Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Wes alternated between chuckles and kissing the top of my head.
Finally, exhausted, I leaned back in his arms and sighed.
He stroked my arm. “What happened today, honey?”
“It was nothing, really. Just that I won’t get the insurance money to fix the house for at least another month or so, and… my mom.”
“She okay?”
“Yes. I mean, physically, yes. Mentally, she’s having a rough time. She’s suffered from depression ever since my parents divorced.”
Wes grunted. “Was it messy?”
I nodded. “It was messy. There was a custody battle that went on for years and years. It was probably more about my dad not wanting to pay child support than that he really wanted me to live with him. My mom just never could function under all the stress of it.”
Wes kissed my bare shoulder. “And you took on the job of lifting her.”
I went still. Had I? “Yeah.” I twisted my neck to look at him. “You’re right, I guess I did.”
“It makes sense, psychologically. She was your mom–the figure you depended on to survive, as a child. Of course, her mental well-being was utmost to your own survival. You became Ms. Sunshine.”
That made me tear up again, compassion for my younger self seeping in. “Yeah, Miss. Toxic Positivity.”
“Not toxic,” Wes assured me. “But maybe you avoid the unpleasant emotions because they scare you.”
I blinked rapidly. “Yeah.” Memories of my mom getting upset if I was sick or sad flashed through my mind. “I didn’t want to make her sad. And I especially didn’t want to end up like her.”
“So she’s not doing well now?”
“Today? No. She isn’t sleeping well, which exacerbates her depression. I brought dinner over and tried to cheer her up, but…” I sighed.
“How can I help?”
“Got an extra air conditioner lying around?” I joked.
“Actually, yes.”
My head popped up. “You do?” I asked, stunned.
He grinned. Actually grinned. It transformed his entire face and made my chest warm. “Yeah. It’s at the ranch. I guess there was a hot spell last summer, and Johnny bought a window unit for his room in the bunkhouse.”
“He’s not using it?”
Wes shook his head. “Nah. Rob had A/C installed. I’ll bring it home tomorrow, and we can take it to your mom’s. I’ll put it in for you. How’s that sound?”
“That sounds amazing. Thank you so much.”
“Good.” He lifted me off his lap and stood. “Right now, I’m going to move your clothes out of the bedroom, and you’re gonna get your sweet ass over to my place. And tonight, after Remy’s in bed, you’ve got a punishment coming for putting yourself in danger again.” Wes’ face took on a wolfish expression.
My pussy clenched. Nipples tightened.
“Oh yeah? What kind of punishment?” I put a purr into my voice.
“The kind where you end up with a red ass and a dripping wet cunt.” Wes’ voice was rough and raspy. It went straight to my lady bits.
My clit pulsed in a slow, steady thrum. I loved him bossy. I loved him grumpy. I loved him heroic and showing up for me in a way no one had before.
It seemed crazy and too soon, but I was falling for this guy. Hard.
He squeezed my ass with a rough, possessive grip, then kissed me like he meant it.
“I can’t wait,” I breathed when he broke the kiss.
His eyes seemed to glow green in the darkness. “Fuck. Me, neither.”
19
WES
The next night after work, Remy, Joy, and I brought the air conditioner over to Joy’s mom’s place.
With advanced notice, Mrs. Wallace was waiting at the front door for us when we pulled up. If Joy hadn’t told me she’d been in a funk, I wouldn’t have known. She and Joy looked so much alike with their fair hair and blue eyes. While Mrs. Wallace’s weren’t as alive as her daughter’s, they certainly brightened at the sight of Remy.
I’d have to give Remy extra marshmallows in her hot cocoa because she took to Miz Wall right away, yakking her ear off about her day at preschool, then pretty much conning the older woman into making cookies.
All I’d done was shake her hand when Joy introduced me, then installed the window unit in her bedroom.
Seeing how happy–yes, happy–all three of them were, I decided to let them have some girl time and headed home.
Thank fuck I had.
Not ten minutes after I got back, Soraya showed up. I wasn’t sure if her timing was intentional or not.
“I’m here for Remington,” she said after I opened the door then leaned against the jamb. I wasn’t letting her in, and the action made that very clear.
“She goes by Remy, which you’d know if you’d been around.”
Soraya cocked a hip, allowing her shoulders to sink in defeat. “I want to be a mom to her.”
I hadn’t seen Soraya in all this time. She looked the same. She looked good even. Sleek dark hair. Pale skin. Tall and slim. But I knew her heart. I knew her nature, and it was ugly.