Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Twelve
Josie
Three Months Later
Shattered Dreams Become Reality …
* * *
Who am I kidding? I keep trying to convince myself I’m inviting him over because it’s the polite thing to do. The truth is I want the man more than I’ve ever wanted anything before in my life.
I never understood sex addiction before now. Sex was good with Jonah, it was decent with Brett, but I’ve never had a partner so focused on making sure I get mine every single time. Having it this good all the time, yeah, I’m hooked, and I don’t want rehab. It’s more than orgasms. The way he looks at me it’s like the whole world stops. Jonah loved me but it was in this innocent way. Dean looks at me like he wants to devour me. He has this hunger about him that makes me feel safe. He will take on the world to protect me and it’s written in his eyes.
Stirring the pot, I glance at the clock for the third time. It’s Sunday afternoon after a month of consistent time together, especially nights. True to his word, Dean has let me set the pace, especially with Justice.
I have never felt so embraced and not just physically but emotionally. For the first time in a long time, I relax. A month of getting to know him, being with him, and having someone who doesn’t push me beyond what I am ready for is breaking down walls I didn’t know I had built.
The weekends when he has to do club stuff, I miss him. The days I have to work late I am anxiously anticipating getting home where I know he will have picked up Justice and started dinner.
What I have come to realize is, I want him here. I want these casual moments together as much as I want the sensual ones. This anticipation to see him, the butterflies, it’s such an exciting and scary thing. I haven’t felt this way since Jonah.
Justice is running wild around the house. Dean barely gets the first knock before Justice is at the door. I get the door open as Justice grabs him by the hand.
“Dean, you have to see the car wash I built for us. I put it beside Honey’s Hot Rod shop, but we can move it.” He tells him exuberantly. He’s been working on this little town build forever and constantly adding new things like a car wash for his toy cars that change color in water.
“Good evenin’, gorgeous,” Dean says with a kiss to my temple in passing as he takes off with my son. “Sorry that call took longer than I expected.” He explains when he doesn’t have to. Dean owns his own construction company. He’s sort of a jack-of-all-trades and Honey called with a kitchen faucet problem. He left after lunch to go take care of it.
“We gotta come up with what else we need. I thought we’d be building this tonight. You beat me to it.” He taps his cheek while studying the layout they have built in Justice’s room. “Maybe we make a paint and body shop? We could start the design after dinner.”
My heart feels like it might burst. He is attentive in a way no one ever has been for my son. Is this what life would be like with Jonah? They have created this whole map and design where Justice colors and cuts while deciding the materials to build whatever comes next for this little township. Dean has taken us to his friend, Stud’s shop and to the Hellions clubhouse. It’s a lot to learn and people to remember, but I find they all seem to embrace us as their own. My family certainly would never be so open and accepting.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d make it back, so I kept goin’ on the wash.” Justice explains as I stand in his doorway observing.
“Told ya I’d be back.” He looks at my son, “man to man, learn early, Justice, give your word, keep your word.”
Justice nods not truly taking in the life lesson just dropped on him. Tears fill my eyes thinking this is what I’ve wanted for my son. A man to use everyday things to teach Justice but also to lead by his own example.
“Dinner’s ready,” I inform them motioning towards the kitchen as I make my way back to the stove to make our plates.
The guys follow, Justice taking his seat, and Dean taking his like he belongs here. It’s natural like we have done this forever. What should feel awkward doesn’t.
“Dean, do you think we need to add a clubhouse like yours across from our garage?” Justice asks stuffing a giant piece of cornbread in his mouth.
“Whatever you want, buddy. You design it and we’ll build it.”
After dinner, I clean up the kitchen wondering if Dean is going home or will he stay the night. We never really seem to have a plan. Mostly, he tends to fall asleep in my bed after making love and he tends to wake before Justice and head home to shower and ready for his day. I find the man really likes food though and makes sure he’s back for breakfast with my boy and me.