Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
After offering a tight smile, I return to the kitchen.
“How does it feel to be the trophy for which two old guys are fighting over?” Murphy asks, bringing his dirty dishes to the kitchen.
“Just something to check off my bucket list.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, I’d love to hear the rest of your bucket list.”
I take the dishes from Murphy. “Thanks. But you have to stop doing my job.”
“I’m just helping out. Do you want to know what else I like to do?”
“The dishes?” I turn my back and run water in the sink.
“When I go to the store, I like to organize the carts in the cart return so they’re in neat rows.”
I close my eyes for a second before adding soap to the water. He’s pushing so hard. That fourth wall will not last until the end of summer.
“That’s nice of you.”
“I think so too. But I once knew this woman who—”
“Do you think she’s going to make it this time?” I ask, cutting him off.
“Who? What are you talking about?”
I scrub the plate with the sponge. “Blair. Do you think she’s going to make it down the aisle and say yes to you?”
There’s a long pause. In fact, I’m not sure he’s still in the room, so I glance over my shoulder. Murphy’s expression dies. He looks lost.
I turn back toward the sink. “It must be agonizing,” I say. “Loving someone with your whole heart, planning for a future, yet living with such uncertainty. Because you do, right? You love her with your whole heart?”
“Let’s go, Murphy,” Hunter calls from the back door.
My spine straightens and I hold my breath hostage when Murphy steps closer, so close the heat from his body singes my skin, so close that the mix of eucalyptus and sweet birch from his body wash fills my next breath.
“Thanks for breakfast,” he whispers in my ear, his face brushing my hair, and I feel it everywhere.
“Have you been to Disney?” Callen asks as we lie tangled under a chenille throw on the leather sofa at sunset.
“I have. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Did you tell your wife you want to bring your girlfriend next time?” I tease his ribs while resting my head on his hairy chest.
“Ex-wife. And no, I didn’t tell her that because I didn’t know I had a girlfriend. Are you applying for the position? Think you can handle being a homemaker and a girlfriend?”
I giggle. “You’re right. I’m not your girlfriend, just your lover.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I just worry that you had a terrible childhood, and I don’t want to flaunt my trips in front of you.”
“Then you should have left your Mickey ears at home.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He laughs. “I didn’t bring Mickey ears.”
“But you have a pair, right?”
“No. But I have a cool lightsaber that makes noises.”
I grin. “Did your kids have a fun time?”
“The best.”
“And you and your ex got along just fine?”
“We did.”
“Did you have vacation sex after the kids were asleep?”
“What?” He grabs my arms to lift me off his chest so he can see my face.
I sit up between his spread legs, pulling the blanket to my chest as I roll my eyes. “I’m kidding. Or not. It doesn’t matter, Callen. I don’t care if you did. I’m not your girlfriend.”
“Well, for the record, I do happen to care if you’re screwing some other guy, so maybe we should have a talk. We don’t have to be serious, but I prefer we be monogamous. Despite what you think, I’m a coach, not a player.”
“Cute,” I say, giving him a fake smile while standing. I drop the blanket and pull my black sundress over my head before padding to the bathroom.
When I return, he’s dressed and sitting on the edge of the sofa with his elbows on his knees and his head resting in his hands.
I stare at him for a few seconds before climbing over the sofa and hugging his back. “Callen, will you go steady with me?” I kiss his neck.
“Don’t. You make me sound insecure. And I don’t want this.” He shakes his head. “Or at least, I didn’t want this. Fuck, I don’t know. You’re giving me exactly what I thought I wanted, and now I’m acting like a goddamn pussy about it.”
I laugh before trapping his earlobe between my teeth.
“Let’s stick to lover or mistress,” he says.
“Mistress?” I crane my neck to look at him. “Can I be your mistress if you’re not married?”
He twists his lips to the side. “I think so. Basically, you’re my secret girlfriend. We sneak around and have sex. It feels naughty.”
“So we’ve decided to continue doing exactly what we have been doing?”
Callen returns a guilty smile. “Something like that.”
“Wanna go for a swim?”
He angles toward me, pulling me onto his lap. “Is that allowed?”