Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“Hi, Donovan.” She grins at me before offering Reid a more open smile. “Hi Donovan’s cousin.”
He chuckles. “Hey, Mrs. Wolf.”
“It’s Tilly,” she reminds him before she looks at me. “My calendar just popped up a reminder that you’ll be away for two days next week. Is that still the case?”
I acknowledge that with a nod before I cement it with two simple words. “It is.”
“Good to know.” She types something on her tablet. “You have a patient waiting in exam room one. I can assist.”
That’s my cue to take off, so I pat Reid’s shoulder. “Duty calls.”
He stops me by grabbing the sleeve of my lab coat. “Where are you off to next week, Donovan?”
“It’s a conference,” Matilda offers. “He goes to a few of them each year. Our Dr. Hunt likes to keep up with everything happening in the field of veterinary medicine.”
If the clinic ever needed a spokesperson, Matilda would land the job without question. Her unwavering support is impressive, but in this case it’s unnecessary since I had no intention of sharing my travel details with my cousin.
He pats my cheek. “He’s a good guy.”
I pat his right back but it’s a touch harder. “Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I won’t.” He shakes his head. “I can’t. Safe travels, Donovan and stay happy. I like how it looks on you.”
I fucking love how it feels, so I intend on staying this happy for the rest of my life.
It’s not uncommon for me to arrive home after a long day to find a delivery waiting on my doorstep. It may be a bag of groceries I ordered before I left the clinic, or a case of the sparkling water I sometimes indulge in during the summer months.
Tonight, I find the most precious gift on the concrete steps that lead up to the door of my home.
Delia is there, sitting on her ass in a pair of jeans and a white blouse. On her feet are flat sandals and her hair is braided to the side.
I stand and stare at her as she keeps her gaze on her phone’s screen.
She has yet to notice me and I’m okay with that. I just want to soak in her natural beauty and this moment in time.
It’s only been twelve hours now since I left her penthouse but it’s felt like a lifetime to me.
When her gaze drifts up, she smiles. “Hey, you.”
“Hey.” I smile. “Have you been waiting long?”
She shakes her head in response. “I should have texted or called, but I thought I’d drop by and see if you were home yet.”
There’s a sexy sleepy note in her voice that makes me want to scoop her up and take her to bed.
“I’ll get the door.”
I offer her my hand as I make my way up the steps. She takes it without question using it to leverage herself as she stands. “Thank you.”
I want to tell her that she never has to thank me for another thing because anything I can do for her is a gift. It’s a pure gift and I’ll never get tired of doing everything in my power to make her life easier, or more fulfilling.
“Are you hungry?” I ask as we near the door.
She sighs. “Maybe a little hungry. Do you have any berries?”
Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are a staple in my refrigerator now. If the market has ripe blackberries when I drop in, I grab those too.
“Load of berries.”
A smile crosses her lips. “A big bowl of those will hit the right spot.”
I unlock the door and motion for her to step inside first. I follow close behind before locking the door for the night.
She’s the one who reaches for the light switch so the foyer can be bathed in soft light as we remove our shoes.
That simple action is almost too much for me. I don’t know if it’s the emotions of the day finally catching up to me, or the realization that it felt right watching her do something as simple as switching on a light when she walked in.
In a sense it feels as though we arrived home together just now.
She turns back to glance at me. Her brows pinch together as she studies my face. “Are you all right?”
I lean forward to kiss her forehead. “I’m good. I’m really good.”
“Me too.” She pops up to her tiptoes to press her lips to mine. “Now, about those berries.”
I steal one last kiss knowing that I’ll need more when I take her to bed tonight. “I’m on it. I’ll get you a glass of cold water to go with it.”
“You always think of everything,” she whispers.
If everything is her, she’s right. I can’t stop thinking about what my life would be like if I had more time with her like this; more nights, more days… forever.