Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Tossing the covers aside, I went over to the window, shivering a little at the cold. When I peeked between the blinds, I gasped at the breathtaking winter wonderland on the other side of the glass—everything was covered with a blanket of snow, and it was still falling.
Climbing back into bed, I snuggled under the blankets again and reached for my phone. It was barely nine, and already there was a text message from Joe.
You awake? I’m coming to get you.
He’d sent it about five minutes earlier, so I quickly called him.
“Don’t try to argue with me,” he said instead of hello.
I laughed. “Merry Christmas to you too.”
“Sorry. Merry Christmas. But don’t you dare get behind the wheel. Have you looked outside?”
“I have. But now I’m back in bed.”
“Good. Stay there. I’m leaving soon.”
“Joe, if it’s too much to drive all the way up here, you don’t have to.”
“It’s not too much.”
“I don’t want to take you away from your family on Christmas.”
“You’re part of this family now too. And besides, I want to see you. I have presents for you.”
I smiled, sinking deeper into my pillow—and my feelings. “Fine.”
He laughed. “Was it the presents that did it?”
“Maybe.” I giggled. “What time will you get here?”
“I’m not sure how bad the roads will be, but I’m hoping by noon at the latest.”
“I’ll be ready.”
After we hung up, I stayed in bed for a little while longer. The baby was moving around a little, and I rubbed my belly under the covers. “Are you excited to see your daddy? I am too.”
Ari had asked me yesterday how I was feeling about seeing him.
“Fine,” I’d said, my heart quickening. “Good. It will be great to see him.”
“Things are still platonic?”
“Yes. Totally.”
She gave me a look that said she obviously didn’t believe me.
“What, you think I’m going to tear his clothes off and jump his bones under the mistletoe with his parents in the room?”
“No,” she said, “I just think it might not be as easy as you think to keep your hands to yourself.”
“Please. I’m five months pregnant, Ari. He’s going to look at me and see someone’s mother.”
She snorted. “I doubt it. Your body looks amazing with all those new curves.”
I did like the new curves. My breasts had never been so round and full, and the knit dress I was planning to wear definitely clung to my new shape. “Thank you, but we both agreed Chicago was a one-time thing.”
“That might be true,” she said, “but you’ve got a weak spot for this man. He gets to you. And you get to him.”
I narrowed my eyes, recognizing a certain look on her face. “What do you know?”
“Nothing.” She took a sip of her wine. “It’s just a hunch. Same as it was the night of the wedding, and we know what happened then.”
I shook my head. “We are not the same people we were that night. Nothing is going to happen.”
But when I saw him pull up in front of my house and get out of a black pickup, my resolve faltered. God, he was hot. And the way he hurried up the snow-covered walk like he couldn’t wait to see me was adorable. By the time he knocked on the front door, my heart was about to burst out of my chest.
I yanked the door open, and he swept in on a cold breeze, snow flurries dusting his dark hair. “Hi!”
He stomped the snow from his leather dress boots and shut the door behind him. His eyes popped when he saw me. “Hi. Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you’ve grown since Thanksgiving.”
“I know.” Laughing, I patted my rounded belly.
“You look great.” He opened his arms and I went into them, my eyes closing as I rested my cheek on the scratchy, damp wool of his coat. He didn’t let go right away, and neither did I.
Finally, Cleo meowed from behind me, and we both laughed. “Hi to you too, Cleo.” Joe crouched down and gave her some attention.
“I’m ready,” I said. “Just let me grab my bag.”
“Hang on, I want to shovel the front walk first.”
“Joe, don’t worry about it. It’s still coming down, isn’t it?”
“Not really. Just some light stuff. The heavy snow is done. I brought a shovel from home.”
“But what about your shoulder?”
“It’s fine.”
I looked at his feet. “And you’re wearing leather boots.”
“Stop being difficult. Just stay inside a few minutes, okay? Think of it as a Christmas present for me.”
Sighing, I gave in. “Okay.”
Warmth coated my insides like melted chocolate as I watched Joe shovel the walk from the front window. After he replaced the shovel in the truck bed, he came back up to the house to collect me. I let him in, tugged on my boots, and opened the hall closet door to grab my new maternity coat.