Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 40942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“Thanks, Grandpa,” he said.
“Just remember, I go to sleep early. And when I take out these hearing aids, I can’t hear a thing.” His grandpa winked at him.
Lord help him.
“This is a darn foolish idea, girl.”
“Grandpa Jack, people clear dead leaves from gutters every day. Are you going to go around telling them that it’s a foolish idea? What is a dumb idea is leaving them blocking the gutters. Or leafing them blocking the gutters. Get it?”
He stared at her blankly.
“You didn’t get it.”
“Oh, I got it. It was just terrible. What I don’t get is you climbing up a ladder by yourself to get some leaves out. When you should just leaf them.”
“Good one,” she said with a grin. “And this has to be done.”
“Then Stafford can do it.”
“Stafford is way too busy to do this. He’s got important things to do.”
At least that’s what she told herself when she started feeling sad that he wasn’t around much. She’d known what she was getting herself into when she’d agreed to be his.
Well, when he’d declared that she was his.
When he was home, he was attentive and loving. She’d never felt so cared for and she didn’t want to complain. It was just . . . well, she didn’t feel comfortable showing him her Little. Even though he had reassured her that she could.
It didn’t feel quite right. As though she was demanding too much from him or something.
“Important things to do? More important than making sure you don’t break your neck?”
“I’m not going to break my neck,” she said with exasperation as she started climbing the ladder.
He was such a drama queen.
Muttering, he wandered off inside. Which was really the best place for him. Yesterday, she’d tripped on one of the rotten boards on the deck and scraped her knees. And now she was worried that Jack would do the same.
He seemed to be venturing more and more outside. Which she was telling herself was a good thing.
But she didn’t want him getting hurt.
Blakely moved carefully. Heights weren’t her favorite thing. But she’d seen how blocked up the gutters were getting and they were due to get some heavy rain tomorrow.
So they needed clearing out.
She did one section, then climbed down with a breath of relief. Picking up the ladder, she carried it carefully to the next section and climbed up. This time, her legs were shaking slightly.
Crap.
How was she going to do this around the entire house?
“Blakely?”
She jumped slightly at the voice, even though it was calm and quiet.
Turning, she held on tight to the ladder as she saw Stafford standing there.
“Stafford, hi. What are you doing home?”
“Blakely,” he said in a tight voice. “I’m going to need you to climb carefully and slowly down.”
He looked strangely pale.
Oh, no.
Maybe he wasn’t feeling very well.
“Blakely. Get. Down. Now.”
His voice had grown deep and stern.
“But I haven’t finished this part.”
“Blakely, you either climb down yourself or I’m coming up there to get you. Either way, you’re getting down. Right. Now.”
Okay, she guessed she was getting down. Probably for the best.
When she got to the third from the bottom rung, he reached up and lifted her down.
“Oh, careful! You shouldn’t do that if you’re not feeling well.” Turning, she gave him a concerned look.
“Not feeling well?”
“Yes, you look pale. Is that why you’re home early?”
“No. I’m not home early because I feel unwell,” he gritted out as he took hold of her wrist and led her into the house.
“You’re not? Then why?”
“I’m home because I found out that my girl is risking her neck climbing a ladder.”
She stilled when they entered the house and tugged at her arm. He didn’t let her go, but he did turn toward her with his eyebrows raised in question.
“Did Jack call you?” she asked, outraged. “That . . . that tattletale! Grandpa Jack!”
“He won’t hear you. He’s taken out his hearing aids.”
“He has? Why would he do that?”
“Because he doesn’t want to hear us,” he replied grimly, leading her toward their bedroom.
Hear them?
Hear them what?
“Oh my God, we’re not going to have sex, are we?”
“No, we are not. We’re going to have a very serious conversation.”
“About what?”
“About ladders, expectations, and rules.”
“What do ladders, expectations, and rules have in common?”
“More than you’d think.” He dragged the armchair over into the middle of the room and pointed at it. “Sit.”
She sat, watching him as he paced back and forth, his hands behind his back.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Pacing. It helps me think.”
“Maybe you should sit down if you’re not well.”
“I feel fine,” he told her.
“Are you sure? You seem a bit cranky.”
“I’m not cranky.” He stilled and turned to her. “You were up a ladder.”
“Um, yep.”
“Up a ladder, cleaning out gutters.”
“Yes, I was. It’s meant to rain tomorrow.”
“Right. Which is why I was going to come back early today and clear them.”