Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45045 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
I stared at him, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Clearly, James had paid a lot more attention to my life than I ever realized. Not only that, I knew he was smart. He had money, too. Money he’d made in real estate.
Hell, that’s why most people thought Mom had married him.
“Thank you,” I finally managed to say, still stunned. “But, why?”
James raised a brow. “Because it’s a good deal, Peaches. That’s how I’ve always worked. I watch, and I wait. That way, I’m ready when a really good opportunity crosses my path. That’s how I got your mother, you know. Took me three years to convince her to go out with me, but when she finally said yes, I was ready.”
“He was,” Mom said, smiling at him. “That was the most romantic date I’ve ever been on. He thought of everything…”
James set his phone on the counter, then caught my mom’s hand, pulling her toward him. She reached up to cup his cheek, even as he leaned down to give her a soft, sweet kiss. Then their mouths opened, and shit got real.
Jesus Christ.
Mom and James were making out like horny teenagers, right in the middle of the kitchen. The whole damned world had gone crazy, clearly. I looked away, uncomfortable. There was a wet, smacking sound, followed by a soft moan.
“Um, you need to stop now,” I said, shifting my feet awkwardly. The smacking noises continued. Turning my head, I stole a peek at them. Holy shit, was James’ hand reaching for Mom’s butt?
“Stop!” I said, horrified. “I can’t do this. I can’t watch you guys make out in the kitchen. What the hell is wrong with you, Mom? I’m your child.”
She pulled away from James just slightly. “You’re nearly thirty, baby. I know this may shock you, but I’m not dead. I still like to have sex, and this is my husband. It’s allowed.”
James wrapped an arm around her, tucking her into his side. She sighed happily, and I threw up a little in the back of my throat.
“You’re disgusting.”
“We’re in love,” James replied, the words sounding incredibly weird and wrong in his robot voice.
Mom laughed at the look on my face. “You know how you asked me earlier if I married James because he’s not like Gus?”
“Mom!” I hissed, wondering what the hell she was thinking, saying that in front of him. She laughed again, and this time, the sound was deeper.
Sensual.
“I married him because, deep down inside, he’s the man I need him to be,” she whispered, and I realized that James was right.
They were in love.
My wild-ass, crazy mom was in love with an accountant who’d told me once that he didn’t like motorcycles. Because they were too dangerous.
“Go talk to Gus,” James told me, giving Mom another squeeze. “Make the deal. We’ll figure out the details tomorrow. It’ll be fair.”
“Um, yeah…” I said, backing slowly away from them. I couldn’t process this right now. That’s okay. You don’t need to understand what just happened to take advantage of it. Just leave the house before they start making out again.
“Peaches?” Mom said, catching my attention. She’d wrapped both of her arms around James again, resting her head on his chest. “There’s another reason I married him, you know. The thing is, he’s really good in the sack. I’ve always had a high sex drive, you know.”
I turned and ran out of the room.
Chapter Six
~Peaches~
“Kinda desperate, coming here on your night off,” Eli said as I walked up to the bar. “Usually, girls just text me when they want a booty call.” His lips quirked up in a smirk.
“Go to hell,” I replied absently. Where was Gus? The place was mostly empty, just a few of the Reapers hanging out in one of the corner booths. Megan was wiping down tables, and Eli was the only one behind the bar. I frowned, boosting myself up onto one of the bar stools. “Oh, and can I have a rum and Coke?”
Eli leaned forward on his elbows. “Too late. I already did last call for the night.”
“It’s hardly past eleven,” I said, surprised.
“Slow night.” He shrugged. “Decided to close early.”
“I’ve been trying to convince Gus that we should close earlier when it’s like this for the last three years.”
Eli’s mouth quirked up, radiating smugness.
“Gus isn’t in charge anymore.”
My stomach dropped. “Does that mean you signed the papers today? I thought they weren’t ready yet.”
Eli raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t give me a direct answer. Instead, he grabbed a couple of shot glasses and set them out between us. Then he grabbed a bottle of Crown Royal from the shelf behind the bar.
“Eli, did you sign the papers?” I asked again, feeling nervous. He filled the shot glasses. This was starting to look like a celebration, which didn’t make sense.