Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I wasn’t going to bolt.”
He didn’t say anything for a second, but I could silently hear him asking me if I was being truthful.
“I truly wasn’t going to leave, Josh. I’ve never felt like this before, and if I’m being honest, I don’t want this day to end.”
He chuckled. “Then enjoy the day with her. We don’t need you here today. As a matter of fact, I think we’re all going to be heading home.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “You’re right. Good advice. Thanks, Josh.”
“No problem, and, Nate?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m happy you finally admitted your feelings for Haven.”
Smiling, I replied, “So am I.”
After hanging up with my cousin, I got to work on breakfast. I had no idea what time Haven had to leave, and I was pretty sure after our little fuck fest in the kitchen, she was running behind.
“That smells good,” Haven said as she walked into the kitchen dressed in jeans and a blue, long-sleeve shirt.
“I wasn’t sure how you liked your eggs, so I fried them. I hope that was okay.”
She reached for a piece of bacon and popped it into her mouth. “Yes! I love fried eggs.”
Opening a cabinet, she took out two plates and set them on the counter.
“Orange juice?”
“Sure,” I replied, taking the toast out and putting two pieces on each plate.
“Here is some butter. Do you want jelly or honey?”
“Honey?” I asked as I took the butter from her offered hand.
Stopping, she stared at me. “You’ve never put honey on toast?”
“Can’t say that I have. I’m not much of a honey fan.”
Her eyes went wide. “You don’t like honey?”
Shrugging, I replied, “I don’t think I’ve ever had it. At least, not that I can remember.”
Her mouth dropped open before she poured the juice into each glass. “Next time, I’m making biscuits, and we will have honey on them.”
Next time.
The way that made my damn chest flutter. I watched as Haven piled on the eggs and bacon and slathered jelly all over her toast. I couldn’t help but smile. The girl had a healthy appetite.
She was so relaxed and herself, which was odd to me. Most women always put on some kind of show; they are never just themselves. They ate like rabbits and seemed to act the way that they thought I wanted them to act. It drove me insane. It was nice to be with someone who was one-hundred percent herself.
We sat down at her small table and ate in comfortable silence for the first few minutes.
“What time is your first outing?” I asked after setting my orange juice down.
“I pick up the morning crew at ten. Unless it’s summer. We try to get out early before it gets too hot.”
Nodding, I looked around for a clock.
“It’s eight forty.”
“So, ummm, I don’t have any plans today and I was wondering if you would mind if I went with you today?”
Her fork paused at her mouth. “Really? You’d want to go?”
“Yeah. I’d love to see how you do this. I heard you walk dogs simultaneously, and I always wondered how you did it.”
The smile that appeared on her face warmed my entire body. I loved when she smiled big enough that her dimples appeared.
“I would love it if you came. Do you need to go home and change? I assume you don’t carry sneakers or hiking boots in your truck.”
I winked. “You assume wrong. I always have a change of clothes in my truck. If anything happens and I have to change. Plus, I always carry workout clothes. I have sneakers, but no hiking boots. Will that be a problem?”
She shook her head. “Not a problem at all. You can see what your generous donation helped with.”
Smiling, I got back to eating breakfast. We cleaned the kitchen, and I ran to my truck to get my bag. Once changed, I returned to the living room to see Haven frowning at something on her computer.
“What’s wrong?”
Glancing up, she let out a breath. “This estimate the contractor sent over. It’s much higher than what he originally said in the beginning. The loan we’re approved for is at the highest we can get, and he is coming in much higher than he said. I think we have to put a pause on starting until I can find a contractor who isn’t going to charge us a fortune.”
“Have you signed a contract with him yet?”
She shook her head and suddenly seemed weary. “No, we’re still trying to get everything squared away with the business loan. We’re approved, but they needed to get all the information from the contractor, and now he’s gone and changed everything up on me.”
“May I?” I asked as I motioned to her laptop.
Turning it my way, she replied, “It’s all yours.”
I sat down and started reading it over as Haven stood and paced. I glanced up a few times only to see her wringing her hands as she wore a trail into the wood floor.