Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“Tell me again.”
“They were either moody, hyper, or sick. I can only be used as a human tissue so many times.”
“You must have an immune system of steel,” he replies.
“You probably just jinxed me. If I get sick, I’m blaming you, Kincaid.”
“I’ll nurse you back to health.”
“Nah, I wouldn’t want you to get sick.”
“You’d be too weak to keep me away.”
“Are you always this difficult or just with me?”
He pauses. “Just you.”
“I feel special.”
“Because you are.”
“What are you buttering me up for?” I ask him. There’s humor in my voice, but I’m sure he’s building up to something.
“Nothing, gorgeous. I’m just keeping it real. You should know by now what you see is what you get with me.”
“You’re an open book, huh?”
“Not for everyone, but yeah, I’m an open book for you.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Come on, Rushton.”
“Rush,” he corrects me. “We’re friends, remember?”
“Rush,” I say to pacify him. “Now tell me.”
“I want to get to know you better. It’s only fair I let you do the same with me.”
“I never said I wanted to get to know you.”
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, that sounded worse out loud than in my head. It’s not that I don’t want to know you. I just need to stay focused. I need this contract. I like this town.”
“Yeah? You want to make Willow River your forever home?” he asks softly.
“I’d really love that. I’ve never had a forever home.”
He mutters fuck, under his breath, but I still hear him.
“How was your week?” I ask to change the subject.
“It was good. I missed you, though. It’s been almost two full weeks since I’ve seen you.”
“That’s not true. We did a video call last Thursday when I told you I was making cookies for my students.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“You’re needy.”
“That’s a new trait for me. One that only seems to apply to you.”
“You know you’re wasting all that charm, don’t you? I’m pretty set in my ways. I have to be.”
“How so?”
I go with honesty. “It’s only ever been me, Rush. I had one person who I thought was my best friend, and she slept with my ex.”
“What about this ex? Were the two of you not close?”
“No. I mean, at the time I thought that we were, but he claimed he cheated because I was emotionally unavailable, and he’s not wrong.”
“You’re not emotionally unavailable, Crosby.”
“I am. I push people away. It’s what I do. I don’t let them get too close. That way, when they leave, it won’t hurt as bad.”
“You’re building a life here.”
“I hope to be. My future lies in the hands of the school board.”
“Are you kidding me? Your students love you. There is no way they’re not going to renew your contract.”
“Until I know for sure, there’s no point in me getting involved. I don’t know where I might end up.”
“Have a little faith, Crosby.”
“I’d love to say that I do, but life has taught me that faith is hard to come by.” I clear my throat. “So, you see, you’re wasting your time and effort. You should move on from whatever it is that has you continuing to ask me to dinner and wanting to get to know me.”
“What if I tell you that I’ll wait?”
“Wait for what?”
“For you to be ready.”
I’m stunned and have to fight against the emotion welling in my throat at the mere thought that he could want something with me that would have him willing to wait until the spring to see what my future holds. “That’s not fair to you.”
“What’s not fair is that I met this gorgeous woman trying to reach some fishing line. Instantly, I was attracted to her. She’s hands down the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Her heart has some scars, but it’s enormous. She’s got so much love to give, but she’s holding herself back. She’s got a timeline, and if I want her, I need to abide by it.”
“It’s October. I won’t know until at least May if they’re extending my contract.”
“Seven months.”
“That’s a long time for a man like you.”
“A man like me?”
“You’re… sexy, and I’m sure you have women throwing themselves at you.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not the one that I want.”
Butterflies take flight in my belly. I need to shut this down. “I should get to bed. I’m exhausted.”
“Can I see you this weekend? Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Grocery shopping? You tell me when and where, and I’m there.”
“It’s as if a switch has been flipped. You’re coming on a lot stronger the past couple of weeks.”
“You let me feel you, Crosby. You let me hold you in my arms while you slept, and I thought maybe it was a fluke, you know? I thought maybe I imagined that it was as good as it was. Then that day at my parents’ in the basement, you let me hold you again, and that same feeling washed over me.”