw him standing there in the pale moonlight, wearing nothing but his shorts. He was showing more skin every time I turned around. Maybe if I turned around again...
Don’t be greedy.
I couldn’t help it. There was so much of him.
I’d never dated a man as big as Wade. Chick always referred to the guys I gravitated to as Triple As—activists, artists and actors. Most were skinny and pretty, all of them temporary and unreliable, though usually fun in the beginning.
None of them were anything like Wade Hudson, who looked as if he were chiseled out of the side of a mountain. A man who didn’t have to act like a gentleman, because it came naturally, whether he was covered in dirt and grease or standing half naked by my pool. He was hero material, which I already knew because I’d been writing about him for years. But some part of me must have been aware that no one else could measure up to him in real life either. So, I’d chosen men who were his opposite.
No wonder those relationships hadn’t worked out. They weren’t even in the same hemisphere as my real type—
Who was standing right there, waiting for me to respond to his question while I was busy memorizing the way his chest hair tapered down to a happy trail that disappeared beneath his shorts.
I wanted to follow that trail and see where it led. With my tongue. I shivered a little and he smiled.
“Is the water cold?”
“Meh.”
He huffed out a short laugh. “Phoebe’s a bad influence on you.”
“Maybe she learned it from me.”
“You’re saying you know what it means?”
I swept my hand slowly through the water instead of drooling over his body and tried to come up with a complete sentence. “It means… Okay, imagine filling up a bathtub with hot water, then getting a call you have to take that lasts an hour before you can enjoy that bath. It’s not hot or cold at that point. It’s just wet. It’s meh.”
“I don’t care. I’ll take it.”
I have something you can take.
I really needed to get a handle on this new Mrs. Roper sex drive. It was out of control where he was concerned, even when I was ticked at him.
He apologized. You forgave him.
He strode into the water, dunking his head when he reached my side and coming up for air with a broad smile that made my heart stutter. “This is better than fine, Gus.”
“It’s okay, I guess.”
His grin was a gentle scolding. “You used to be such a ray of sunshine.”
I used to be a lot of things.
My arm flung out toward the crime scene. “Find the positive in this situation. I dare you.”
“Well, a trip to the attic, cold pizza and a meh pool constitute the best date I’ve had in a while.”
His smooth response rendered me momentarily speechless. Was he saying he considered this a date?
“Good job,” I recovered, my mouth dry. “Now I feel sorry for both of us.”
He moved closer, his eyes warm, expression intent, and he was definitely not flirting with me.
“So, we’re in the water,” I rushed ahead. “Now what? The Ask Me Anything part of our program?”
“I figure after what we’ve been through tonight, we’ve earned it.”
“I feel like we’ve earned ice cream.” Without removing my eyes from his, I gave a little kick and pulled some water forward with my arms to casually put more space between us. “Can’t we skip the Q&A and float in silence, quietly celebrating our victory over the evil pine monster?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re right. There’s an imbalance between us, and I’d like to fix that. I know things you wish I didn’t, but not as much as you imagine. Mostly what Sam put in her monthly newsletters and whatever Morgan lets slip from worry, which is never that much. She plays things pretty close to the vest. It’s why she always beats me at poker.”
That gave me pause. “You read the newsletters?”