Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Awesome,” I told him, and he chuckled.
On the first floor was a foyer, a laundry room with shelves and a place to hang clothes, a sitting room, and a formal dining room. Up one level was where Breckin and Celia would be, along with Bethany and Brian. Each room had an attached bathroom. That level also included a TV room, a small library, a sun room, another small laundry room with a stackable washer and dryer, and two half baths.
On the third floor were the guest bedrooms, four in all, plus a sitting room and a two-person sauna.
“These windows are beautiful,” I remarked, admiring the stained glass at the end of the hallway.
“Thank you, Tracy. It’s wonderfully satisfying to show you around my home.”
The last set of stairs led into a loft area. The open-floor plan seemed to have once been a play area and was now cozy with pillows and a privacy screen and small windows that opened at the bottom and pushed out.
“It’s very oasis-in-the-desert up here,” I said, motioning to the hammock, the throw pillows, and the low table.
“It is, you’re right, except for that side.”
He pointed, and I saw a reading nook, a window seat, a rocking chair, and a love seat stacked high with plaid blankets in fall colors.
“I love it,” I sighed, and he clapped me on the shoulder.
Back downstairs, I followed John into the great room, unwinding my scarf while I took off my hat.
“Oh,” Michelle gasped, looking at me. “Why, Tracy, you’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” I said, thinking that if she thought I was pretty, Evan would give her a heart attack.
“Tracy.” Breckin got up and crossed the floor to me.
“Yeah?”
“I’d like to speak to you in here, please,” he said tightly, grabbing my bicep and pulling me out into the foyer. The floor was black marble, just beautiful, and I was staring at it when he cleared his throat.
Snapping my head up, I met his gaze. “This house is amazing.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
I was confused. “Admiring the house.”
“No, with Cord. What the fuck are you doing with goddamn fuckin’ Cord?” He sounded furious, and I was surprised I’d missed that. I used to be so attuned to his moods, but that too had changed. “You hate him!”
“I don’t, though. I never have.”
He threw up his hands. “Why are you staying at a B and B with him? What kind of game are you playing?”
Game?
“What?” I felt like I wasn’t following his train of thought at all, which had to be irritating for him. And I wasn’t doing it on purpose; he just wasn’t making any sense.
“Are you giving me a taste of it? Of what I did to you? Is that what this is?”
I got it then. “Oh, I see. And no, no taste of anything. Hand to God.”
He was staring at me like I’d grown another head.
“I’m not gonna stay in your parents’ home, though. I mean, come on, be serious.”
“I am serious. You need to be here with me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be with you anyway,” I pointed out, “but really, that would be weird. You don’t think that would be weird?”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Me?” I snorted out a laugh. I didn’t mean to, it just bubbled out in response to the absurdity of the situation. “I wouldn’t be comfortable here, in what amounts to your childhood home. Think about it.”
“The only thing on my mind right now is that my ex is flirting right in front of me!”
First time he’d called me his ex. That was excellent progress, and so very healthy, and I was going to tell him that, compliment him, but he wasn’t done.
“How dare you!”
“How dare I what?”
“How dare you flirt with Cord in front of me.”
“Oh,” I said, and then, “Why?”
“What do you mean why?”
“I mean, why does it matter?”
“So you admit you’re flirting with him.”
“Yeah.”
“Since when, Tracy?” he asked, his jaw clenched so tight, he could barely speak.
“Since when what?”
“How long have you been fucking Cord?”
I scoffed.
“Answer the—”
“Never,” I said with a ragged exhale of breath. The conversation was honestly making me tired. “The answer is that I have never slept with Cord Nolan.”
“But you’ve always wanted to.”
“Yes,” I answered honestly. “I’ve always wanted to.”
He drew his arm back to slap me, but I caught it and held tight. I was so stunned, I just stood there and stared at him, realizing that if I wasn’t as strong as I was, he would have hit me. I was still a bit sore from my attack, and he’d tried to hit me. I had no idea who he even was.
“You’re so pathetic,” he snapped at me scornfully, yanking his wrist free. “You think Cord Nolan wants you for anything more than a quick fuck? You know better, but because you can’t stand to be alone, even for a short time, you’d let him do whatever he wants to you.”