Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
I narrowed my gaze. “You think you’re a failure.”
“Well, no. I did at one point, but…I like who I am now. I love my life here. I own a successful business in a great community, I’ve met wonderful friends, and Christ, I’m going to be a dad…and hopefully, be a better parent than mine were to my brother and me.”
“You will be. I have no doubt,” I said. “So what will you do about your mother?”
“I don’t know. Ignoring her isn’t a strategy. You’re right. I should go to the party. Get it over with.”
“I didn’t say that. I’m not one to give family advice.”
Dex’s lips curled in a wry half smile. “Are you going to tell me your family is worse than mine?”
“No, mine is relatively normal.”
“Do you have a good relationship with your parents?”
I inclined my chin. “I do.”
“They don’t mind that you live so far away?”
I pursed my lips. “They’re used to it now. Distance doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I see them once or twice a year, and we FaceTime. They know Vermont is a good place for me. Maybe in the same way you don’t want to go to Michigan, I don’t want to go back to Sweden. Not to live, anyway.”
“Why?”
“Ghosts.” Cryptic, but true.
Dex squinted as if formulating his next question. If he asked what I meant, I probably would have bared my soul.
However, this wasn’t about me.
I lowered the protective glasses and studied the extraordinarily handsome man who’d weaseled his way into my life. Two months ago, I’d barely known Dex and now, he was in my bed, in my workspace, in my head. There were weeks and weeks to go before the baby arrived, which meant there was no escaping this fever anytime soon. And I didn’t want to.
I wanted to make things easier for him. I could claim it was for the baby too—and it was, but I was a fixer by nature.
The one to call when the lights went out because the bill hadn’t been paid or the car wouldn’t start or there was no food in cupboards, or the police showed up at the door in the middle of the night, and—
“I have ghosts too,” Dex said simply.
I met his gaze and held it, unnerved by Dex’s stark honesty. It had occurred to me that in a way we were both refugees, hiding in a quaint forest town out of harm’s reach. We were outsiders, escapees, hiding in plain sight from a past we didn’t share with many. Perhaps it explained the attraction.
Yes, Dex was beautiful and sexy, but it was more than that. He was somehow relatable. We came from different countries, different sets of circumstance, and yet…I recognized his pain.
“I know,” I replied.
There wasn’t much more to say, so I readjusted my glasses and measured the block of wood in front of me.
“Come with me,” Dex blurted.
The amused lilt in his tone indicated he was joking, most likely in an effort to steer us to safer topics.
I took the bait, gladly…and even glowered for effect, pointing at my chest. “You want me to go to Michigan? With you?”
“Yeah. Why not?”
“Your poor mother would be scandalized.”
“No, she told me to bring a date.”
“So we’re dating?” I deadpanned.
Dex snickered. “Maybe we are, so…be my date. For the weekend. Two hours at the party and the rest of the time, we could do a whole lot of nothing. I have a cabin on Lake Michigan, close to my mom’s place yet far enough away. I haven’t been in a while, but there’s great fishing up there,” he continued in a rush, adding, “You like to fish.”
“Yes, but—”
“And you like sex.”
I widened my eyes incredulously. “You’re bribing me with fish and sex?”
“Rough combo, but…yes.”
I didn’t want to be, but I was charmed.
I took the glasses off. “I’ll need a preview.”
“What do you mean?”
“Show me what I can look forward to…in a cabin…in Michigan.”
Dex opened and closed his mouth. “Right now?”
I rolled the chair to his side of the table and crossed my arms. “Right here, right now.”
He stepped close, his lips curled mischievously. “Do you have lube?”
I pulled a travel packet of lube and a condom from my wallet. I’d started carrying them with me to avoid halting action to race to the bedroom. It was either that or hide a bottle in every room of my house and his.
“Shirt off,” I commanded.
He flung his tee onto the floor and reached for my belt. “May I?”
At my nod of approval, Dex unbuckled, unbuttoned, and unzipped me. I stood and pushed my jeans and boxer briefs down, releasing my thickening cock. He flexed his fingers and gripped my shaft, purring like a cat as he nuzzled my neck and stroked me.
I kissed his forehead, his temple, and ran my hands over his body, lingering on his hips, then his ass. He tilted his chin to fuse our mouths, leisurely gliding his tongue alongside mine. It was a slow, sweet seduction. We weren’t in a hurry, and we’d done this often enough that we each could anticipate what the other needed. It was in the hushed groans and his nails gliding along my spine as he pumped his fist. Dexter wanted me to take control.