Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 122578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
The smirk went full-fledged.
“I don’t typically eat breakfast,” I ground out. I had to keep some semblance of professionalism between us if we were going to make this work. Difficult when I wanted to stride forward, drive my fingers into her hair, and kiss her like she was mine.
“I don’t think he even eats food. I’ve never even seen him one time.”
It was then my attention finally snapped to Evelyn. She waited at the square table that sat in the nook beneath the windows, leaning her elbows on top of it, her shoulders rocking back and forth in the cutest sway.
My chest squeezed.
“Oh, I think he eats, Evelyn.”
My gaze flew right back to Paisley who sent me a sly grin.
My teeth clenched in dwindling restraint. “I’m just here to grab some coffee.”
I moved deeper into the kitchen, giving myself some distance when I wound around Paisley. If I got too close, I worried I would be sucked into her atmosphere. Pulled into the gravity that was this woman, and I was never going to find my way out.
Only she grabbed me by the arm as I passed. Fire streaked over my flesh.
“You should sit.” Her voice was lowered, and she angled her head toward the table in emphasis.
Sit with Evelyn.
Spend time with Evelyn.
But I had no idea what I was doing. How to do this right. How not to mess up a little girl more than she’d already been.
Reservation billowed through my spirit, the fear that kept trying to creep up and this feeling that terrified me more.
“Are you the hungriest you’ve been in your whole life?” Evelyn asked, her little face gleaming below the morning light that streamed in through the windows.
My chest tightened as I looked at her. Took in the dimple in her chin that matched my sister’s, her hair the same shade of brown.
A constant reminder of what I’d done.
Of what I’d cost.
Trepidation coursed through me as I moved to the small table and took a seat.
“He is the hungriest, Ms. Dae.” Evelyn grinned. “You better give him lots and lots.”
“Well, I cooked a dozen eggs, so that should be plenty.”
Evelyn’s eyes went wide. “A whole million?”
Paisley laughed. That deep, throaty sound that spread through me like a caress. “Not quite but close enough.”
“Did you know breakfast is really the most important food of the day?” She’d turned her sweet gaze to me. “We have to have lots of energy if we’re going to ride horses. Do you want to ride horses with me and Ms. Dae? We are going to ride the whole day. It would be really fun.”
Anxiety screamed. The warning that I was getting too close. That this was too much.
The dread and the worry and the urge to reach over and brush back the lock of hair that had fallen in her face.
But I knew better than to get too close.
Yesterday had proven I was slipping.
Falling in a direction neither of us could afford.
I’d care for her.
Protect her from the fate of those who got too close to me.
But I had to be careful. Keep from tainting the child with who I was.
“I have a lot of work to do today. Maybe another time.” The words scuffed off my throat.
Disappointment dimmed her expression. Then she whispered, “That’s okay, you got really important work to do.”
Is that what she thought? That what I did was important? What would she think when she realized it was what had stolen her mother?
Rocks sank to the pit of my stomach, and I jerked when Paisley’s voice hit the air. “Can I bring you your coffee?”
Sympathy contorted her face.
Like she could read every thought that ran through my mind.
“Sure,” I forced out.
She grabbed a mug and poured coffee into it, then took one for herself, dousing it with a ton of creamer before she waltzed our way.
I felt her coming like a landslide, all chaotic power and energy.
“There you go,” she whispered close to my ear, her fingertips dragging down the length of my arm when she set it in front of me.
“Thank you.” How I managed to get it out around the lump in my throat, I had no clue.
“Not a problem.” She pranced back to the other side of the island and gathered three plates.
“Need help?” I asked. At least I could try to be a gentleman.
“Nah, I work here, don’t I?”
Except she placed all three down at the table and plopped onto a chair as if she were right where she belonged.
Without delay, she took a bite of her eggs.
“So very employee-esque of you,” I muttered under my breath before I took a sip of steaming coffee.
“Well, you may not like food, Mr. Greyson, but I’m a fan. Besides, I think someone told me to make myself at home last night.” Her voice dropped on the last, and those green eyes sparked, dragging over me slowly.