Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Watching him with the teens he tried to help was also eye-opening. The patience and care he exhibited. She recalled how willing he’d been to put his entire life on hold to help Charlie, even before he knew what she was to him. The man would give the clothes off his back to help a child in need, and Daff often felt a little intimidated by his sheer goodness. She wasn’t good. She wasn’t kind. And even though she wanted him, she knew that what they had now was best. Spencer needed someone like him. Someone who was kind and decent.
“What time’s the meeting tonight?” she asked in an attempt to break free of her melancholy thoughts. He was still dead set on building the youth center and would be meeting with the town committee that night to pitch the proposal he and Mason had been working on for weeks.
“Seven.” His eyes dropped back to hers and he stopped worrying at his lip.
“How do you think it’ll go?”
“I know Oom Herbert, Principal Kane, and your dad are on board. I think Father O’Grady would be keen on the idea, too, but I’m not too sure about Alderman Motlaung and Mrs. Salie.” Mrs. Salie was the librarian.
“I don’t think Mrs. Salie is a concern. But you may have your work cut out with the alderman. There’s been talk about him being a mayoral candidate next year, and a lot of his party’s campaign sponsors probably won’t support the youth center.”
“Hmm.” He went back to worrying his lip, and Daff stifled a moan.
“Anyway,” she said, starting to pack up the remnants of their lunch, “I should get back to work.”
“Hmm.” He was staring at Nelly again and only shifted his attention back to her after Daff got up to leave. “Daff?”
She stilled and watched him cautiously.
“Yes?”
“Do you think Charlie would like a day out? Maybe to explore and shop and stuff?”
“I think she’d like that.”
“Would you . . .” He paused as he considered his words carefully. “Could you join us? She probably won’t go if it’s just me.”
“When are you thinking of doing this?”
“Sunday?” Just two days away. The thought of spending an entire day with him definitely appealed.
“Suits me,” she said, striving for casual, and he looked relieved. As if she weren’t at the point where she would move heaven and earth for this man.
“Appreciate it.”
“I’ll see you soon,” she promised him and turned to leave again.
“Daff?”
“Yes?”
“I’m glad we’re friends.” The words were soft and heartfelt and yet left Daff feeling hollow and disheartened. Because it didn’t matter if what they had now was best—she definitely no longer wanted to be this man’s friend. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but it was definitely more than what they currently had.
“Me too,” she said, her voice muted and her smile an effort.
She left without another word.
Spencer watched Daff leave and heaved a frustrated sigh before running both hands through his hair. The woman was driving him crazy. Her warm smiles, so scarce in the past—and never aimed at him—were ever present these days. Sometimes it physically hurt not to reach out and touch her. He still wasn’t able to convince his body that they were just friends, and the amount of self-relief and/or cold showers he’d been forced to submit to over the last six weeks was becoming ridiculous. He had to consider the possibility of lessening his exposure to her.
Maybe depriving himself of her company, going cold turkey, as it were, would be the eventual solution to his dilemma. But it was something he could only consider doing after the wedding. Luckily, that was just a month away now. After that he’d be sure to keep his distance. It would be easier once she was no longer working down the road and the lunches stopped.
And he definitely wouldn’t be seeing much of the McGregors after Mason and Daisy left. Which was why he had to get Charlie comfortably situated at his place before that happened. If she didn’t wind up going to Grahamstown with Daisy and Mason after all—something that was starting to look like a distinct possibility.
Asking Daff to join him and Charlie on Sunday probably hadn’t been the wisest move, either. But if he asked Mason and Daisy to come, Charlie would give all her attention to Mason. He’d noticed her doing that more and more lately. Mason and Daisy had suggested a small family dinner, just the four of them, a couple of weeks ago, and the girl hadn’t said a single word to Spencer the entire evening. And yet, she and Mason seemed to have hit it off immediately.
Spencer felt left out.
Every night he went home yearning for Daff, missing his brother, and longing to spend time with his new sister. Occasionally he went out to Ralphie’s, often inviting Mason, who always joined him but rarely stayed out longer than a couple of hours. The younger man was too distracted with wedding and moving plans. So Spencer was usually left to finish his drinks alone. Someone would occasionally stop by for a word, but for the most part everyone left him alone. He felt like a fucking island, being buffeted by heavy winds, rain, and waves from all sides and at risk of disappearing completely beneath the raging waters.