Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“I can understand that,” he says carefully.
“Once my father was a really good man, the best, Eli. I still have memories of the way he’d come in my room to read me stories and run his fingers through my hair, calling me his little princess. I want that for my daughter. She won’t have anyone in her life that’s good but my brother who is rarely in town, you—if your wife or old lady allows it—and my father. Lord knows she won’t have a good role model in a father who barely gives her the time of day—and that was before he knocked up his mistress.”
“I don’t have an old lady or a wife, Daphne.”
“I know, but you will someday. It would be understandable if she asked you to stop coming around me and my daughter. Very few women would want someone she loves to hang out with another woman and her daughter—knowing our kind of relationship.”
“What kind of relationship do we have, Daphne?” he asks and my heart stutters in my chest. My palms go sweaty, and I suddenly feel like I’m walking a tightrope.
“We’re friends,” I say at once, but I know that doesn’t quite sum it up. “We enjoy spending time together. We’re close. You’re like a second brother to me. A lot of women would find that type of relationship threatening.”
“You’re on dangerous ground right now, Skittles.”
“I am? Uh … What do you mean, Eli?”
“You’re going to keep on until you bite off more than you can chew.”
“You’re speaking in riddles, Eli.”
His large hands grip his steering wheel tight as he turns to stare forward, then slowly lowers his head. “Daphne, I will never let another woman keep me from being there for you and Cammie,” he says quietly, sending a small shiver of fear down my back.
“You can’t say that. You don’t know what the future may bring,” I try to explain, even as the words put scars in my heart that I will never recover from.
“You don’t need to worry about it. I don’t want a relationship. Nora did me so bad, I fully expect to be alone the rest of my life.”
“That’s sad,” I whisper. He may not want me, but he deserves a woman in his life who will love him completely.
“Life can be sad. You and I know that firsthand. I think your parents may know that too. They’re just idiots who made their daughter suffer instead of sucking it up and being there for you.”
“We should get going. I have to get back so that Ms. Grayson can get home to watch The Family Feud. She gets very upset if she misses Steve Harvey. She’s kind of in love with him,” I explain. “If you were planning on taking me to the club, maybe we could just turn around now. That’s probably for the best anyway. You seem to be in a strange mood and I’m just really tired.
“I’m not taking you to the clubhouse.”
“You’re not?” I ask.
“Nope. I want to show you something that I think you’re going to like.”
“Um … okay,” I murmur, not sure of what else to say.
This weight settles in my gut. I feel like something shifted between me and Eli and whatever it is, it’s not good. The problem is, I don’t know how to fix it.
And I really wish I could.
Chapter 8
Daphne
I’m thankful when we finally come to stop, albeit confused. We’re parked on Main Street in Corbin. It’s near Wrigley’s and Rooftop, both of which are popular places to eat here. We’re standing in front of an empty shop. I can’t remember what used to be here, but it has been a while since I’ve spent much time in Corbin. Years ago, it was a dairy bar.
“What are we doing here?” I finally ask as we both get out. Those are the first words we’ve spoken since he pulled back on the road. Yeah, something has definitely changed between us.
“I wanted you to see this building.”
“Um … Why?” I ask, thoroughly confused.
“I was thinking with your talent, you should think about opening your own bakery.”
I blinked as I tried to wrap my brain around what he just said. “What?” I ask, positive that I misunderstood him.
“The club owns this building. The original parts store was here before it was moved closer to the clubhouse. I looked at it and thought it’d be a great place for your bakery. This part of town stays crowded. There’s a ballfield close by so there’d be traffic every time there’s a baseball game for the local schools. You could make a success of it. I know you could. Plus, there’s a full industrial kitchen in it. All of the equipment is in good working order, too. You could design the front as you want. The best part is there’s a two bedroom apartment above it. Now, there’s a deck attached but the yard is small. There is a park just down the street though. I think little Cammie would love it.”