Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Rooms he hoped she wouldn’t want to use.
Bruce left, taking the car back to the city. Harrison kept a convertible here to use when he was in town. Already he was mentally planning on what SUV he’d need to buy for both here and Manhattan since a family of three needed room for a car seat.
Jesus. He ignored the occasional flash of nerves that came when he thought about the baby and specific things that would change. Told himself it was normal. And knew he had a conversation or twelve with his father and his engaged or married brothers in his future. They’d know how to keep him calm.
A look outside told him that Morgan had taken up his spot outside, an app with a full view of all the property cameras on his cell phone.
He walked into the kitchen to find Winter staring into the refrigerator.
“It’s fully stocked.” Surprise echoed in her voice.
“While I was packing, I called the caretakers and told them I was coming.”
She turned to him, eyes wide. “And they provided everything you needed that quickly?”
He shrugged, knowing better than to throw out a remark that would make him sound exactly like what he was. Spoiled. “I’m fortunate to employ good people.” And he paid them well for last-minute trips like this one. “I’m pretty sure there’s a homemade lasagna in there for tonight if you’re hungry.”
Before she could answer, her stomach replied for her with a loud growl. She pressed against her belly and her cheeks flushed red.
“I’ll take that to mean you’re both starving.” He winked and stepped around her to find the food in the fridge. “Mrs. Baker is my housekeeper. She owns a cleaning company and sends a crew in once a week.”
“It makes sense that you’d have someone who checks in on things,” Winter said.
While he spoke, he found their dinner and placed it on the counter, then turned on the oven to preheat it. “When I let her know I’m coming, she stocks the food and whatever else I need. She also insists on making me an easy-to-heat-up dinner. No matter how much short notice I give her.”
“That’s nice of her,” Winter mused.
He nodded. “She’s a good businesswoman. She’s licensed and insured for all she does. But the little details like cooking? That’s Mrs. Baker’s pure love of people. Her husband is wheelchair bound, and she takes care of him, too. She says she only cooks extra for clients she likes.”
Winter laughed. “And how many of those people are there? Wait. Let me guess. They’re all named Dare.”
He grinned. “And Kingston. As you know from the interview, Xander and Sasha Kingston have a place here, so do Dash and Cassidy Kingston, as well as her brother, Axel Forrester, The Original Kings’ drummer. He bought a house after he married the local vet, Dr. Tara Stillman. Asher purchased something after he and Nikki got together. Renovations are almost done on their place.”
Harrison glanced down at Panda who’d settled on the cool tile floor. “You’re in good hands if you need them. Tara is just a phone call away.” He spoke to the pup but was really reassuring Winter. “But back to Mrs. Baker’s cooking, there’s also me. That’s five clients that I know of.”
Winter rolled her eyes, but he sensed she liked his story.
“I hope I get to meet her while I’m here,” she said.
“I’m sure that can be arranged.”
She braced her hands on her hips and looked around. “So where are the dishes? I’ll set the table while we’re waiting for the oven to heat.”
He opened his mouth to insist he could handle it, then tell her to sit down, but she shook her head at him. “I slept the entire ride here. I can help.” Her tone and narrowed eyes dared him to disagree.
Knowing better than to argue, he pointed to the cabinet above the dishwasher. “Dishes there. And the silverware is in this drawer.” He pulled it open to show her.
They worked like a well-oiled team and once he put the food in the oven, they sat beside each other on barstools by the center island.
“So, I noticed you put my bags in your room.” Winter didn’t beat around the bush.
He liked that she confronted things head-on. He might as well handle her the same way. “Because that’s where I want you to stay.”
She leaned an elbow on the gray granite countertop with white swirls in the pattern and propped her chin on her hand. “What are you saying?” she asked in a suddenly husky voice.
He took up the same position and leaned in close. “I’m saying I want you. And judging by your reaction to me the other morning in my bed, I think you want the same thing.”
Chapter Ten
Winter couldn’t find it in her heart to deny Harrison’s claim. She did want him. Which was how she found her things unpacked in his room and herself in his bed. Although she’d brought her own clothing, he’d offered her one of his T-shirts to sleep in, and she’d gladly accepted. Even the scent of his laundry detergent made her feel like she was enveloped by him, and she felt both protected and aroused.