Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
And that’s what I need.
Holden Gray will be on my caseload for two months, and then we’ll go our separate ways. I’m determined to make the next two months professional. I will do my job, and then I’ll get back to my real life. No brown-eyed, handsome baseball player is going to change that either.
7
HOLDEN
This time when the doorbell rings, I know it’s her. I don’t know how I know it, but I hold my breath in anticipation until I finally lay eyes on her again. “Hey, Cat.”
She scrunches her nose at me. “Hello, Holden. Can I come in?”
I move back to let her in, and instantly the smell of her coconut shampoo hits me in the nose. “Is that shampoo? I mean, the coconut?” I sound like a creepy stalker when I say it, and I can't deny that I've thought about buying the scent so I can smell it whenever. But deep down, I know it won't be the same.
“It’s my body lotion.”
I hold back a groan as I picture her running her hands across her body to apply said lotion. As I follow behind her, I take in her round ass in her black leggings. She has on a long-sleeve tight shirt, and her hair is up in a ponytail again. Because I can’t wait a second longer, I demand, “Tell me yes.”
She smirks but covers it up quickly. I point at the living room, and she goes in there and sits down in the same chair she sat down in the last time. “I’ve worked it out so that I could be here for the next two months, but I thought we should talk first and lay down some ground rules.”
My interest is piqued. I should have known she’d come back at me with rules. She sits up a little taller. “Okay, so first of all, I will be completely dedicated to your rehabilitation while I’m here, but I will not miss any of Cole’s games while doing it. They are all at night through the week and some are Saturday during the day, but that shouldn’t conflict with our working schedule.”
I lean forward and don’t say anything, surprised by how adamant she is about this. She must take my silence as disapproval because she insists, “I haven’t missed one game, Holden, and I won’t start now.”
I’m taken aback. Surely, that’s not true. “You haven’t missed one game?”
She seems offended almost. “Of course not.”
“But…”
“Not one, and I won’t start now. If that’s a problem—”
I cut her off. “It’s not a problem at all, I guess I’m just surprised. You’re a good mom.”
It’s her turn to be stunned silent, and I realize what I said. “Shit, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not surprised you’re a good mom. I’m sure you are… the best. I don’t know my mom, but my foster mom never attended any of my games. It’s just nice… that’s all.” I hold my hands up. “Anything we do here won’t interfere with Cole’s games. I promise you that.”
When she came in, she was all business, and now she seems to relax a little. “Thank you… and I’m sorry that your mom or your foster mom didn’t come to watch you play. It was their loss, Holden.”
I shut my eyes tight, and it brings up a bunch of old memories. I remember always looking into the stands, hoping to find someone there supporting me during the games. When I got into the foster home with King, Dom, Gabe, Ledger, and Chrissy, they became the family I needed. They would come to games, but they were kids too. Regardless, we always made a point to be there for each other through everything.
My voice thick with emotion, I clear my throat. “What about Cole’s father? Is he in the picture?” Before she can tell me it’s none of my business, I continue, “Is he going to have a problem with him being here?”
She juts her chin at me. “Cole’s father walked away when Cole was six months old and hasn’t looked back.”
“His loss,” I tell her with complete honesty. How could any man be with Cat and then walk away from her?
“Right. Well, uh, what else?” While she thinks about it, I butt in again.
“What about the boyfriend?”
She’s on defense again. Her shoulders stiffen, and she watches me, unsure about my question. “What about him?”
I wave my hand between the two of us. “About this? What’s he think about this? Is he okay with you staying here?”
“He knows this is for work. He’s fine with it.”
I’ve never been one to hold back. I’m used to pissing people off, but it’s not like I want to piss her off. I just think she should know. “He’s a dumbass.”
Her hands clench together in her lap, and before she can defend him, I continue. “He’s a dumbass, and you deserve better. If you were mine, there’s no way I’d be okay with you spending two months in a house with another man.”