Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
As far as I could tell, the only thing anyone in Wood Hollow wanted from me was an appearance on opening day of their flag football season. I could do that. Happily.
“We start at ten a.m. on Saturday,” Dex reminded me. “I’ll make a quick speech to welcome everyone, then I’ll introduce you. Not to put you on the spot, but it would be great if you could say a few words about the sport. No pressure, though. We’ll have an exhibition game with the coaches from the Four Forest area and if you’re up for playing, I’m calling dibs to put you on Wood Hollow’s team. Again, no pressure. Just having you there will be an honor, man.”
I mean…how could I say no?
Cooper’s kids agreed.
Chase whooped and Ivy broke into an impromptu dance she finished off with a cartwheel. Their reaction alone made me feel like a fucking superhero.
“The little things matter,” Cooper commented sagely, watching as his kids raced into the house to get the football. “Grand gestures are nice, but showing up is what really counts. All you’d have to do is wave from the sidelines, and you’ll make everyone’s day.”
“And if I play some flag football?”
Cooper’s grin was slow-moving and sexy as fuck. “You’ll be a Wood Hollow legend.”
Hell, yes, I wanted to be a legend. Especially if my reward was a lazy, indulgent grin from my lumberjack neighbor.
I was pretty shameless when it came to Cooper. Our time together was limited while he was on dad duty. There were no sleepovers or casual evenings spent with our legs tangled on the sofa. Cooper worked a full day, carpooled like a boss between Fallbrook and Wood Hollow to schlep his kids to school, prepared dinner, and made sure their homework got done.
There was no time for extracurricular hanky-panky, but I was a greedy fuck, willing to take whatever crumbs were leftover. My currency…football.
I listened for his truck at the end of the day and lurked on the front porch, ready with a friendly wave. I could count on Chase to slink between the trees with a ball in hand, wondering if I wanted to play catch.
Abso-fuckin’-lutely.
Cooper’s backyard was well-lit, so we’d end up there, with me tossing the football to Chase and Ivy and coaching them on their form and follow-through.
“Bring your elbow up and step into the throw. Your power is coming from your whole body, not just your arm. Rotate your hips. Yep…like that.”
Much to Chase’s dismay, Ivy was more accurate, but Chase was a better runner. Not a smart runner, though.
“Football is a game of forward progress, Chase-man. Your opponent can’t tackle you in flag football, but if they take your flags, you’re done for. So…run smart. A little slide and shuffle, a little spin motion. You know what I’m talking about.”
Cooper brought some cones out and helped with a few drills. He let them invite a few of their Wood Hollow buddies to join us. I met Cooper’s best friend, Reg, and his kids: Rhys, a gangly nine-year-old with a mop of brown curls and freckles and his daughter, Greta, a petite version of her older brother.
I should have been totally out of my element, but the kids were funny and for some reason, they liked me. I tossed the ball till my arm ached, then got smart and designed a few plays and watched them do the hard work.
Reg clapped my shoulder and guffawed. “It took you long enough. They’ve been running you ragged for an hour, man.”
I huffed with faux irritation and spent the next fifteen minutes trying to get a read on the local police chief who ruined his stern, serious cop energy with a contagious belly laugh and had a habit of dropping silly one-liners that were basically just bad dad jokes.
“Am I ambivalent? Yes and no.” Or “I don’t have the solution, but I’m liking the problem.” Or “Seen it all, done it all, still can’t remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.”
It was interesting to observe old friends and fellow divorcees interact with each other and with their kids. They were like…a small family, and while I was definitely the outsider, I didn’t feel awkward. I was hungry for details about Cooper, and meeting people he cared about was enlightening.
Cooper was a serious man, but he had a sly wit and a quiet charm that gave him a magnetic aura I couldn’t seem to resist. Just his name on my screen made my pulse jump, and his secret wry smile turned my brain to mush. No kidding.
The one afternoon we were able to sneak in a lunchtime quickie was the sweetest release ever. I’d never yearned for anyone the way I did for Cooper. I’d never craved touch, taste, or the feel of skin on skin quite like this. I would have given anything to make time stretch. A little more of his hands on my body, his fingers in my hair, his cock in my ass.