Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“And he said, I don’t need anythin’,” Curtis said knowingly, his hand poking into the shower with my toothbrush, a little bead of toothpaste pre-loaded.
“Exactly,” I confirmed, taking the toothbrush and stuffing it into my mouth. “Thank you.”
“Welcome,” he said sweetly before disappearing again. “He’s never really been into buying the newest thing. I used to have to force him to get rid of shit so he wasn’t walkin’ around in jeans that were two inches too short.”
I leaned over and spit in the drain. “Jess and Finn have never been the kind of kids who were asking for expensive shit, but they definitely care about what they’re wearing. Thankfully, both of them are perfectly happy with thrift store finds as long as it matches what they’re going for. Shoes are different, though. It’s hard to find shoes second hand that aren’t completely clapped out.”
“You got all the school supplies?” Curt asked, leaning in to take my toothbrush back. “I gave you enough cash?”
“Yup,” I answered, soaping up my hair. “Dylan didn’t need a lot. I have your change. Just remind me when we get out of here.”
“Keep it,” he ordered, climbing into the shower with me.
“Nope.”
“Your savings must be gettin’ low.”
“I’ll worry about my savings,” I said, letting out a happy sigh as his fingers started sliding through my hair.
“Stubborn.”
“Self-sufficient,” I countered.
“A pain in my ass.”
I let out a startled laugh. “I have two garages I’m supposed to stop by this week,” I reminded him. “Both look promising. I’ll be making money pretty soon.”
“One of ’em’s in Springfield, isn’t it?” he asked, his fingers disappearing as he reached for his own soap.
“Yeah. I’m leaning toward that one. The owner seems like a good guy.”
“Longer commute, though.”
“Like ten minutes,” I replied with a scoff. “That’s nothing.”
“Just don’t take somethin’ ’cause you think you have to.”
“I have to pay my bills,” I reminded him. “I can’t just keep draining what we have left.”
“I told you I can cover us.”
“I like working, Curt.” I smiled. “Plus, the kids are back to school in two weeks, and then I’ll just be home alone, bored out of my mind.”
“Fair enough,” he said, leaning down to give me a quick kiss on the lips. He pulled away, but didn’t go very far. “As long as you remember the days of grindin’ are behind you. We’re good, baby. Even if you wanna go part time or somethin’.”
“You’re not working part time,” I reminded him.
“I make my own hours,” he said, scrubbing his body. “If I wanna take time off, I do it. If I wanna fuck you in the mornin’ and go in late, I do it. If I wanna get off early to go with you guys to the river, I do it.”
“Point taken.”
We changed positions so he could rinse off, and I watched in appreciation as the water sluiced over his muscled body. We showered together more often than we showered apart, but I still hadn’t gotten used to the view. Tattoos covered his chest, back, and both arms—all clean black lines, all meaningful.
“I like takin’ care of you,” he said, tipping his head back to rinse his hair.
“What?” I asked distractedly.
“I like takin’ care of you,” he repeated, lowering his head to look at me. “You and the kids. It’s always been just me and Dyl. That’s not what I wanted, even when I was a stupid kid, fuckin’ any woman who’d give me the time of day. I always knew I wanted a family.”
“Aw,” I said, my lips curving.
“Shut up,” he scoffed.
“That’s so sweet.”
“I am sweet,” he said, scooting out of the way so I could move under the spray.
“I know.”
“You’re my family,” he announced, his tone almost frustrated. “Right? I mean, that’s what we’re doin’?”
“That’s what we’re doing,” I confirmed, realizing a little late that he was taking the conversation more seriously than I had been.
“We’ve been livin’ together for almost three months,” he continued, watching as I rinsed off.
“I know.”
“Feels like we’re buildin’ somethin’.”
“We are.”
“This moved beyond temporary when you started takin’ me bare,” he said.
“Oh, is that when it happened?” I asked dryly, reaching out to wrap my hand around his cock.
He jolted, and his gaze came to mine.
“I hear you,” I said, letting go now that I had his attention. “It’s not temporary. We’re making a life.”
He nodded.
“You done in here?”
“Yeah,” he said gruffly.
“So dramatic,” I teased lightly, turning to shut off the shower. I yelped when he pinched my ass.
“I’m happy with whatever you do,” he said as we got out and dried off. “As long as I’m comin’ home to you at night.”
“I won’t take any offers that I’m unsure about,” I replied. “But I am going to find something. I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying home when you’re working. I need to be making my own money, Curt.”