Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“That’s a beautiful blush, kitten.” I tilted his head up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “Let’s go.” I locked up, and we went to my car.
Jordan didn’t ask where we were going as I drove him to an Italian restaurant I liked, a small family business that had been in Santa Monica longer than I’d been alive.
When we were seated and handed menus, I told the waiter, “Just water for both of us, please.”
“Water?” Jordan whined when we were alone again.
“Water is good for you, and it’s Daddy’s job to make sure you’re healthy, remember?”
Damned if he didn’t look at me and glow. Oh, this would be lovely. Jordan very much needed a Daddy. “I remember. Thank you.”
The waiter returned, and I ordered us one of my favorite dishes—a pasta with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a white sauce.
“Remind me what you’re going to school for?” It wasn’t something we’d ever talked about.
“I’m going to be a nurse. It’s taking me forever, though. I only take one or two classes each semester. It’s not cheap, and I don’t want too many loans, plus I work. I want to make sure I can take care of myself so Grandma doesn’t feel like she has to, ya know? And I want to be able to help her if she needs it.”
The first thing I noticed was he said he was going to be a nurse, not that he wanted to, which was interesting. “You should be proud of yourself. You’re working hard to get where you want to be. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, but maybe we can figure something out in the fall. I can help.”
Jordan’s eyes went wide. “What if we’re not still doing this?”
“That doesn’t matter. You’re still my friend, and I take care of people I care about, much like the way you work to make sure you can help take care of your grandma if she needs it.”
“I…” Jordan looked down at the table. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“There’s nothing to thank me for, but you’re welcome.”
“I’ll make sure I pay you back, or work for you, or whatever I need to do.”
“Hush, pet. That’s not something we need to worry about right now. You’re a good person. Good people deserve nice things to happen for them. The world doesn’t always make that happen.”
“Like Ian? He’s better than he believes, that’s for sure. Finley told me how he’s always been there for him.”
And if I wasn’t mistaken, Ian had done more for Fin than Fin knew. “Yes, like Ian. I don’t like taking money from him for rent. If he were mine, I wouldn’t allow it. He’s a stubborn little pup, though.”
“Oh my God, right? Like today, I could tell he was a little down…or maybe not just today…and he won’t ask for anything, so I made it all about me when I asked to cuddle with him. If I hadn’t done it that way, he would have said no, even though he enjoyed it.”
Again, the thought of seeing them together, even if just snuggling, made this surge of possessiveness and want burn through me. I desired them both, and I wanted them to be with each other too. “That sounds like what I’ve come to learn about him.”
“You should both be more like me. I love all the attention, affection, and care.”
I laughed. He certainly did. “That’s one of my favorite things about you. Don’t ever lose that.” On the other hand, Ian’s steadfastness and stubbornness was one of my favorite things about him as well. Funny how those traits could conflict with one another yet reach parts of me that needed them.
“I won’t.” He smiled. “And thank you…for this. It means more than I can ever say.”
“You’re welcome. It means a lot to me too.”
Our food came not long after. We ate and filled the time with conversation, getting to know each other more. As much as I enjoyed myself with Jordan, I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have this time with both him and Ian.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ian
I was supposed to work at my valet job until midnight, but somehow they’d overscheduled, which had never happened before. We were usually understaffed. They’d kept us all, but it had been a slow night, and they’d let me off early. I’d worked more hours than the others, so I was the one who would lose some tonight. Even if the plan David had agreed to had me paying less than I had before in rent, plus no utilities, I didn’t want to miss out on the funds. If this worked well, I could save money, maybe find a way to finally get ahead in life.
So instead of being out late, I was pulling up in front of David’s house not long after nine. I couldn’t think of it as my place. I needed to remind myself that it wasn’t and never would be. This wasn’t the kind of home I’d ever be able to call mine.