Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
At sixty minutes on the dot, I head out the door and down the leaf-strewn path leading to Jasper’s place.
Reaching the front door, I take a deep breath and knock with a little more urgency than necessary. The door swings open, and Jasper fills the frame.
“Piers,” he states, his eyes locked onto mine with the practiced calm of someone who’s seen a lot more than he lets on.
“Good morning, Jasper,” I say, falling into my usual balance of casual politeness and serious intentions. “I’m here to pick up Remi for a swim.”
There's a moment, a heartbeat, where Jasper seems to size me up, his gaze as heavy as the expectations I feel pressing on my shoulders. Then his expression shifts just a little. “Sounds like a great way to spend the day.” After a few seconds’ pause, he moves closer to add, “Remi told me how serious your courtship has become. While I gave her my blessing, I want you to know I’m keeping an eye on you. She’s like a daughter to me. Hurt her, and you’ll have to deal with me.”
It’s an unmistakable declaration, or maybe more accurately, a threat. “I wouldn’t dream of it. She’s everything to me.”
Something in my tone must ring true because he steps back, nodding just slightly. “We’re all going to have dinner together tonight so I can speak to you about your intentions.”
“Sounds good.” I have no doubt I can win him over.
Winston dances around the front foyer as Remi emerges from the hallway, her sundress hinting at the swimsuit beneath. The sight of her sends electricity dancing along my nerves.
“Hey there!” she chirps, slipping her arms around my waist after pausing to give Jasper a quick hug. “We’ll be back for dinner, Uncle Jasper.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Jasper smiles down at her before glancing over to give me a look, reminding me of his earlier warning.
We step into the sunlit street, and I take her soft hand in mine as we set off toward my house. Each brush of her shoulder against mine echoes with a spark stretching between us like a current.
The cool interior of my house greets us as we walk through the front door. I'm immediately aware of the electric energy crackling around the edge of our interactions. The temptation to scoop Remi up and carry her straight to the bedroom suddenly overwhelms me. But the desire to win her heart as well as her stunning body holds me back. Now’s the time to make sure she’s as addicted to me as I am to her.
I steer us toward the backyard, where the pool shimmers. There’s a waterfall cascading over artfully arranged rocks and an elevated hot tub swirling away.
“This is gorgeous,” she gasps and turns to smile at me. “I’m going to use this pool every day no matter how cold it is.” My heart settles into a normal rhythm after hearing her acknowledge our relationship is permanent. She glances over at the evergreen tree lining the pool area I decorated for her. “I can’t believe you even decorated a Christmas tree by your swimming pool. I love it!”
“I’m glad you like it. Why don’t you hop in and test out the water?”
Remi doesn’t need a second invitation. She saunters ahead, sundress slipping from her shoulders, and I’m momentarily stunned. Staring at the light-blue two-piece swimsuit molded to her perfect, curvy frame, I forget to breathe for a beat. Recovery involves closing my eyes and counting backward, a survival tactic in the face of beauty that’s powerful enough to knock me off my feet.
When I venture a glance again, she’s there, near the pool’s edge, shooting me a teasing look over her shoulder. “Joining, or just staring?”
“Definitely appreciating the scenery,” I shoot back, peeling off my shirt, then kicking off my boat shoes, and diving cleanly into the pool beside her. The cool water is a good anchor for my now-scattered wits.
Surfacing next to her, the cascade of the waterfall drowns out the world around us and makes everything feel like it exists just for us. With Remi's laughter cutting through the afternoon sunshine, it’s easy to forget everything except the here and now.
Chapter 6
Remi
Floating in the water feels like a dream. I’m right there, treading water beside Piers, and everything else just melts away. Even the chilly bite of late autumn can’t touch us here, not with the sun shining down and the heat of the pool wrapping us up in its cocoon.
Piers moves in closer, his eyes locked on mine with an intense look that does funny things to my insides. Without a word, he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his large body.
His warm breath brushes across my lips. The kiss is slow, deliberate. My eyes roll back reflexively, losing myself in the sensation as my thoughts scatter to the winds.