Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
“The glamorous life, huh?” Kimba jokes, proffering a sandwich. “I really go all out for my man.”
I grab her by the waist and pull her onto my lap, inhaling the unique mix of lemons and cocoa, which shouldn’t work, but is intoxicating on her skin.
“Say that last part again,” I say into the cove behind her ear.
She turns to me, kisses my jaw. “Which part, baby?”
I make a note that I also want her to call me baby later. “Don’t tease me, Tru. You know. Say it again.”
“My man.” She hooks her arms behind my neck. “You like hearing that you’re my man, Ezra?”
“Very much.” I cup her breast, brushing a thumb over her nipple and smiling against her throat when her breath hitches. “Your man is hungry.”
“So is your woman,” she says, slanting her mouth over mine, kissing me possessively with ardor that matches mine.
“Are you gonna feed me, or what?” I mumble into the kiss as it slows. She smiles against my lips and turns back to the table to grab the sandwich, offering it to me for a bite. I tighten my hands at her waist and pull her closer to my chest.
“Today was exhausting,” she says, biting our sandwich and offering it to me again. “That book has taken over our lives.”
“You guys read it?” I sip from the glass of wine she brings to my lips.
“Yeah.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s actually really good, dammit. Gripping and makes Daddy look like a giant, besides accusing him of philandering with your mother, of course.”
“I wonder if taking that approach might work better. Meaning, you see all that’s great about the book. Negotiate with the publisher that if the author removes that one aspect, the Allen family will help promote it.”
“Hmmm.” Her dark brows knit and she nods. “That could work, but I still want to disprove that lie about Daddy. It’s too incendiary. Poses too much of a threat to his memory, to his legacy and what he means to this city. I need to speak to the author, find out the source and prove it false.”
“If anyone can do it, you can.” I open my mouth and look at her expectantly. “Food, please.”
She chuckles, leans in and offers me another bite. We eat one sandwich together, exchanging bites and kisses, alternating with sips of wine from one glass. In this moment by the water in moonlight, we share everything.
“I’m sick of talking about this damn book,” she grumbles when we’re done eating. “Have you heard from Noah?”
“Briefly.” I gather our plates and trash and toss them into a bag. “He’s fine. Wondering if he can stay an extra week.”
“Will you let him?”
“No.” I chuckle and take her hand as we walk up the dock and back toward the little house. “I miss him too much.”
Her rich laughter rolls out over the lake and she lifts my knuckle for a kiss. “You’re such an incredible father.”
“Thank you. I love kids,” I say, opening the door and letting her into the house ahead of me. “I wish I had more.”
Her first step into the living room falters for just a second and her smile slips. I hear what I just said. Shit. Does she think I’m saying I wish Aiko and I had more kids? Or that I’m imposing any expectations on her?
I follow her into the bedroom. “Kimba, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” she says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’ve poured your whole heart into YLA, and I saw you with the kids at Noah’s party. It’s apparent how much they love you and why. You’re just as much a dad to some of them as you are to Noah.”
I’m quiet for a moment, thinking of all the kids in our school who don’t have dads, who come to me for advice, look to me for guidance.
“I did want more.” I sit beside her, take her hand, and the soft mattress gives beneath my additional weight. “We didn’t intend to get pregnant with Noah. Hell, it was the worst timing. I was a poor doctoral student barely able to take care of myself, but later, after Aiko and I had been together for years and things stabilized, I wanted another baby.”
“And?” she asks, her voice quiet, yet alert with something I’m not sure of yet.
“And Ko didn’t. She’d sacrificed a lot. Delayed some opportunities when she had Noah, moved to Atlanta because I wanted to set the school up here. The last thing I wanted to do was make her feel pressure.”
“How’d that make you feel?” Kimba asks.
“I didn’t resent it at all.”
Kimba breathes out a little laugh, looks down at our hands in her lap. “In some ways I envy her.”
“No.” I angle until I can see her face, look into her eyes. “You have nothing to be jealous of. You know that, right?”