Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Actually, I do know. I want to spend more time with him to get to know him. In spite of knowing I shouldn’t, I still want to.
“The card game? Sure.”
I rummage through my junk drawer, remembering I left a deck in there, and then we sit at the table across from each other. I shuffle, and he deals, and then we play…
“How long were you and Trent together?” Pierce asks, picking up a card and discarding it. We’ve been playing for hours, moving from subject to subject effortlessly, as if we’ve known each other for years.
“He was my first and only boyfriend,” I admit, picking up a card. “We started dating at the beginning of our senior year and fell hard. We were both planning to go away to school, but then I found out I was pregnant. It was hard, but we made it work. We were together for almost four years before he passed away.”
I place down three sevens. “What about you?” I ask, discarding a card I don’t need. “Any other serious relationships besides the one with the cheating idiot?”
He chuckles at my refusal to call her by name, but I can’t help it. Anyone who would cheat on Pierce is an idiot.
“Before her, I dated a few women casually, but since her, I haven’t dated…haven’t wanted to date, until now.” His eyes meet mine and butterflies fill my belly at his admission. He hasn’t wanted to date in three years, but now he wants me.
“Why me?” I blurt out.
It’s not that I’m fishing for compliments, but I honestly don’t get it. I’ve seen the single women in this town and have heard several of them mention him and how they would give their right arm to snag his attention. Yet, he’s interested in me.
He doesn’t miss a beat when he says, “Why not you?”
He picks up a card and glances at it, but instead of making a play, he holds on to it, giving me his attention. “You’re beautiful, sweet. You’re a damn good mother. I enjoy talking to you and being around you. When I’m not with you, I can’t stop thinking about you, and when I am, I can’t get enough. And if that’s not enough, there’s Jordan. The kid is your mini. I want nothing more than to spend more time with both of you.”
He lays his cards down and grins.
“I’m out,” he says as if he didn’t just metaphorically knock me on my ass with his response.
“Damn it,” I groan, showing the cards left in my hand. “You won for sure.”
I shove the cards his way and yawn, and he smiles softly.
“It’s getting late, and as much as I’d love to keep playing, I’d bet a certain little girl will be up at the crack of dawn begging to decorate her tree.”
I laugh because he’s not wrong, then stand so I can walk him to the door.
“Thank you,” I tell him once we’re outside near his truck. “You made our Christmas so special. If there’s any way that I can repay you…”
“Seeing both of you happy is all the payment I need,” he murmurs, bridging the gap between us, his eyes locking with mine. “I need to be honest with you, Kels. I know I told you that I’m okay with being friends, and I am, but only because you’ve friend-zoned me.”
He smirks playfully, and I groan, shaking my head. “It’s not that…”
“I get it,” he says. “You’re scared. The last thing I’d ever want is for you to be scared. The only thing I want is for you and that little girl to smile and be happy. And as much as I believe I could make you happy, you have to be on board, but you’re not.”
He reaches out and tucks a wayward strand of hair that fell out of my messy bun behind my ear, and I visibly shiver at his touch, wishing he’d keep touching me.
“You already know that I like you and want to spend more time with you,” he continues. “If you ever change your mind, I’m here.”
“Pierce,” I whisper, wishing I could change my mind.
It’s been three years since Trent died, and the truth is, I’m lonely. I crave adult interaction. I miss being intimate with someone. Pierce and I obviously aren’t intimate, but hanging out with him, texting, playing cards, talking… It has all lit a fire within me that had been snuffed out the day I lost Trent. I’d be lying through my teeth if I tried to say I’m not attracted to Pierce.
“I know,” Pierce says, stroking my cheek with his knuckles. “Just know I’m here in whatever capacity you want me to be.” He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my cheek, and my eyes close as my body warms at his touch. “I hope to see you tomorrow, but if I don’t, have a good Thanksgiving, Kels.”