Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“It’s perfect. Wanna know what’s not perfect?”
She glances up, nose wrinkled while grinning. “What?”
I drop my head between my shoulders. “Cameron solicited my advice about asking a girl out on a date, and I fumbled the ball. I said some stupid shit then managed to segue it into a condom conversation that just got more and more awkward until I bailed.”
Alice giggles. “Aw, I’m jealous that you got to have the sex conversation with him.”
I jerk my head up. “Jealous? Baby, there’s nothing to be jealous about. In fact, I think the best way to parent is to let someone else do it and just live next door and be more like grandparents that can spoil them, then hand them back. Really, we should see if Rose and Jonathan want to raise Mia and Sophie.”
“Stop!” She laughs, wiping her hands, then carrying the finished cake to the fridge. “You know what you need?”
“Lessons on how to be cool in a sixteen-year-old’s eyes?”
“Murph, you only have to be cool in my eyes.” She pulls something wrapped in butcher paper from the fridge, then she slides her favorite cast iron skillet to the front burner and ignites it.
Oil.
Garlic.
Rosemary.
Salt and pepper.
Once it’s heated, she tosses the steak into the pan to sear it. I can’t remember the last time she made steak at nine o’clock at night.
“You need a little of this.” She adjusts the heat a smidge. “And a little of this.” She gives me her hand. “I have one last slot on my dance card.”
I grin, sliding one hand behind my back while offering her my other on a slow bow.
When she accepts, I jerk her into my arms, making her gasp.
“I saw Hunter Morrison today,” she says.
“Oh?” I lift my eyebrows as we sway to the music.
“He was at the park. Apparently, he’s taken up drawing, so he was sketching a tree.”
“No Vera?”
She shakes her head. “Vera’s in New York watching her granddaughter while Blair opens a second gallery with her husband. That could have been you.”
“Hmm …” I twist my lips. “A stuffy life in New York or screwing my homemaker in a secluded area by the lake just after lunch every day.”
Alice laughs. “Not every day. The girls have early out on Wednesdays.” She teases the nape of my neck and stares at my mouth.
I duck my head to kiss her and she pulls away.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too.”
Again, I try to kiss her. Again, she pulls away.
“You have to say, ‘Hi.’”
We turn our heads toward the soft voice. Sophie peeks her head around the corner. “Say it and mommy will kiss you.”
“Why aren’t you in bed?” Alice asks.
“Because I’m too excited for Cam’s birthday party.” She wedges herself between us, stepping on my toes like her mom used to do as she hugs my legs.
We make a Sophie sandwich and continue to sway to the music.
“Say it, Daddy,” she whispers.
I frame Alice’s face and let my lips hover over hers because I know how much our girls love seeing our affection.
“Say. It.” Sophie’s whisper escalates to a hiss.
Alice grins.
“Hi,” I whisper, then press my lips to hers.