Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
I looked down. “No, I’ll just put on a cardigan.”
Rip and I groaned in unison as Viera started belting out “Cardigan” by Taylor Swift. I’d completely forgotten about the trigger word.
Once Viera started, it was hard to get her to stop.
Rip shot me a look of betrayal while I tried to hide my smile behind my hand. “Payback’s a bitch,” he said under his breath. “And why not just take the time to change real quick?”
I shrugged. “Why bother? I mean, I’m not at your office to impress anyone.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Oh?”
I quickly recovered. “Banks likes me coffee stains and all!”
Rip’s eyes narrowed. “He like-likes you?”
“Well, I haven’t officially sent him a circle-yes-or-no note, but I have a strong feeling he’d put a heart next to the yes with a red pen,” I said sarcastically.
Rip glared. “He’s a player, he could be using you.”
“Ooooh, let him use me away, then,” I teased.
Rip’s eyes narrowed further, and from the deep breath he took I could tell he was about to launch into another lecture. Thankfully, Ben chose that moment to speed around the corner and throw himself into Rip’s arms. “I brushed my teeth for the whole ‘Happy Birthday’ song!”
“Good job, buddy!” Rip smiled, genuinely proud of Ben, and my heart did a little flip-flop as I watched them.
Good-looking men shouldn’t be allowed to do things like hold babies or smile at kids, it just makes a woman’s ovaries go, It’s time! Pick us!
“Aunt Colby, why are you smiling like that?” Ben asked.
I probably looked possessed, my smile wide, my eyes even wider to drink in the scene in front of me. I recovered as quickly as possible and willed myself not to blush when Rip’s gaze fell to mine. “Aunt Colby was probably thinking about her food apps again.”
“Guilty.” He looked delicious this morning. Seriously delicious. Why wasn’t Rip in an app? I’d go broke using all the extra coins or whatever they charged for his avatar just so I could stare at him—and I’d just made things super creepy.
“Gotta go.” I bolted toward the door, nearly tripping in my heels, and narrowly survived a bunch of scattered Legos in the middle of the floor. “Love you guys!”
“Love you too!” Viera announced.
“Me too!” Ben yelled following Colby outside the house. “Uncle Rip, will you miss Colby?”
“Terribly,” Rip said, voice tight like he was lying through his teeth.
“I’m leaving you the van.” I forced a smile, then made a quick getaway, calling over my shoulder, “Your car can go really fast!”
“Colby!” Rip called after me. “You hit a mailbox just three weeks ago. Come back with any scratches on her and you’ll be rubbing them out with a toothbrush!”
“Ewwwwww.” Ben made a face and ran back into the house while Rip stood there, arms crossed, looking every bit the sexy accountant who saved people from their taxes like a damn hero.
“You must know a lot about rubbing one out,” I said in an innocent voice.
Rip’s jaw dropped, and I refrained from doing a happy dance, although the fact that I’d actually gotten a reaction out of him was cause for celebration. “I rarely have to… hey, what was the name of that vibrator Monica got you?”
“There are kids!” I roared.
“They’re inside,” he snapped back.
“Unattended,” I pointed out as Mrs. Harris opened her front door, grabbed the paper, and then stood there, sipping her coffee like we were her morning entertainment.
“It was a male’s name… let me think…” Rip tapped his chin with his fingertips. “The Duke of Hastings…” I sprinted away from the car, and before I knew what I was doing I was clapping a hand over that gorgeous and ridiculous mouth.
His eyes flashed as I very slowly pulled my hand away. “Tell one person, and I’m putting a pillow over your face once you fall asleep.”
“I like pillows.”
“You won’t be alive to like this one, Rip.”
“What, are you embarrassed?” He leaned down, his mouth inches from mine. “Don’t be… we all have needs. Oh, and Colby, next time you try to win an argument, I’d remember this moment right here. But don’t worry, you’re practically family, this is a safe space, you know? You can have all the feelings you want, promise.”
“Safe space my ass,” I said through gritted teeth. “Now flash one of those sexy smiles over to Mrs. Harris so she doesn’t think we’ve been arguing.”
“Did you just call me sexy?” he said, ignoring my comment.
I tried like hell not to flinch. “It was a total accident, but yes. I’m desperate,” I teased in a way that I hoped would shut down the situation. “So hurry up. I want her face flaming red and her brain thinking about taking out her dentures and going to town.” Where did that even come from?
I blamed Banks.
Or maybe it was just exhaustion?