Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
His head snaps up. “I see.”
“I’m not like her,” I tell him stubbornly. “I don’t use men to see what I can get out of them.”
“You’re just upset with her. You don’t mean that.”
I twist my spaghetti on my fork but can’t eat a bite yet. “Why are you defending her?”
“I’m not…” He sighs heavily and nudges my foot with his. “Look at me.”
I meet his tender gaze and soften. He flashes me a sweet smile that has my heart fluttering.
“Tell me what you want from me.” He bores his gaze into me. “I just want to make you happy.”
“I want to feel like I’m contributing,” I tell him with a lift of my chin. “Mom may be a freeloader, but I’m not. Now that I’m making money, I want to help out around here.”
“Okay,” he says slowly. “I can work on that.”
At least he’s going to try.
“How’s the babysitting going?” He goes back to eating, but his gaze never leaves mine.
I light up talking about my job. “I love it. The kids are so sweet. Word is getting around, too. I’m already booked out every weekend through Christmas with the Blakelys and their friends.”
“That’s great,” he says with a grin. “I’m proud of you for getting out there and booking clients.”
His words fill me up and I’m able to release some of the hurt and anger toward Mom while we chat. Our conversation bounces around from my job to his property management to Brayden and the baby. Dinner is nice. My stomach no longer roils with disappointment at having been stood up by my mother and I’m able to go back for seconds.
Later, while Reid does the dishes and puts the food away, I frost the cake. I’m not the best decorator, but it looks good enough to eat.
“Should we wait for her?” Reid asks, gesturing at the cake. “Or…”
“We’re going to eat it now.” I rip open a pack of birthday plates. “If she feels bad about it, then good. I felt bad when my mom chose her client over me.”
He nods in understanding. “Whatever you want, Em.”
We cut into the cake and eat while standing in the kitchen. The cake is sweet and spongy. It’s perfect. Mom really missed out.
“You have frosting on your face,” Reid says, smirking.
I swipe at it with my thumb. “Did I get it?”
“Nope.”
After a few times of missing it completely, he steps forward and uses his thumb to wipe off the smear of chocolate. He holds up his thumb to show me. And, because I’m insane, I do something totally stupid.
I put my mouth around his thumb.
His eyes widen but he’s frozen in place. Then, I tentatively lick his calloused thumb, tasting the sweet icing there. A small groan escapes him. My core tightens at the sound.
Fire glimmers in his eyes and his thumb curls into my mouth, pressing my tongue down. With my chin in his firm grip, he tugs me closer until my breasts brush against his chest. He angles my head back so I’m staring up at him.
Is he going to kiss me?
Do I want him to?
Hell yeah, I do.
Buzzing from his pocket startles him from his hypnotic stare. He winces and then jerks away from me, releasing my mouth. I shudder at the loss of his touch.
“Uh, it’s my accountant calling,” he rasps out. “I’m expecting this call.”
Reid strides out of the kitchen, leaving me panting and aching for more. Would he have gone further had his phone not rang? Is he finally seeing me as more than a dependent in this house?
There was no denying the hunger in his expression.
For me.
It was slightly terrifying, but also exciting. There was an unhinged way he’d handled me.
Is he fierce in the bedroom?
Commanding and bossy?
Would he hold me down and tell me what to do?
He continues his conversation, laughing easily with the person on the other line. From his end, I think they’re going over rental income and his savings. It feels too private to listen in on. Plus, I have other needs to take care of.
When the accountant interrupted our charged moment, the instant flash of regret was there. I’m not delusional enough to think he’ll jump from my mom’s bed into mine. He may’ve gotten caught up in the flirting, but five bucks says he’s going to rein it in now.
He’s probably beating himself up while chatting up the accountant.
I tiptoe upstairs and then slip into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. My vibrator is stuffed in my nightstand drawer for occasions just as these. I shove down my sleep shorts and panties before crawling under the covers. The coolness on my naked skin sends shivers of desire through me.
The deep timbre of Reid’s voice can be heard downstairs, even with my bedroom door closed. I snatch my vibrator and slip it underneath the covers. With my thighs slightly parted, I turn on the vibrator and tease my clit with the tip of it.