Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
“As well as can be expected, I guess.” I rub a hand down my face, trying to clear the fog. Josephine’s been asking for her mom. I’ve tried to explain to her that she’s in the sky, but getting that through to a child isn’t easy. “What am I gonna do, man? I’ve got work piling up, and I can’t take the princess to work with me.” My job as the owner of a land clearing company makes it kind of hard when I’m on a skid steer for a few hours a day. Sure, there are times she can come to work with me, but on a few jobs, absolutely fucking not.
“You know we’ll take her, and so will Mom and Dad. But I get it. She’s going to have it tough without a female figure in her life. You ever thought about hiring a nanny?” I look at my brother as if he’s got two heads. A damn nanny. Not freaking likely.
“I’ll figure it out. Emma set up dates for schools to interview. That should help so she’s not shipped around too much between us now.” I pull at the tie, loosening its hold. The stress is getting to me with everything that needs to get done. I’d have a drink or two, except I’m driving, and no damn way will I take a chance, especially now.
“Or you can take a look at JoJo. She’s over there with Kody.” Matthew puts his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels, acting like he isn’t conniving a plan. Kody is Shaun’s younger sister, who is Matthew’s lifelong friend, and in turn, mine as well.
“The last thing I need right now is to confuse Josephine.” My eyes move to the nearly two-year-old who has me wrapped around her finger. She’s doing a puzzle with Kody, who isn’t so young anymore. She left in her early twenties or maybe her teen years, I can’t quite remember, moved away, and apparently, she’s home for good. Nope, she’s all woman—dark hair, dark eyes, dark eyelashes, and a body that has me thinking of shit I have no right to.
“I’m just offering a suggestion. Kody’s home and is getting back on her feet. Not sure if she’s looking for a permanent nanny position, but she used to babysit all the kids around town. It could work out for the both of you.” My head tips to the side, and I really look at JoJo and Kody. My baby girl is laughing for the first time in a week. She’s not asking questions I’ve got no answers to, and she’s not trying to get her dad to smile. Josephine is being her normal self.
“Yeah, maybe,” I grunt. Meanwhile, I’m eye-fucking a woman who’s gotta be ten years my junior, a friend of the family in some aspect, and yet telling that to my hard-as-fuck cock is impossible.
“Let me know if you need her number.” Matthew claps me on the back, and a smug smirk is locked on his face. I’d say fuck you and knock the look off his mug if it weren’t for the fact my eyes are glued on Kody.
2
KODY
“Is that Jameson’s little girl?” I ask Shaun, nodding to the little girl on the ground playing by herself. I never expected to land back in Lane County and living with my brother after going through a nasty-as-hell divorce. My ex-husband, Richie, was one for the record books. Most would look at him and think he’s handsome, rich, and a pedigree. Which he is for the most part. It’s his personality that kills off any good he may have inside of him. Pompous, arrogant, and a know-it-all. Not to mention Richie would use his words in a way that would tear you down and belittle you in every way. It was so bad that once I was done, I was done. I filed for divorce, on my own, and boy, was that the wrong move. For all I could care, Richie could keep everything. I wanted nothing except my photography business, clothes, and a few personal items. The only place I needed to be was home, back in North Carolina instead of thousands of miles away in Chicago. I ten out of ten do not suggest going it on your own. Especially with a man like Richie Gates. His pit bull of an attorney tried to take even more than I was willing to let go. Richie really wanted to go after my small photography business that he said was a complete and utter failure time and time again. That’s when I knew I had to call my big brother for help. He hired a pit bull attorney for me as well, who had no problem going head to head with Richie’s. Needless to say, months later, I’m finally back home, my maiden name firmly in place, my photography business my own, and living with my brother. Now here’s to rebuilding my life, my career, and everything that goes along with being a divorced woman in a small-ass town.