Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“I’m going to take these plates to the front.” I get up and pick up the plates. “Then I’ll see if it’s busy, and if not, I’m taking you home.”
“Brady is just as tired,” she states, trying to hide the yawn she’s fighting.
“Brady comes in at noon some days,” I remind her. “Brady isn’t working eighteen hours a day.” I walk out to the front and see only six people in tonight.
“Slow night?” I say as I clean the plates and put them in the dishwasher.
“We were slammed all afternoon with three fucking tours. I even had to cook a couple of burgers,” Brady explains. “I’m about to do last call.” He looks at his watch. “It’s eight p.m. and it’s a Monday.”
I pull out two twenties and place them on the bar. “I’m going to take her out of here.” I motion to the back, and he nods. He hasn’t said anything to me about the two of us, but I know he’s seen us a couple of times share a kiss in the back when we thought no one was there. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you,” he says, and I walk in the back and find her with her head on the desk.
I walk to the side of the chair and bend to kiss her cheek. Her eyes flutter open. “Come on, baby, let’s go.” She sits up, rubbing her eyes.
“Brady?” she mumbles as I pull her up from her chair and grab her purse.
“He’s closing now,” I inform her as we walk out the back door. I walk her to her side of the car, opening the door for her. “Get in.” She looks up at me, and I can’t help it. I bend my head and kiss her lips. “How does a bath sound?” I ask, and she moans in my arms. “I’ll take that as a yes.” I chuckle as she gets in the car, and I walk over to the driver’s side, get in, and make my way over to my house. She puts her head on the window, and she’s out like a light in two seconds.
“Where are we?” she asks when I stop the car, and she opens her eyes.
“My house.” I get out and am about to carry her inside, but she gets out and meets me at the front door. I don’t say anything to her as I walk in the house and head for my bathroom. I turn on the water and test it before walking over and grabbing one of the bath bombs I never use that are in a basket by the tub. She stands next to me as I sit at the corner of the tub.
“Are you coming in with me?” She steps between my legs as I look up at her, her fingers pushing back the hair at the side of my head.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” She nods as she crosses her arms in front of her and pulls off her T-shirt, throwing it to the side, followed by her jeans and then her bra and panties. She stands in front of me naked. My head bends forward to kiss her stomach. “Get in. I’ll get undressed.” My clothes join hers as she gets in and I quickly step in, sitting in front of her.
She comes over to me and straddles my lap. “Thank you for running me a bath,” she says softly, my arms wrapping around her. Her mouth finds mine at the same time she reaches between us and sinks down on me. My hands grip her waist as she rides me, my mouth coming down to her nipple, neither of us saying a word. Even when we get out of the tub and head to bed, she slides in and meets me in the middle. Her head is on my chest, and in no time, I feel her heavy weight on me. It doesn’t take me long to join her.
When the alarm rings, I’m on my stomach facing the bedside table. She’s draped over my back, and I smile as she cuddles into me for a couple of seconds before rolling away from me and getting out of bed. She heads to the bathroom and comes back out fully dressed. Coming to my side of the bed, she bends to kiss my lips. “Have a good day,” she says, rushing out of my house before I even have a chance to get up.
I toss the cover off myself and get out of bed, grabbing my jeans from last night and my T-shirt before sending Emmett a text.
Me: I’ll be there late.
He answers with one word.
Emmett: Okay.
I walk out of the house and head toward the path that isn’t worn out anymore. There is even some grass growing where it was just dirt. I walk into the black cast-iron fence area, heading straight to her. “Hey.” I look down at her tombstone. “I guess you’ve been wondering where I’ve been.” I smile as the tears escape my eyes. “Or maybe you haven’t.” I stare at her name engraved in the marble. “I’m in love with her.” I expect the tightness in my chest to be so strong that it doesn’t let me breathe, but it’s not there. “I don’t know when it happened, but it did.” I wait for the guilt to come, but again, it’s not there. “I don’t even know if she feels the same way about me, but I’m going to say it tonight.” I decide. “I don’t even care if she loves me or not. I’ll take her any way I can have her. She’s the hardest-working person I know. She’s kind. She’s thoughtful. She’s funny.” I smile. “I don’t have to tell you all this. You know how she is.” I wipe the tears away from my face. “I want you to know that I will always love you.” I take a deep inhale and exhale. “You’ll always own a piece of my heart. But I’ve learned that just because I love you doesn’t mean I can’t love her. Because, fuck, I do. God, I love her so much.” My heart feels like it’s going to explode. “I fucking love her, and I’m not going to be sorry about that. I’m going to wake up every day thankful that I have her. Thankful I can look at myself in the mirror again. Thankful I don’t have to hide how I felt about you to her. She knows, but it’s time for her to have all of me. She probably won’t take all of me, that’s the kind of person she is. She’ll leave a part of me for you.” I touch the headstone. “I’ll see you soon.” I turn and head back to my house, knowing it’s time to finally have that talk and knowing I’m free to have it.