Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Thank Christ,” he muttered, grabbing my sweatshirt from the ground. “Here—it was under my flannel.”
I threw the sweatshirt on, thankful that it had been shielded a little from the rain and wasn’t quite as damp as everything else. I tucked my underwear into the pocket of my jeans, thankful that they fit baggy and I was actually able to pull the damp fabric over my shoes and up my legs.
“So, um…” I murmured, looking anywhere but directly at him. It was insane how uncomfortable I was while still feeling the lingering effects of the orgasm I’d just had.
“Get in the car,” he ordered, not unkindly. He opened the door for me and closed it again once I was safely inside.
I slicked my hair back from my face as I watched him jog around the hood, then dried my face with the sleeves of my sweatshirt, hiding, as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
We were silent as he started the engine and turned the heater on full blast.
If there was something more uncomfortable than sitting in a rapidly heating car while wearing clothes that were damp all the way through, I couldn’t think of it. Everything clung, and my jeans chafed as I shifted in my seat.
“I’m not gonna take him from you,” Michael said quietly, his voice in the silent car startling me.
“What?”
“I’m not gonna take him,” he said, staring at the fogged-up windshield. “I’d never do that.”
“It was a poor choice of words,” I replied quietly. “I know you won’t.”
“I know he’s not ready to just be with me, especially overnight,” he continued. “You’re his mama. He doesn’t wanna be without ya.”
“Thanks,” I said with a sigh, leaning my head back against the seat. “I’m sorry I freaked out.”
“I’m sorry my reaction to you freakin’ out was to bang you against the side of your car,” he muttered.
I barked out a surprised laugh as he scrubbed his hands over his face.
“I was a willing participant,” I said ruefully. “Not my most intelligent decision.”
“It was a really fuckin’ dumb move,” Mick said, wrapping his hands tightly around the steering wheel.
I agreed with him one hundred percent, but the words still stung. I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling even colder than I’d been before.
“We’ve got a lot of shit to figure out,” he continued. “Sex’ll just confuse things.”
“You’re right.”
“I am?”
“Did you think I was going to argue?” I asked with a hollow laugh. “We haven’t seen each other since the summer after high school, and we have a son. I don’t even have a job or a place to live.” I shook my head.
“You can stay with me as long as you need to,” he replied immediately. “Don’t worry about that.”
“I have to get things figured out,” I countered. “I’ve worked really hard to stand on my own two feet.”
Michael was quiet for a little while before he spoke again. “Do you know what kind of job you wanna get?” he asked, turning to look at me. “Where did you work before?”
It took everything inside of me not to show any reaction to the question as memories of the night I’d quit my job flashed through my mind. I shivered.
There wasn’t any reason for Michael to ever know about that part of my life. It meant nothing now. Less than nothing.
“I was a waitress for a while,” I said, keeping my voice even. “So I could probably do that. Or a receptionist somewhere? Maybe retail or a coffee shop? I don’t know. I’ll take anything, really.”
“You ever think about going back to school?” he asked quietly.
I smiled wistfully. “I don’t think that’s in the cards, not until Rhett is older at least.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because I have to work,” I replied with a chuckle. “Between working and spending time with Rhett, my days will be completely full. I know that sounds dramatic, but it’s true.”
“What if you didn’t have to work?” Michael asked.
Before I could answer, I screeched in surprise as the outline of a person appeared outside Michael’s window.
Chapter 6
Michael
When Emilia’s eyes widened, her gaze pointed over my shoulder, I immediately reached toward my lower back. By the time she yelled, I was already turning, drawing the pistol from the holster there. I paused, my hand still behind me when I realized who was outside the car.
“Fuck,” I muttered, holstering the pistol again as I rolled down the window.
“Didn’t expect to find you two back here again,” my grandfather said, a half grin pulling at his lips. “Don’t you have a house you could be foolin’ around in?”
“Why the hell are you out here in the rain?” I looked around the clearing. “On foot?”
“Daily walk,” he replied innocently.
“Uh-huh.”
“Your gram gets on me if I don’t get my exercise.”
“You’re in better shape than I am,” I replied flatly.
“Hey, Emmy girl,” he said, ignoring my comment as he leaned down into my window. “How you been, honey?”