Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
She sniffs, wrinkling her nose in an adorable gesture. “Not with strings attached.”
My smirk doesn’t fade. I’m in this for the long-haul, and I’m glad she’s not making this easy on me. “Let me know when you change your mind.”
Her grin makes my heart rate speed up, and my groin tighten painfully. I want her to look at me like that when I’m deep inside of her. “I’m not going to be the one that breaks.”
“Game on, sweetheart.”
She chuckles, the noise filling my chest with warmth. “I have to go. I have donuts in the proofer.”
I keep standing in the doorway. She’s not backing down. She just squeezes around me, our bodies brushing in a way that makes me groan with need. I can feel her big tits against my chest as her sweet vanilla scent makes my mouth water. I can’t wait to taste her all over.
As soon as she’s gone, mom is rolling up to me. Her expression is filled with suspicion, the same way it is when I sample some of her fresh chocolate cake before it’s served. “What are you up to?”
I shrug. “Nothing.”
Her frown only deepens. “Oh, no, you don’t. You tell your mama what’s going on right now, Tiny Bear.”
I don’t want her worrying. Stress isn’t good for her condition. Besides, she should know the truth. “You see that beautiful woman?” I jerk my head toward the door that Sadie just exited. “She’s your future daughter-in-law.”
She chuckles, her features relaxing. “From what I saw, you’re going to have a heck of a fight ahead of you.”
“She’ll be worth it in the end,” I answer, already knowing the truth of my words. It doesn’t matter how hard she fights, we’re inevitable. Every cell in my body knows her soul is intertwined with mine.
“I like her. She’s a sweetie. You be good to her.”
“I plan to be very good,” I reassure my mama, barely able to keep the smirk from my face.
Mom is dressed in her favorite cardigan today, the blue one with the big white buttons. She usually only dresses up when she goes to see her friend. “Am I driving you to Carol’s again?”
They used to play bridge every three weeks. Lately, she’s been playing with Carol a few times a week. It makes me think the two of them are up to something together.
She nods to the bag on the floor. “Can you take that for me? I’m spending today and tonight with Carol. But you can pick me up tomorrow morning.”
She seems more nervous than usual, which only fuels my suspicion. There’s something going on here but if I ask her about it, she’ll tell me to mind my own business. Still, I don’t want her thinking she can’t talk to me if she needs help. “If you need me, you can always call me. You say the word and I’ll come get you. You’re never a bother.”
Her eyes fill, and she blinks to keep from letting the tears fall. “I remember saying that to you a million times when you came to live with me. You’ve grown up into such a nice boy.”
I don’t want her to cry. The past was a long time ago, and I’m not that scared kid anymore. “Ma, come on. We can’t have you ruining your fancy makeup.”
She manages to compose herself. “When you pick me up, we’ll go straight to Ginger’s place. I want to be there first thing.”
I forgot about our plans for tomorrow. Our whole family is going up the mountain to be with Ginger, our little sister. She’s married to Grizz, a grumpy mountain man.
My brothers and I will be helping him add on to their cabin in preparation for the baby that Ginger is carrying. It’s still crazy to me to think that my little sister is pregnant. Seems like it was only a few days ago that she was trailing after Greer, my older brother, and begging him to let her ride the small ponies.
I nod to my mom. “I’ll get you there as soon as the sun rises.”
True to my word, the next morning, I’m pulling my truck into Ginger’s driveway just as the sun is beginning its ascent for the day. Ginger races out of the cabin, hugging my mom around her big bump and talking a mile a minute.
“You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in six months,” I grunt to Grizz.
He smiles—the man who had a scowl permanently etched on his face before he got married—actually smiles. He unloads mom’s motorized wheelchair with ease. “I’m glad she’s here. Don’t know if I can handle another discussion about the difference between golden yellow and sunset yellow.”
I chuckle. I know from all the time I’ve spent helping Mom at the candle shop that women love to sit around and invent new colors.