Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I shoot Marissa a wry look when she mumbles under her breath. “Or not.” Once Octavia ushers Caleb down the hallway, Marissa’s bugged eyes finally land on me. “What?” she whispers, her eyes as bright as her flushed cheeks. “I’m single, and he’s—”
“Half your age.”
She pffts me. “Like that has ever stopped them. Guys love a woman with experience.”
“Yeah, but not when their daughter is the same age as them.” Keira, my niece, is not much older than Octavia. “And I’ve got enough obstacles to jump with Caleb as it is. I don’t need you making things more complicated.” I don’t mention the fact Jess is also smitten with him because that isn’t my story to tell.
After placing her wine glass on the kitchen counter, Marissa joins me by the sink to wash the rice. Yes, washing rice is a bad habit our family has. “What issues could Caleb possibly have with you? You’re perfect, and I’m not at all biased.”
Her smile slips when I reply, “Other than me testing out the durability of his furniture? Not a single thing.”
Marissa looks set to gag, but instead, she nods.
“I don’t know what his issue is, but his dislike is obvious.”
The strainer freezes halfway out of the water when Marissa mutters, “Are you sure they’re cousins?” While stepping away from me with her hands raised in the air, she murmurs, “I was just checking.”
“Then go check somewhere else. Preferably in the living room since the kitchen isn’t big enough for me and your gigantic insinuations.”
She sways as if she’s floating in the breeze of a compliment before she moseys toward the even more compact living area. Just before she exits, she calls my name, then waits for me to peer up at her before she confesses, “I like her.”
Her approval makes me smile, but it won’t change my game plan.
Octavia is mine, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.
CHAPTER 18
JACK
“Their comments were not harmless,” I argue, going against Octavia’s recollection of the dangerous incident that occurred during her return from lunch today. “They were crude and unrequired, hence me letting them know that.”
“So, you fired them on the spot? No notice given?”
When I jerk up my chin to Caleb’s question, he dumps his dirty napkin onto his almost licked-clean plate before sinking back into his chair with an impressed huff. Dinner was a raving success, and only part of it had to do with the generous helpings of Loco Moco. Conversation flowed freely, and laughter was in abundance.
Well, until it switched to business.
“Are you worried about any repercussions from the union?”
I shift my eyes to Marissa, my stickler of a sister when it comes to protocols. “For firing sexual predators?” Her eyes don’t remain on me during the second half of my reply. “No. Severance packages are generally offered but not for menaces to society. They have no place in my world and will not be compensated for their foolery with my money.”
Octavia curls her hand over my balled one resting on my lap before she attempts to steer the conversation back onto mutual territory. “Dessert, anyone? Jack kindly bought chocolate mousse cake from his favorite restaurant.”
“Is that the one you purchased Monday… night.” Marissa chokes on her last word when I glare at her. “Was that meant to be a secret?”
“No,” Octavia answers on my behalf. “Even with the name above the door leading me away from the scent for a little bit, the paint was still wet enough to divulge his eccentricity.” Her eyes dart to Caleb when confusion fetters his brows. “We will discuss this later, but until then…” she stands to her feet, then moseys to the kitchen like it is more than three steps away, “… we shall eat cake!” My cock inflates when she murmurs, “From the small taste I sampled earlier today, it is almost the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.”
When her eyes lower to the crotch of my trousers at the same time her tongue delves out to replenish her lips, I adjust the tilt of my thigh. I already confessed to my sister that Octavia’s fixed my impotency issues. I don’t need her to witness the marvel in person.
Discreetness isn’t on Marissa’s agenda when Caleb swoops in to help Octavia serve dessert. As he moves for the bowls in the open cupboards above the range, Marissa nudges her head to the door. “Can I talk to you?” When I lift my chin, she murmurs, “Not here. Out there.”
“Why?”
“Just… because.” Her excuse is pathetic, but the pleading in her eyes can’t be denied. Whatever she needs to say needs to be said now.
After standing and tucking in my chair, I say, “I will be back in a minute.”
Octavia’s eyes stray to mine first. “Is everything okay?”
She stops licking mousse from her index finger when I reply, “Yes. I just forgot I had a bottle of merlot in the car that will go perfect with dessert.”