Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Valley Café has the best cold foam and croissant. It’s right across the way. Why don’t I give you my number, and we can meet once you’re settled?” It’s posed as a question, yet it isn’t.
“I’d like that a lot.” She rattles off her phone number as I key it in, sending a text so she’ll have mine.
“Good, I’ll text you when my shift ends.”
“Sounds good. Don’t work too hard.” Zara must be at least six months or so along. Her hand is resting on her bump, absently rubbing it in a soothing manner once she was done with the transaction.
“Oh, I won’t.” We smile at each other, then I give her a small wave and head toward the exit. Yep, Blue Valley and I are going to get along real well. I can feel it.
4
TRACE
Ten minutes, that was the time it took to put me where I am now. The bad part about knowing everyone in town is they also know my truck, meaning I had to find the only other house in what could potentially be Josie’s neighborhood that is for sale to back my truck into and pretend to do paperwork while observing the Miller house. A few neighbors noticed my truck, gave the usual two-finger salute but stayed to themselves for the most part, allowing me to bide my time. I’m not sure why Josie would have bought a house that needs so much work. Not that I know her financial status, but a single woman moving into a place that without a doubt needs both bathrooms gutted, has kitchen cabinets that are well on their way to falling apart, and a slew of other things, doesn’t seem smart. The woman is going to sink a damn mint into this place. Who knows how long it’ll take, or if she’ll get a return on her investment.
The clipboard in front of me is doing nothing to pass the time, waiting to see if there’s any movement. There’s no vehicle in the driveway, the curtains are closed, and I’m thinking I’ll be here for longer than initially planned. I toss the pen and clipboard on the passenger seat and settle in for the long haul, pulling my hat down lower to conceal who I am to Josie, for now. I can still remember her taste, the feel, and how she melted beneath my body. It was wrong, so fucking wrong, but it felt so damn right. It also had Josie tucking tail and running like the flames of hell were licking at her feet. When Wes walked back into the house, they exchanged a few words, then he was knocking on the door telling me he’d be back, that an emergency came up and Josie needed to head home instead of staying with us for the weekend. I smirked to myself while saying ‘okay’ through the closed bathroom door, the towel already discarded on the floor, my fist wrapped around my cock to finish the job Josie started. The taste of berries fresh from her lips, her scent permeated the air, citrus and rose mixed together. I didn’t leave the bathroom until after I came, softly whispering her name even though the house was empty. Luckily, or not so luckily for Wes, she broke up with him after spring break was over, a damn good thing because the thought of my son with Josie in any sort of way made me go fucking ape shit, ready to throw anything within reaching distance.
I’m about ready to call it a day. The sun is setting lower in the distance, and a tiredness hits my bones after working more days in a week than any person should ever attempt. The only reason I did it was to wrap up a project, then be done with the couple who hired the custom build, which was a nightmare, one I’m sure will haunt me in my damn dreams. Everything that could go wrong did—termites eating away at the footings we were going to repurpose for their back deck, permits taking forever, the husband wanted a roof, the wife didn’t.
A punch list a mile long had me ready to rip my hair out, but this morning, it was signed off, both were happy. What should have only taken three days turned into two weeks. The shit was finally put to rest before Daniel called me, rocking my world, making me think that this new woman could be the same one I’ve yet to get over, eleven damn years later.
“Bingo,” I say, the thought of leaving gone as a new car cruises down the quiet street, a white SUV. The make and model is that of a Toyota. The windows are down, her blonde hair is blowing with the breeze, and there she fucking is, Josie Preston in the flesh. My cock perks right the fuck up. A part of me wonders if she knew what she was doing coming to Blue Valley. Surely, it wasn’t due to sheer luck. My mouth waters at having a taste of the forbidden fruit. For now, I’ve got to bide my time. The last time I was around Josie, she was cutting and running. That won’t happen this time around. I watch as she opens the door, then one long bare leg appears, the leanness of her calves giving way to shapely thighs I’ll one day have wrapped around my head as I bury my face in her pussy, or maybe I’ll have her sit on my face. That’s what I’ll do. “Jesus.” I sit back in my seat, adjusting myself, my cock needing more room than it currently has. The rest of Josie’s body appears in a pair of loose black shorts that leave enough room around the legs to allow me to easily slip beneath them to cup her ass cheeks in the palm of my hands. My thoughts are running wild as I wonder what she wears underneath. A cropped tank top shows a sliver of her midriff. Gone is the shape of a girl in college. In its place is a woman with softer curves, full lips, and hair tossed up in a ponytail. Josie hits the backdoor of her vehicle after closing the driver’s door and opens the back, barely giving me a glance of her pretty face. Yep, it’s time to go. If not, I’ll say fuck easing her into the idea of me being back in her life. She’ll go running yet again, and I’ll be damned if I wait another eleven years to get the woman who’s never left my thoughts. It didn’t matter what or who I was doing, it'd be to the memory of Josie Preston. Imagining how she’d look like as my cock finally made its way inside her tight body. Josie’s head spins on a swivel. I duck my head and gather my phone in my hand. The last time she was around, this wasn’t my truck, it was a much older, needing to be replaced truck, so I’d doubt she’d recognize what I’m driving. After a few moments, she turns around. I bide my time, waiting until she makes it inside the house, a task when she’s got her hands full of bags, trying to finagle the key in the lock, and making me want to say fuck waiting. A deep need to help her hits me square in the chest. Soon, so damn soon, then I’ll have the woman I know who was meant for me. The only issue that may arise is the fact she dated my son. Wes shouldn’t have a problem, not that we’re talking much these days. He is, in fact, engaged. I’m sure my parents and I will be paying an arm and a leg to give the only boy in our lives and his future wife the wedding of their dreams. An issue we’ve been doing far too much in his life, but I’d never be a cheapskate when it comes to his wedding.