Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
I grabbed a bottle opener from the counter and aimed it his way. “Take a step back before I disembowel you without anesthesia,” I instructed with fake calm.
Tucker stopped a few feet from me, parking one hand on his waist and using the other to massage his temples. “Shit. You’re right. I’m just…take the donuts, okay? I had to go all the way across town to get them. They don’t make this flavor at Krispy Kreme.”
“I don’t care.” I angled the bottle opener toward his face, ready to put a hole in it. “I don’t want your donuts.”
“I’m trying to make an effort here,” he said through gritted teeth, his flat mouth barely moving.
“Mission failed,” I announced.
“See, this is why I left you. You always have an annoying comeback that spoils the mood.”
Ignoring the way his words sliced through the muscle tissue of my heart, I retrieved a washcloth from the fridge handle, making a show of wiping the bottle opener clean. “I’m not here to become your friend. I’m here to earn money so I can provide for our daughter.”
“Yeah. Okay. Let’s talk about her.” He pasted on an easy smile, and I got whiplash from the drastic change in his behavior every ticking minute. I used to tell myself Tucker being good in bed was proof he wasn’t completely selfish. I now knew I was wrong. Bringing me to orgasm over and over was a way to stroke his own ego, to prove to himself that he could. My body was his toy. A means to an end. It was never about me.
“Yes?” I put the bottle opener down and immediately grabbed the paring knife, wiping it methodically.
“Am I going to have to get lawyers involved, or are you going to do the right thing here and let me see her?”
I examined the knife I was holding, reluctantly putting it back on the cutting board. “We’ll need to make it gradual,” I heard myself say. “I don’t want to spring you on her out of nowhere. First, we’ll do short visits. We’ll introduce you as a friend of the family. Then, if everything goes well, we can tell her.”
“Who’s ‘we’? You and that asshole?”
I blinked at him slowly. I meant me and him, but I didn’t appreciate the attitude.
“Rhyland is doing more than you ever have for Gravity.” This part was true.
“I don’t like him.”
“Good thing I’m the one who fucks him, not you.” If only.
“How soon?” he demanded, his left eyelid pulsating, twitch-twitch-twitch.
“I’m not going to time it. When it feels right.”
“That’s not fair,” he griped, giving me a look of disbelief. “I know my rights, Dylan. If you start posing too many difficulties, I will get lawyers involved.”
“Awesome. I’d love to tell the judge you left me to raise her for three and a half years so you could get a tan on Bondi Beach.” I turned to face him. “Oh, and I took plenty of pictures of the new bracelet you gave me.” I raised my arm between us. “Nice gift, by the way.”
“Look, I don’t want any trouble,” he said quickly, licking his lips. “I just want to be a part of your and Gravity’s life. I think the fact that you came here, to this city, to this bar, is kismet. You can’t tell me it doesn’t mean anything. I mean, what are the odds?”
“Pretty good, considering Kieran sent me here.”
“What are the odds I’d see Kieran here?” he insisted. “That he’d recognize me. That I’d tell him I was going back to Staindrop to take care of you and Gravity.”
“Whoa there.” I stumbled back, my ass hitting the counter. “I don’t need you to take care of me. This is purely about Gravity. I—”
“C’mon, Dylan.” He snorted, stepping forward, ignoring my discomfort. “You can’t tell me you’re really considering marrying that douchebag Rhyland. He’s literally a man-whore. Like, it’s the talk of the town.”
Yawning provocatively, I gathered my hair and tied it into a messy bun. “Retired now. And all that practice made a particularly delicious perfect. I’m so thankful he introduced me to good dick.” I winked.
Inside, I was reeling. Tucker’s words had struck me like a thunderstorm. I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman who’d abused Rhyland, imagining myself strangling to death the faceless, entitled piece of work who thought she could have him just because she’d paid him to accompany her. I didn’t expect to take it so badly.
“Dylan. Dylan. Honey.” Tucker rushed toward me, and I tried not to flinch as he took my arms in his hands, peering down into my eyes.
I realized, to my horror, I could never hate him all the way, because he had my daughter’s eyes and smile and dimples.
“It’s your anger speaking, and I get it. I messed up. Let me make this up to you. We were so great together. Don’t let one small mishap ruin this for us.”