Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Do it,” he says, pounding even harder, and I fall apart. Apollo’s name falls from my lips as wave after wave of sensation rolls through me.
He groans and follows me over, and then he rolls to the side and tugs me tight against his chest.
“So, getting sick makes you horny.” He swallows hard as he catches his breath. “Good to know.”
I smile. “I guess so. This isn’t after-sex cuddles.”
His hand drifts up and down my back, making me want to stretch into his touch and purr like a kitten.
“Of course not.” He kisses my forehead. “Do you need anything?”
“I think I’m kind of sleepy now.”
“Makes sense to me. You’ve had a busy time of it tonight. Drift off, babe. I’m right here with you.”
I can’t keep my eyes open, so I do as he says. I relax and let sleep take over.
I can’t believe Apollo talked me into staying home today.
I own the company. Sick days aren’t a luxury that I can indulge in. Sure, I have an excellent crew, but I need to be out in the field every day, checking on job sites. He even asked me not to go to the chapel, which I almost threw down about before I ended up having to run to the bathroom.
There may not be a chance in hell of finishing it by Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t work on it anyway. Speaking of Christmas, it’s right around the corner, and I haven’t done any shopping, which means I have way too much to do to just lie around Apollo’s house all day.
I will admit, though, it felt good to sleep in a bit. Whatever’s decided to piss off my stomach has made me so freaking sleepy. I’m so over it, and if I’m not better in a couple of days, I’ll have to break down and go to the doctor, which I hate. So, here’s to hoping this passes and I start to feel better on my own.
Ignoring my rolling stomach, I get dressed, pull on my sturdy coveralls and work boots, and then pile my hair under my old, beat-up trucker hat so it stays out of my way.
Happy with that result, I set off for the chapel so I can take a look around before I head to the job sites and check in with my guys there.
Admittedly, they likely have everything under control, but I like to touch base with them in case they have questions or any issues.
When I pull up to the chapel, I immediately scowl at the number of trucks parked out front. Before I even make it to the front door, I can hear power tools and talking inside. Someone has a radio playing.
Stopping in the doorway as I let my eyes adjust, I feel like I’ve been hit in the solar plexus. My walls are being textured. The kitchen cabinets are being painted, and Apollo is giving instructions for how the light fixtures are supposed to be installed.
There have to be twenty men in here, bustling about as if this is the most important project in town. There are certainly more workers here than what I have on staff. Even my brother has a tool belt slung around his waist and is carrying trim in and out of one of the bedrooms.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
Apollo’s head whips around, and when he sees me, he grins, but then his smile drops into a concerned frown as he climbs off his ladder and hurries over to me.
“I thought you said you were going to take a sick day,” he says as he reaches me.
“No, you said that. What in the hell is happening here? I didn’t hire them to do this.”
“I know.” He glances back at them and then turns to me with a very satisfied grin. “It was supposed to be a surprise, but you’re not good at taking directions. Are you feeling okay?”
Right now, something’s doing the rumba in my stomach, but I shrug. “I’m fine. Talk to me, Apollo.”
“Okay, so when you said the other day that you wouldn’t be able to move in here before the holidays like you wanted, it got me to thinking. You obviously didn’t ask your staff to help you, even though you promised you would.”
“I didn’t—”
“So, I made some calls, and everyone agreed that they’d take today to get ahead of things, and then, schedules willing, they’ll be here from three until six in the afternoon every day until it’s done. They can spare those hours around all the other projects they’re working on.”
“I don’t employ all of these people.”
“No, but they all know you and care about you. Juniper, we live in a small, tight-knit community. They want to help, so they are.”
“Christmas is only two weeks away.”
“Well, then, we’d better get crackin’.”