Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“You could have postponed meeting them, Everly.”
“I wanted to get it over with.” I meet her gaze. “I just wanted it done, and to be honest, I forgot you and Dad were going away, so I didn’t want to ask them for a rain check, and I didn’t want to tell you about the plans I made.”
“I guess.” She tucks her feet up under her on the chair she’s sitting on, then picks up her coffee. “I just hate that you went through that after everything you’ve already gone through.”
“I hate it, too, but it’s done. Now I have to wait and see what Lex is going to do. He hasn’t changed his mind about being a part of Sam’s life, so if he does serve me with papers to have Sam tested, I know it’s got nothing to do with him and everything to do with his mom.”
“I didn’t think they were close.”
“I didn’t think so, either, but when it comes to Lex, I’m learning I have no idea who he really is.”
“Yeah.” She eyes Sam thoughtfully. “I’m not making excuses for Lex’s mom, and I know Sam is not Blake’s, but they do look a lot alike,” she says. Sam, hearing Blake’s name, starts to repeat “Da, da, da” over and over again, and Mom gives me a look.
“He doesn’t know what he’s saying,” I remind her. “And I could walk down the street and find ten guys who look like they could be Sam’s dad.”
“You’re right, I suppose.” She puts her feet on the floor and gets up. “I’m glad Blake was there for you.”
“Yeah, me too,” I agree quietly, and she leans over to kiss the top of my head and then tucks a strand of hair behind my ear when she leans back, meeting my gaze.
“Whatever happens, your dad and I will support you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say quietly, and she nods.
“I’m going to get dressed so you can take off.”
“Cool.” I let out a deep breath, and she nods once before disappearing around the corner, out of the kitchen.
“Mama.” Sam pats my arm, and I focus on him. “Da, da, da.” He looks around, and I laugh.
“Blake is at his house, baby.”
“No.” He pouts, and I grab my phone and snap a picture of him, then text it to Blake, telling him that Sam is pouting because he’s not around, figuring he will think it’s cute. Just when I start to put my cell down, it rings with Blake’s name, saying he’s video calling. My chest warms as I slide my finger across the screen.
“Hey.” I smile when his handsome, sweaty face appears a moment later. “I’m guessing you’re calling to talk to this guy.” I flip the phone around to Sam, and he takes the phone from me, putting his mouth against the screen as he babbles, and I listen to Blake laugh.
A couple of minutes later, when Blake asks if he can talk to Mommy, I wrestle my cell away from Sam, then wipe off the front, which is now covered with slobber and baby cereal. “Sorry about that,” I tell him when I hold the phone up to my face.
“Don’t apologize.” He drops the phone to a surface so that I’m looking at the ceiling; then I hear the whoosh of fabric and the sound of water turning on. When he picks the phone back up, I can see he’s now shirtless, and my stomach dips. “Sucks I won’t be able to spend much time with you two this week, with the clients coming in today,” he tells me, looking like he really does think it sucks, and that warmth in my chest spreads through me. “We’ll make plans for the weekend. Maybe we can go back to Kirk’s farm and then have dinner at my place.”
“I like that idea,” I say, and his expression softens. Damn, but I really do like this guy.
“All right, babe, I’m gonna get in the shower, then head to work. I’ll see you there.”
“See you there,” I agree.
He hangs up after a quick “Later,” and I set my phone on the table, then feed Sam the rest of his cereal and clean him up before passing him off to my mom.
I run upstairs and get dressed, since I already did my hair and makeup before Sam woke up; then I run back downstairs and kiss both my mom and boy goodbye. On the drive to the lodge, I wonder if I shouldn’t tread more carefully in this situation with Blake. He already has a lot on his plate, with his dad and his business. Then you add in Sampson and me, and I wonder if it’s all too much for him. And even though I wish I wouldn’t just be disappointed or seriously hurt if things were to go sour between us, I know I would be. I just hope that I’m not wrong about him.