Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“That’s light blue?” she questions, her hands moving in a diagonal downward slice in front of her. “Maybe it could have a white stripe that goes from my shoulder to the bottom.”
She emphasizes that with a tug of the bottom hem of the red dress she’s wearing.
“I can see it now.” I nod. “Maybe a crocheted whale on the belt, and a white cape to go with it?”
“A cape?” She jumps up and down. “You’re serious? You can do that?”
“Eloise,” Astrid whispers my name in a tone I’m all too familiar with.
She’s about to tell me not to indulge every fanciful whim her daughter comes up with.
“I’ve been thinking about extending the branch of my business that focuses on kids’ items,” I half-life.
It’s been an idea that has been smoldering in the deepest recesses of my mind for months, but I haven’t given it the level of thought it deserves.
“I’ll snap a few pictures of it without Stevie’s face in view, of course.” I wink at Stevie. “Privacy is important.”
Stevie nods. “Very important.”
“I can post it on my Etsy store and take some custom orders.”
“That’s smart,” Stevie adds her two cents. “Keats would say it makes good business sense.”
“You’re sure?” Astrid asks with skepticism edging her tone. “A dress like that is a huge commitment.”
“I’m sure.” I shift my attention to Stevie. “We’ll work out a time for you to come over for a measurement session, okay?”
“I’ll be there.” Her gaze wanders over my shoulder to the entrance to the kitchen. “He’s here! My interview subject is finally here!”
I don’t need to turn to know who is standing behind me. I can sense he’s near. My nipples harden under the green cardigan I’m wearing. I run my palms over the denim covering my thighs, and then I finally glance over my shoulder.
“Hey, Astrid,” Gaines greets her first. “It’s good to see you again, Eloise.”
The warmth that was in his voice last night is gone, but it’s there in his gaze as he locks eyes with me.
“You brought me flowers again?” Stevie asks with genuine surprise in her tone. “I wrote you a thank you card for the last time you did that. I’ll run and get it.”
She takes off in a sprint, and with a last glance in my direction, Gaines turns and follows her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Gaines
Another family dinner equals another opportunity for me to stare at Eloise, this time from across a much more crowded room.
The last time we were in this brownstone together, there were only five us present.
This dining room feels stifling now, with all these extra bodies separating me from the one body I want my hands on.
“Do you want some green beans?” Stevie asks from where she’s sitting next to me. “You keep looking at those beans over there by Eloise. Spoiler alert. They’re not my favorite.”
A chorus of laughter fills the dining room.
Sinclair plucks the bowl from the table and sends it down the row of people between us.
Keats gets his hands on it before Berk does, and then finally Stevie hands it off to me.
“Mom says if I eat ten that’s good enough,” she whispers. “I’ll create a distraction so you only need to shove five into your mouth. Are you ready?”
Letting that sink in, I chuckle. “Sure. Go for it.”
She clears her throat and stands. “A poem by Stevie Morgan.”
Keats shoots her a look. “So, you’re using Morgan again? What happened to you being just Stevie?”
Her hands drop to her hips. “What happened to you being polite when someone is sharing a poem?”
Their back and forth bickering is legendary. I may have earned a slice of that little girl’s heart, but her uncle will always own the majority of it.
“Ready, set, go,” Keats volleys back. “Let’s hear it.”
Stevie steals a glance my way so I fork a small bean and slide it between my lips, before I lie to the little one, “That’s five.”
“I need more time to perfect my poem.” She drops back into her chair. “Carry on with dinner, folks.”
Another round of laughter carries through the room.
I look at Eloise to find her smiling, but her gaze quickly shifts to Sinclair.
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Stevie pushes the bowl of beans away from both of us.
“He doesn’t,” her dad answers for me. “Gaines is married to his work.”
That sends all eyes on the table in my direction.
“What fun is that?” Maren asks. “Even doctors need love in their lives.”
“He doesn’t need love,” Keats scoffs. “I’d bet good money on the fact that he’s having as much fun as he can handle.”
“Like playing games fun?” Stevie questions with a perked brow. “Do you still play basketball at the park?”
“Sometimes. When I find the time.”
It’s a pick up game with a bunch of people from the hospital at a community court not far from there. I’m part of a group chat that keeps us all updated on when a game is about to begin. If I have an hour or two to spare, I’m always there.