Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
In the past, it had been so easy to just have his fun and leave. Cathy was not a woman he wanted to leave. She’d gotten under his skin within seconds of meeting her, and she had made a comfortable place for herself in his heart.
Without thinking this through, he twisted the doorknob and opened the door, stepping inside. The camera was set up, and the lights were glowing. She’d set her studio up with a Christmas theme. Watching several of her videos over the past few days, he’d come to see that she did this for most of the seasons, including Halloween.
“Brick,” Cathy said. “I’m filming.” She got to her feet and stepped toward the camera, turning it off. She put her hands on her hips and turned toward him. “What’s up?”
“We’re snowed in,” he said.
“Yeah, ugh, I think it is going to take a few days for someone to get the plow or something. The snow might melt.”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
She frowned. “What’s going on?”
“Yeah, lets cut the crap here. Something is bothering you and I can’t fix it if I don’t know what it is.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t know if there is anything to fix.”
“Damn it, Cathy, stop it. You think I don’t see the change in you? You think I can’t tell you’re avoiding me? I get it, people have done nothing but let you down your whole life. You’re the only person you can rely on. I get that as well. I’ve stuck by your side this past week—”
“And don’t you think that is insane?” Cathy asked. “You and I, we’re pretty much strangers, and you have been there for me when my family hasn’t. You have stuck by me when other people should have—the people that call themselves my parents or my family.”
“And you’re pissed with that.”
“No, I’m not pissed.”
“You sound it,” he said.
Cathy sighed. “Look, I’m confused, okay? For so long I’ve been told you can only love someone you have known a long time. I barely know you. We’ve known each other a week, we’re snowed in together, and it’s Christmas, and I’m not on the pill!” She slapped a hand across her mouth.
“The pill?”
“Crap, look, I … I didn’t want to ruin anything, but Willow told me you’re hoping to find a woman to settle down with. You want to have a family and do the whole … settled guy thing.” She cringed and now Brick couldn’t help but smile.
She looked so fucking cute and sexy, when she was trying to be … whatever it was she was trying to be. In that moment, Brick knew he loved her more than anything. She was nervous, a little afraid, and there was even a paleness to her cheeks. She’d not put on a lot of makeup.
“We’ve not exactly been careful and I’m not taking the pill. I didn’t know if I should tell you, or what to do.” She ran fingers through her hair. “Are you just going to stand there and not say anything?”
“I’m waiting for you to finish.”
“You’re so frustrating. I know I’m not the ideal woman. I know I’m not like Tiffany, or Willow, or anyone else. I don’t do casual sex, and this week has been amazing, and I don’t know what else to say right now. I could be pregnant. I know it only takes one time, and we’ve been doing it a whole lot of times, apart from last night, you know.” She put her hand against her ass. “Please, Brick, make me stop babbling.”
He took a step toward her, then another, and another. She didn’t pull away. She stood her ground, squaring her shoulders, with that fire in her eyes. There was nothing cruel about her gaze. This woman was everything he wanted. She was sweet, fire, spice, and so fucking cute and sexy.
He couldn’t believe he’d wasted so much of his life riding around, not finding this woman sooner.
Last Christmas, after talking with Rebel and Willow, he’d asked for a miracle—to send him a woman that would keep him on his toes, make him ache, make him yearn, make him want to stay in one place to raise a family. Nothing had happened last year.
And for the past year, he’d gotten even more miserable, even considering going back on the open road. Then a week ago, a beautiful brunette had walked into Storm’s Bar, went right up to the counter, and the sway of her hips, the fullness of her tits, that look in her eye, had called to him. This was his miracle. He had to be patient for her. She was his life, his meaning, his fucking everything.
Chapter Ten
Cathy had hoped to avoid this conversation. She’d even made excuses that work needed her. These videos didn’t need to be filmed, but there was always work to be done, especially when she owned a channel.