Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Chelsea turned to watch him as he fidgeted with the tiger’s-eye beads on his bracelet. Her bright red hair was up in a messy bun that was made to appear tousled on purpose. She was dressed casually in a light pink jogging suit and little makeup. “Bishop is fine as hell… I mean, if I swung that way, I’d consider being his side piece. All those muscles everywhere, and he’s got that bad-boy vibe you gay guys love so much.”
Rain snorted. “Shut up. We all don’t have the same type. Besides, I don’t even know what my type is?”
“First of all, that guy is everyone’s type. So, be honest. Are you attracted to him? Is that what’s making you uncomfortable?”
“No. I’m not. Not like—”
“Is it Edison?”
“No.” Rayne groaned. “He’s handsome, too, and really sweet. But no.”
“Well, it’s something.” Chelsea made a thoughtful expression. “At breakfast yesterday, you hinted that there might be someone you’re interested in asking out, but I had to take that emergency call and leave. Who is he? Is he here?”
“No.”
“Jesus. Just tell me already.”
“Bishop looks like his dad, all right?” Rayne whispered through clenched teeth, though he doubted Wood, Trent, and Bishop could hear him from where they stood on the patio in Edison’s backyard kitchen.
“Okay.” She dragged out the last syllable.
Rayne squeezed his eyes shut, unable to believe he was about to say this out loud. “And… he might be the one I have a slight crush on.”
“Oh.” Her tone revealed her skepticism. “Are you being serious? You like Bishop’s father. How do you know him?”
“Don’t say father like he’s some gray-haired guy who eats breakfast at Denny’s every morning and has handicapped license plates.”
Chelsea’s dyed eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. “Well. Bishop looks how old… early thirties? So that must mean his fath—oops, sorry. His daddy… has gotta be at least in his mid-to-late fifties.”
Rayne sucked his teeth. No way was Mike that old… Is he? He sure didn’t look it.
“Oh my gosh. If you could see the expression on your face,” Chelsea laughed, and Rayne swatted her hand to shush her.
“He’s our landlord, okay, and yes, I found out that he’s Bishop’s dad.” Rayne was starting to pace behind the safe confines of the willow’s weeping branches. “Bishop and his dad moved out of the trailer a little before Trent and Wood moved in. Now Mike rents it to them. Or, um… us.”
“Wow. This is some real modern-age-family-type shit you guys got going on here.” She put her hands in front of her as if asking for an explanation. “So how old is the dad?”
“That’s the thing.” Rayne bit on his thumb cuticle. “I don’t know. He sure as hell doesn’t look old enough to have a son Bishop’s age. But I haven’t been able to ask him anything personal. We’ve only had a few run-ins. But each one has been…” Rayne thought of how to word it. “More powerful than the last.”
The rumbling sound of a motorcycle engine revving, then shutting off made Rayne pause, but he assumed it was one of Edison’s neighbors and continued talking.
Chelsea’s face softened as she came and wrapped her arms around his waist, and he gladly welcomed the contact. “Hey. If you like him, then he must be amazing. And Bishop is mad hot, so if you say he looks just like—”
“Dad!” Bishop’s deep voice carried across the lawn, causing Rayne to stiffen in Chelsea’s hold. “It’s about damn time you got here.”
“Hey, Mike,” Edison called out next. “You made it. Now we can eat.”
“Holy fucking shit, he’s here.” Rayne swallowed the nerves that’d rushed up his throat.
“No way.” Chelsea’s eyes were as wide as his own as she released him and hurried to the curtain of branches, parting it oh so slightly as if she were a covert spy.
Rayne was frozen in place as he watched her every expression. Her shocked gaze tracked Mike’s strong form as he strolled across the lawn. Her mouth hung open as surprise and interest registered on her face. “Well, spread my legs open wide. You were not kidding.”
“I told you,” Rayne mumbled as he tried to slow his breathing.
“That is one smoking-hot dad.” She gaped. “He and Bishop look almost like twins.”
“Right?” Rayne whispered. “It’s so weird.”
“Well, we’re not going to find out anything hiding under this damn tree like a couple of scared squirrels.” Chelsea straightened herself up. “I want a closer look.”
Rayne was not expecting Mike to be there. Whenever he was around, Rayne couldn’t seem to control his feelings. He wanted to stand as close to the tall, brooding man as he could and inhale.
I’m losing my mind.
Rayne had wanted some time to speak to his sponsor about the whole situation and if he felt like it was a good idea to ask a man out. If he believed Rayne was ready to explore a relationship. But he already knew what Cliff would say. He could already hear his mellow voice in his ear asking him, “How do you feel about him?” It would always be Rayne’s choice when he was ready to put himself out there again.