Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
He’s a smart entrepreneur who knows how to turn all of his ideas into actionable steps and make millions of dollars. I still struggle to make my car payment. I can’t remember the last time that I wasn’t eating prepackaged noodles to make it through the end of the month.
He pauses what he’s doing and looks up at me. I love those dark glasses and the way they make his brown eyes even bigger. “You would be a great pediatrician.”
Hale leans so close and I angle my head toward him. My heart skips a beat as blood rushes to my cheeks. This is the moment when the grumpy mountain man is going to kiss me. But instead, he reaches for the booklet. “Just need the instructions for the bracket.”
I manage a shaky laugh, like I’m not humiliated. Yeah, like the hot mountain man was going to kiss me. Clearly, my attraction to Hale all this time has been one-sided.
6
IVY
“What do you think?” Hale asks as he pushes the chest of drawers into the corner of the room. It’s the final piece of furniture, and we spent the day putting everything together ourselves.
I’ve learned a lot about Hale, and the type of person he is. He’s slow and methodical, someone who prefers to carefully research everything before he makes a move. He watched three instructional videos when he couldn’t find the guide for the changing table.
He’s also endlessly patient, taking plenty of time to stop and chat with Ollie as he works. Granted, it was baby babble on Ollie’s part, but it was still adorable to watch the two of them interact. Hale may not know it yet, but he’s a great father. I hope he’ll see that about himself in time.
“Any thoughts on the work we’ve done?” Hale prompts because I’ve been caught staring at his ass. Again. It’s embarrassing, the number of times he’s caught me checking him out since we started this project.
Hale is a mystery to me in some ways. He’s all tight, corded muscles and yet he seems completely unaware of his sex appeal. He has a brilliant, engineer’s mind and yet he’s humble and modest, acting as if I’m the essential part of the project.
“I think…” I scramble to come up with something that isn’t a sleazy come-on or complaint about my aching back. While I suspect that Hale works out regularly at his gym, I’m not very active. I’m more of a sit-on-the-couch-and-knit-a-stuffed-animal-for-the-children’s-hospital type of person. “The room could use some decor.”
He pulls off his glasses and sets them on the chest before glancing around the room. He frowns at it. “Like a theme?”
“I know we don’t have any data yet, but Ollie doesn’t strike me as a blue-walls kind of guy. I’m thinking something fun and exciting, maybe a circus theme.” I gesture to the walls as I talk, the idea taking shape in my mind.
He glances at Ollie who’s tucked in for the night. “I’ll order take out and grab my laptop. Are you good with burgers from Ernie’s?”
My stomach growls at the suggestion. “No pickles on mine. Is it OK if I wash up while we wait?”
He gives me a distracted nod and reaches for his phone.
I take a quick shower in the bathroom attached to my new bedroom and remind myself twenty times that it’s not a date. It’s dinner while we discuss Ollie’s nursery. But if it’s not a date, then why am I struggling with what to wear?
“He doesn’t think of you like this,” I chide as I finally slip into a pair of plaid shorts. I reach for a sleep tank with modest coverage then realize my port scar is visible. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t care. My scar is proof that I survived. But it’s not a conversation I’m ready to have with Hale yet, so I opt for a black T-shirt instead.
I leave my blonde hair down and refuse to style it other than adding my favorite coconut hair product. I check my reflection in the mirror and consider makeup. “Stop obsessing.”
When I hear the doorbell chime, I take a deep breath and leave the room.
Hale has already paid for the food and settled on the couch. He pats the spot next to his without looking up.
I gulp. Relax, he’s just your insanely hot boss that you have a crush on.
For the life of me, I can’t remember why I thought this would be a good idea. I think my heart was running the show when I agreed to be his nanny. Think of Ollie.
Hale finally glances at me and looks away, the tips of his ears turning red. Is he embarrassed by me? Is what I’m wearing wrong? I look down again at my clothes, but they’re not inappropriate.
I take my seat and Hale gestures to the bag of food on the coffee table. “I didn’t know what kind of fries you liked.”