Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“You’re here! And you brought another guitar. Is that for me?”
I adjusted my gaze to peer at the pixie dressed as a warrior princess. No kidding. She wore a Wonder Woman costume, complete with arm cuffs and a crown. Her hair was pulled into a messy high ponytail as if she’d just finished a wrestling match. The cowboy boots only added something. Suffice it to say, this kid had a style all her own.
“Sorry, no. It’s for me. I need it to teach your brother. I’m Johnny, by the way.” I held my hand out, biting back a chuckle when she gave it a businesslike shake. Then I crouched to say a quick hello to the excited Lab vying for my attention with happy barks.
“I’m Wonder Woman, and this is Lullah. We’ve been expecting you.”
I scratched Lullah behind the ears and smiled. “Should I call you Wonder for short?”
She cocked her head as if considering the idea. “Yes. Or Penny.”
“Nice to meet you, Wonder Woman Penny. Is your dad here?”
“He’s in the kitchen.” She pointed in the general direction of the great room and set her hands on her hips like a mini badass. “He asked me to be your official greeter. Daddy has the app on his iPad that tells you who’s at the door. I wouldn’t have answered for just anyone, you know.”
“That’s a good policy.”
She nodded solemnly and flashed a brilliant grin. “Follow me. I’ll take you to—oh! Do you have nail polish on?”
I inspected the chipped dark polish and shrugged. “Uh, yeah. I guess so. I meant to take this off.”
“Hmm. I can do that for you. I’m really good at doing nails. I can put a different color on for you too. I have pink, purple, gold, red, silver sparkles.…You can choose for yourself. Mine are blue, but I don’t think I like it. Do you?” Penny wiggled her fingers.
“Yeah, they look cool,” I replied automatically.
She beamed. “Thank you. I like sparkles better but—”
“Hey, there you are.” Sean’s deep masculine voice ricocheted off the high ceiling as he strode into the foyer, looking sexier than fuck in a V-neck sweater and light jeans. He aimed a welcoming smile at me before glancing at his daughter. “I wondered if you got lost, Penny-pie.”
“Dad-dy,” she huffed, sounding more like a teenager than a nine-year-old. “We were coming. Tell me when you’re done with Parker, Johnny. I’m going to get my supplies ready. G’bye. Come, Lullah!”
The dog chased after Penny when she skipped out of the room, humming a joyful, albeit unrecognizable tune. I grinned. “She’s cool.”
“She’s a happy hurricane,” Sean agreed indulgently.
He held my gaze just long enough to remind my dick that we had a thing for this guy. I opened my mouth to say God knew what when I noticed the boy lurking in the shadows.
“Hi, there. You must be Parker.”
Sean motioned for his son to join us, setting a paternal hand on his shoulder as he formally introduced us. I nodded a greeting, giving my new student a once-over. Parker looked a lot like his sister. He was taller and lankier than Penny, which probably made sense since he was three years older. But he seemed more fragile. He was fine-boned and almost…pretty, with long eyelashes and shaggy hair.
Parker inclined his head. “Yes.”
I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I pasted a smile on my face and raised my guitar case. “Cool. Ready to rock?”
He bit his bottom lip. “Um…sure.”
Okay. I probably should have googled teenagers prior to this lesson. Apparently, I’d signed up for an hour of talking to myself. Fun.
Sean squeezed his son’s shoulder. “You two can use the den. Penny and I will be in the kitchen. We’re going to make cookies.”
“Cupcakes!” Penny yelled from two rooms away.
“Ha. I stand corrected. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do.” I patted the side of my case meaningfully. “Lead the way, padawan.”
I thought I detected a real smile, but Parker pivoted on his heels before I could be sure. He moved down a short hallway off the foyer and into a huge wood-paneled room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a wide picture window. A comfy-looking sectional faced an enormous flat-screen TV. The coffee table in front of it was piled high with books and neatly-stacked magazines. And the guitar I’d given Sean the other day leaned against it.
I set my case on the floor and pulled out my instrument, then perched on the edge of the sofa. Now what? If I jumped into a beginner lesson, I’d lose him right away. This obviously wasn’t his idea. I didn’t know what the hell Sean thought we’d accomplish here.
Damn it, I should have asked more questions.
I strummed a few chords and tried to think of something clever to say while Parker gingerly picked up the borrowed guitar. He sat on the opposite end of the sofa and mirrored my pose before clearing his throat.