Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“Oh. I…uh…need to pick up…” She shook her head. “It stands for Victoria’s Secret.”
“I can help you with that, too. The mirrors in dressing rooms can’t be trusted. I’ll come so you can model for me.”
Valentina laughed, and that sound was freaking awesome—right up there with my other favorites like the ocean and a crackling fire. It drew me closer to where she stood in front of the stove. Three burners were going at once.
“Wow. That looks delicious.”
“I only have three small pans, so I can only make two frittatas at a time.”
I shrugged. “Works for me. Bella doesn’t need to eat anyway.”
“How thoughtful of you.” She walked to the refrigerator, took out the feta, and began to sprinkle it into the pan with the eggs.
I moved behind Val, definitely closer than was neighborly, and took a deep breath in. “Smells delicious.”
She ignored me. The burner she wasn’t cooking on had a paper-towel-lined plate filled with crispy bacon. I reached around her to swipe a piece, and my chest brushed lightly against her back. I heard the hitch in her breath, even over the sizzle of the bacon.
Good to know.
She didn’t budge as I leaned in to steal a second piece.
This time, I purposely brushed against her back. “You smell good.”
Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, allowing me to see the nape of her neck, skin that was pebbling with tiny goosebumps—so I didn’t back up.
“I love knowing you thought about me this week. Are you curious what I was doing when I thought about you? Because I can’t stop wondering what you were doing when you were thinking about me.”
Valentina’s breathing grew more labored. I wanted to turn her around and press my body against hers, make her gasp into my mouth. But even though I could see her reaction to me on her skin, her body language was still rigid. I’d managed to crack the door open, but she wasn’t inviting me in.
Hesitantly, I touched her arm.
“Ford.” Her voice strained in warning—like her head and body were in conflict and her head was only barely winning the fight.
“I’ll go first. I thought of you during the day when I was at work, staring at the computer where we’d first messaged back and forth online. I thought of you as I was at a lunch business meeting yesterday, wondering what wine you would order. But my favorite time to think about you was at night. I’d take off all my clothes, get into bed, shut my eyes, and reach down and grab my—”
“Anybody home?” My sister’s voice interrupted.
Shit. Instinctively, I stepped back. Val shook her head a few times before rushing to the door.
Bella still had wet hair from her shower. Figures she’d pick today to not spend an hour getting herself ready. “Mmmm…it smells good in here. That workout made me so hungry.”
I caught Val’s eye. “Watching it made me hungry, too.”
Val walked back to the stove, not glancing in my direction again. I stood a few feet away, leaning against the kitchen sink with my arms folded over my chest, just watching her.
“There’s coffee in the pot and creamer in the fridge,” she said to Bella. “Help yourself.”
“I haven’t had a frittata in forever. Our mom used to make them. You sort of remind me of her. Doesn’t she remind you of Mom, Ford?”
My eyes shut, and I shook my head. “She definitely does not remind me of Mom.”
Val plated the two frittatas and set them on the table. “You two eat.”
“We’ll wait for you,” I said.
“Yours will get cold while I make mine. Eat.”
Bella caught my eye and smirked as she sat down at the table. She pointed her fork at me before digging in. “See? Mom.”
I was definitely waiting for Val to eat after that comment. I wasn’t really that hungry anyway. She finally sat a few minutes later.
“The class this morning was amazing, right?” my sister said.
“It was. I really enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I did yoga, so I might be sore later, though.”
“And that instructor was totally into you. I bet he asks you out next time.”
Valentina gave my sister a polite smile, and then our eyes caught briefly. My sister was totally oblivious, so of course she continued.
“He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. We should take the class again tomorrow. He’s totally worth getting up so early for.”
I had a momentary lapse in sanity. “Maybe I’ll take the class, too.”
“You?” My sister snorted.
“Sure. Why not?”
“You’ve never done yoga.”
I stood and put my plate in the sink. “I’m all about trying new things.”
“Well, I’m all about getting a job today.”
“A job? You’re only out here for the weekend.”
Bella’s lips pursed. “I have an interview for a summer waitressing gig at a restaurant in town. I figured if I got a job, you might start to see that I’m responsible enough to stay out here for the summer. Plus, I need to save some money. I sort of blew through my savings during my semester abroad.” She looked down at her phone. “Shoot. My interview is in twenty minutes. I’m going to be late. Let me help you clean up before I go, Val.”