Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Both of us are silent for a moment because we’re not sure what’s going to happen after I give birth. The question shimmers in the air between us, and it’s a little awkward. After all, once I don’t need anal all the time, will our entanglement be called off? Will it simmer down to nothing? Will we meet, only for conversation and drinks? The prospect of that scenario seems weird, definitely, given how dirty we’ve been together already.
But there’s no sense in addressing that now, so I smile winsomely.
“But yes, at some point, I’ll have to go back to work. I’m not too worried about finding a job because I’m just a receptionist, so someone will be hiring. But yeah, childcare and all that isn’t going to be fun, for sure. My parents have said they’ll help, but I think that means they’ll babysit for about two hours a week.”
Mark sits back, surprise in his blue eyes.
“Only two hours?”
I nod.
“Yeah, Gary and Carine are just … well, again, they’ve always had a contentious relationship, even after being married for a quarter century. It’s astonishing, right? You’d think they’d get along better, but no. So two hours is a good thing because I don’t want my baby subjected to their tantrums and bad behavior. Keep in mind that they’re fifty now, and it’s still happening.”
Mark shakes his dark head with wonder.
“Wow, I thought most folks got more chill with age.”
I nod ruefully.
“I know, right? But not my parents. Gary and Carine still get into terrible screaming matches and sometimes it’s about the mortgage, sometimes it’s about renovating the house, but most of the time, it’s about something that’s utterly ridiculous. Again, it’s just another reason why I want to raise this baby on my own. There’s no need to repeat the bad behavior of my family.”
Mark looks thoughtful.
“That’s very interesting sweetheart. But tell me, is there anything I can do to help? Do you want me to babysit once the kid’s born? Money? I make plenty as a firefighter and you know I’m just a single guy, so there’s lots of cash to go around.”
Immediately, I shake my head with vigor.
“Oh no, I can’t impose on you because that wouldn’t be right. Besides, we just met!”
But Mark merely squeezes my hand.
“No, it’s fine. I promise I’m good with kids even if I look like a bear in the mornings. I’m a friendly bear, I swear, and children love it.”
I laugh then because the bear comparison is actually very apt. My lover is one of those men who needs coffee first thing, otherwise he glowers and prowls around with a chip on his shoulder. But after that first sip of caffeine, everything’s fine. Actually, scratch that. After a mug of steaming joe and some hot anal sex, Mark is more than ready for the day with a big smile and a relaxed attitude.
“Hmmm, good with kids, huh? Well, maybe I will have to use you as my go-to babysitter.”
He grins, blue eyes humorous.
“Just ask, baby girl. Just ask.”
With that, our food is delivered, and my mouth starts watering at the bowl of steaming ramen. It smells so good and I inhale the aroma while my lashes flutter shut.
“Sesame, mmm,” I moan. “Plus, chicken too. This is really hits the spot,” I say after gulping a big spoonful of noodles and broth.
Meanwhile, Mark is inhaling sushi like there’s no tomorrow.
“This is so good,” he agrees, his mouth full. “Dang, pass the wasabi please.”
I giggle while handing him the tube of green goo.
“Isn’t that stuff like eating fire?” I ask. “It’s made from the same root as horseradish.”
Mark nods while squirting a big glob on his plate.
“It is, but it really brings out the flavor of some of the fish,” he growls. “Especially when you mix it with soy sauce like so.”
Then, he dunks a big piece of tuna and rice into the mix and pops it into his mouth and barely even swallows before it disappears.
“Fantastic,” he growls. “Now, I just need more.”
I laugh because I’m a girl who eats a lot, especially since I’m pregnant, but this man consumes at least three times more food than me.
“So tell me,” I say in a coy voice. “Do you always eat like this at the fire station?”
Mark nods, still chewing.
“Yeah, pretty much. All of us are monsters there, and when we go to the grocery store, we’re sometimes cleaning out that place. Seriously, we’ll walk out with gallons and gallons of milk, as well as meat, fish, poultry, pasta, you name it. It’s just part of our job,” he says.
I nod.
“Because you sleep at the station sometimes, right?”
Mark grins.
“Yeah, the nights when I haven’t been available to service you are usually because I’m on an overnight at the station. We have weird shifts sometimes because fires can happen any time of the day. Hell, a lot of times it feels like it’s more likely we’ll be summoned at 3 a.m. than 3 p.m. Burning candles, forgetting to shut off the stove, and all that. As well as health emergencies,” he frowns. “Heart attacks and other medical events that require EMS personnel.”