Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Oh, I know.” He puts the girls down. “But I want to.” He tilts his head to the side. “That’s okay, right?”
“I want Uncle Chrissy to stay,” Luna declares from beside him, grabbing his hand in hers.
“I want Uncle Christopher to stay also.” Rain follows her sister’s lead and puts her hand in his other hand.
“Looks like I got the votes to stay.” He looks down at the girls. “So what are we playing first?”
“Uno!” they both shout at the same time, turning and running to the living room.
“Christopher.” I stand in front of him, my chest rising and falling as I just take him in. Wishing he didn’t look so good or that I didn’t want to jump him right here in the entranceway of my house while my daughters are in the other room. I mean, I wouldn’t jump him jump him, but I would definitely let him kiss the shit out of me.
“What’s the matter, Dakota?” he says my full name, and I swear my knees almost buckle. “It’s okay if I stay, you know, since we can forget what happened, right?” He uses my words against me. “We can do that, right?” His voice is soft. “Just pretend nothing happened.”
“Yes,” I hiss out at him, “and stop calling me that.”
“Why?” He smirks at me, and I swear I get wet. “It’s your name.”
I’m about to tell him that maybe tonight isn’t a good idea when Rain runs back to us. “Come on, guys.” She grabs Christopher’s hand and pulls him with her. His eyes shine bright blue while he takes one look at me before turning back and walking to the family room.
I look up at the ceiling and wonder how to get him out of my house. When Rain and Luna both shout my name, I walk into the family room and see them sitting on the floor. The cards are in the middle of them and there is a spot open next to Christopher and next to Luna. “Saved you a spot,” Christopher informs me.
Taking three steps to them before I sit down and crisscross my legs, my knees touching his lightly. I try to move away, but he moves with me. The whole game, I try to ignore that he’s touching me, then he even moves his hands down his legs to his knees as his fingers graze mine. It’s like his hand sends electric shocks through my body. By the end of the game, I have to step away. “You guys play. I’m going to go and make lunches,” I lie through my teeth.
I rush away from him to the kitchen. The three of them play again, and the game is very animated. I can’t help but look up from the kitchen a couple of times to see that they are all laughing at something. “It’s time for bed and a bath.”
“Can Uncle Christopher tuck me in?” Rain asks.
“If it’s okay with Mom.” He avoids looking at me.
“Can he?” she asks, and I just nod.
They each take his hand, pulling him upstairs. “I got them,” he tells me. “Relax, for once.”
“Yeah, right,” I mumble to his retreating back. I feel like I’m a firework that’s been lit on fire but hasn’t exploded yet. I put away the lunch things before wiping down the island again for the third time.
I hear him walk down the steps and look up to see him coming into the kitchen. “They are waiting for you to kiss them good night.”
I nod and walk over to him, stepping toward the staircase. “I’m going to head out.” He stops at the base of the stairs. “Come and lock the door,” he urges softly, and I follow him to the door as he pulls it open. “Thank you for tonight.” He stops and turns back to face me. “For answering the door and letting me stay.” It feels like he’s going to advance toward me, and I hold my breath, thinking he’s going to kiss me. I don’t think I even take a breath. “I’ll see you soon, Dakota,” he says right before he steps out, and the door closes behind him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
christopher
I pull up to the airport and get out of my truck, grabbing my overnight bag. “Did you pack a hat?” Cole asks when he gets out of his own truck beside me.
“I did not. Why?” I shut the door and lock the truck before turning to walk to the plane on the tarmac. The stainless-steel stairs are out, and a couple of players are already here and walking up toward the door.
“I think it’s snowing there,” he states as we walk side by side to the plane.
“In Buffalo?” I ask, shocked.
“That’s what I just saw.” Cole holds up his iPhone. “It’s also cold AF.”
I let him walk up the steps before me, grabbing an empty row and putting my bag in the overhead bin. We are on our way to Buffalo for a game tomorrow. “It’s snowing in Buffalo.”