Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Valentine snorts and waves me off. “Such love from such a valued employee. Don’t know why I bother.”
“But I love you more.” I call after her as she vanishes into the kitchen.
Tiffany waves at me over the counter; she’s busy serving customers. Elle isn’t working today, which is a relief. One less person to blab about anything to do with me that Nathan doesn’t need to know about.
“Which one did you like?” Nathan asks, sitting diagonally to me and using his jacket to shield me as I get Dillan to latch on. Smiling gratefully at him, I wave at Tiffany and call out our order.
“You could just queue like a regular person.” She snaps playfully.
“I’ll deal with it.” Nathan leans forward and presses his lips to my forehead as his hand strokes the side of Dillan’s head. I don’t need to look at Tiffany to know that she caught that intimate moment.
Nathan and I really need to talk.
Although I can’t deny the fact that I liked it.
No… I can deny it. I’m so denying it right now. I didn’t like it, not at all.
“Cinnamon?” Nathan asks from across the way. I nod, staring at him for a moment. He’s so handsome. I hate to admit it, but he really is. And so complicated and broody. His body is tall, fit and strong, but not overly so. He’s almost painful to look at, knowing he wants me, knowing he’s so many good things rolled into one and knowing I can’t have him. Painful.
Why does he want me? Is it an accidental thing?
I belonged to Caleb. It’s messed up.
Why can’t he want someone that’s not half of his brother?
Sigh. I’m so sick of this, these stupid thoughts that never stop twisting in my head. I’m going to resolve it and I’m going to resolve it today.
“Here.” Nathan places my cup in front of me. I thank him and sip the delicious drink. “So, which one?”
“It’s your choice.” I shrug, not meeting his eyes.
“Well, you are going to be living with me, so it’s your choice too.”
Oh dear god. “Nathan…” He looks down at his cup, his tongue worrying his lower lip. I continue. “What is it that you want from me?”
His eyes shoot up, his brows raised in question. “Want from you?”
“Yes. I don’t understand this feeling you have where you seem to think you need me to move in with you. It makes me assume things, which keeps me up at night whilst I try to figure out the ifs and buts and reasoning behind it all.”
He glances over at the window, his eyes holding a faraway look that tells me he’s wondering what to say next. Silence is all I receive.
“It doesn’t make sense. All you’ve said is that you want us living with you and that we’re your home, but we don’t need looking after anymore. I’m doing pretty well for myself.”
“I’d say my intentions were pretty obvious.” He leans back, folding his arms over his chest as his eyes narrow on me. “But now I’m not so sure that they are.”
“Intentions?” Gulp.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” He smiles and brings his cup to his lips. I watch his throat bob as he takes a healthy swig. And again… gulp… literally… but from him this time. “I think Dillan has finished eating. You’re more or less smothering him with your breast, although he doesn’t seem displeased about it.”
“Oh!” I cry and pull my flailing boy away from my bosom. He wasn’t literally being smothered, he’d just spat my nipple from his mouth and started wriggling. Poor boy.
I rest him on my knee and pat his back a few times. He looks around with an unsteady head and wide eyes, his mouth wide open.
“Anyway…” Nathan continues, but is interrupted by Tiffany who demands, “Give me the baby!”
And Dillan has left my arms.
Nathan looks at me expectantly, although I’m not sure what he wants.
“Could we get some service over here?” A customer demands irately, after two minutes of awkward silence and Tiffany cooing at Dillan.
“I’m coming!” Tiffany snaps, sighing as she hands Dillan to Nathan. “Speak to you soon.”
“Have fun.”
She only scoffs in response and saunters away.
“So, back to business.” Nathan smiles now that we’re alone again. “I think, after last night, two things were proven.” Two things? “One being that you are definitely attracted to me.” Oh heck. “Two being that you like me… a lot. Hopefully as much as I like you.” Double heck. “At this point, it’s safe to say, we should move forward. You, me and Dillan, we can be together again. There’s nothing stopping us.”
“Nathan…” I try, but he raises his hand and adds, “Nothing apart from you and your morals.”
“Which are legitimate morals; you’re Caleb’s brother.”
“Look, I don’t want to talk about this here. You will change your mind, Gwen. Be sure of that.” He glares at me for a moment and I look away. I hate it when people stare, even people I know well. “So, am I to stay in your bed again tonight?”