Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
With that, Hunter scoops our son up from where we’ve been playing on the floor. The baby is five months old now and lets out a happy giggle, burbling at his father.
“I’ll put him down,” Hunter says, kissing my cheek before disappearing upstairs with Charlie. I watch fondly as they go. Hunter has been an amazing father, and I’m not surprised because this baby was very much wanted. In fact, Hunter fussed over me so much during the pregnancy that I pretty much had to shoo him away.
“I’m okay!” I protested as he brought over another big milkshake when I was in my third trimester. “I’ve already had a milkshake. Two is too many!”
But Hunter wouldn’t be dissuaded. “You’re a pregnant woman, and you’re eating for two. One milkshake for you, and another for the baby,” he said in a firm tone, pushing the glass into my hand. What could I do but acquiesce? As a result, I put on about seventy pounds from the pregnancy, and although I’ve lost some of it, I haven’t lost it all. But my gorgeous boyfriend says he loves my curves even more because they’re so luscious, and he makes sure I know it every night.
I giggle. We’re together a lot now because Hunter no longer skis professionally. He retired from the tournament life, and he’s been working on a new business, Hunter Apparel. It’s a clothing line specializing in winter jackets, and they’re doing really well because my boyfriend himself is the face of the company. As a former professional skier, people trust his judgment, and jackets have been flying off the shelves in record numbers.
A few minutes later, my boyfriend saunters down the stairs. I get up from the floor and we settle on the couch comfortably.
“How was your day?” I ask him, looking up into that handsome face. He grins, stroking my curls.
“Good. Hunter Apparel is blowing up honey. I think we settled on the right company to run our advertising, and if everything goes as planned, we’ll have deals with all the major sporting good outlets in as little as six months.”
I lean up and place a kiss on his bronzed cheek. “That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you, big guy.”
He squeezes my waist.
“It wouldn’t be happening without you, honey. You’re the one who pushed me to do this, and I’m grateful for that.”
I smile. I may have given him a nudge here and there, but the rest is all him. After all, when this charismatic man puts his mind to something, he gets it done.
“Are you excited to go back to work tomorrow?” Hunter asks, pulling me tight against him.
I nod. “Yes, definitely. Serenity’s looking forward to it, too. She says it’s been crazy without me and if anything, the customers are even weirder than before.”
He chuckles.
“I’m sure they’ll be happy to have their best waitress back. Just don’t go falling in love with any customers,” he warns while patting my rump. “You look sexy in that waitress outfit, and I know more than a few men will be making passes.”
I roll my eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’ll leave the flirting to Serenity. That girl’s got men eating out of her hand left and right without even trying.”
Hunter laughs. “That sounds great, just so long as it’s not you.”
But then, I turn my chin to look up at my boyfriend with troubled eyes. “Do you think we should invite Samantha over?” I say in a low voice. “The house is now redecorated, and maybe she’d like to meet her grandson.”
Hunter is silent for a moment, staring at the TV contemplatively as his hand moves in small circles over my lower back.
“I don’t think just yet,” he finally says. “Sam pulled some pretty sick shit the last time we saw her, and I’m not totally on-board with letting someone like that be around my son. I’m not saying that Charlie will be traumatized, but I think I might be if she pulls a stunt like that again.”
I nod, squeezing his hand.
“But Charlie will have to find out about our family history someday,” I say in a low tone. “Your marriage to my mom was a long time ago, but we can’t ignore it forever.”
Hunter turns to look at me with troubled blue eyes.
“You’re right honey, but just not now, okay? Let’s tell our son when he’s older, and when Charlie can actually understand these things. I just think that things need to settle a little more before we invite Sam back into our lives, and that we should talk more about when the time for that might be. I’m not trying to dodge facts, I’m just not ready for it to be now. Is that okay, sweetheart? I swear, I’m not trying to sweep things under the rug, but I do think we should keep the status quo at this juncture.”