Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“And moving on to more,” Steele said. “After lunch, we want you to come home to our place.”
“I . . . I can’t.” Disappointment filled her. “Sunday afternoons are mine and Brooks. He’ll be home at four. We’ll watch a movie and get take-out. I . . . I’m sorry.” They had to know that Brooks would always be her priority.
“That’s fine,” Steele said, surprising her. “Tomorrow. After Brooks has gone to school, we’ll pick you up and you can spend the day at our place. Bring your bathing suit. Or not.”
“You have a pool?”
“Yes,” Grady replied. “But it’s too cold for the pool.”
“Not too cold for the hot tub, though,” Steele told her.
Wow. A hot tub with these two? That might just kill her.
“Back to the rules,” Grady said. “Are they agreeable? Is there anything you want to add?”
“I just . . . um, no gossiping about the two of you?”
Steele gave her a serious look, nodding at the server as he delivered their coffees. “Give us a few more moments?”
The server gave them all a curious look, but nodded and left.
“Gossip isn’t just silly fun. In my line of work, it can be dangerous,” Steele explained, removing his arm from around her. She immediately felt the lack of warmth. But then his hand landed on her thigh. “You’ve heard things about what I do. And that’s as much as I want you involved, understand me? There are things I cannot and will discuss with you to protect you. And I don’t want you talking about us to your friends. Even anything innocent, all right?”
“All right. I don’t have many friends anyway.”
“Really?” Grady drawled. “I’m pretty sure all the dancers and servers at Pinkies have adopted you. They spend enough time in your office.”
“I . . . it doesn’t stop me from getting my work done!”
He raised his eyebrows. “Did I say it did?”
She tugged at her earring. “Sorry.”
Steele removed her hand from her earring. “Stop that.”
“I do it when I’m nervous,” she explained.
“We’ve noticed,” Grady told her. “But you will stop. You could harm yourself and that’s unacceptable.”
Jeez. They were so bossy and intense.
“Let’s order lunch,” Steele suggested, picking up a couple of menus and handing them over to them both. “I’m starving.”
Effie took a quick glance around the diner. This wasn’t the sort of place she expected them to eat. But they looked as at home here as they had in the restaurant they took her to for dinner.
“You have the other list?” Steele asked Grady.
“Another list?” she asked. How many lists did one man need?
Grady drew out another list. “I’ve been researching the foods that can help with inflammation.”
“What?” she asked. He’d looked into food that might help with her back pain?
Warmth flooded her. Just when she thought they couldn’t get any more amazing, they shocked her.
“Fortunately for you, there weren’t many S foods. But let’s see what’s on the menu that might work. The foods mentioned are avocados, ginger, berries, garlic, and veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.”
“I’m not eating brussels sprouts,” she said. “That’s just wrong. I’m going to have the pancakes.”
“Pancakes aren’t on the list,” Grady said. “Fatty fish is. Is there any fatty fish?”
“There’s smoked salmon,” Steele said.
“Salmon is an S food,” she protested. “I’m not eating that.”
“You’ll eat what is good for you,” Grady said firmly. “How about toast with avocado and poached eggs, along with a bowl of fruit salad?”
That sounded . . . well, okay, not awful. But she still wasn’t eating it.
“I’d rather have the pancakes with maple syrup and whipped cream. But I’ll compromise.”
“Yeah?” Steele drawled. “How are you going to compromise?”
“I’ll have blueberries in the pancakes.”
There. Done.
“How about a small serving of pancakes,” Grady said. “And a large bowl of fruit salad?”
They drove a hard bargain. She sighed. “Okay.”
The server returned and they both ordered. To her surprise, Grady ordered for her. But that wasn’t a big deal. If it was what he wanted, she could give him that.
When the server was gone, she put her hands on the table, fidgeting.
Steele rested his hand on the back of her neck, and immediately, she felt calmer. “You okay, Spitfire?”
“Yeah, my brain is spinning a bit.”
“I want you to promise me something.”
“Um, what is it?” She knew better than to promise something before she found out what it was.
“Promise you’ll spend tomorrow with us.”
She was nervous, but she wanted that. So she immediately nodded. “Yes.”
“Such a good baby.” Steele leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “I also want you to promise to text or call us if you start getting too worried. This will only work if you share your concerns and burdens with us, all right? If you start to think this won’t work or you doubt our feelings for you, call us. Promise me that.”