Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
He’d wrapped his arm around her twenty minutes ago, and now they were even holding hands. It was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen, but at the same time, it was making the emptiness in my chest ache.
I was about to excuse myself to bed when the doorbell rang again, and I shot Nicole a questioning glance. “Are you expecting anyone else tonight?”
“No.” She frowned.
I padded towards the door and looked through the keyhole, glimpsing a woman dressed in a nurse’s uniform.
I opened the door a crack and returned her cheerful smile. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Miss Valentine?” she asked.
“Uh… yeah?”
“My name is Emma Charles. I’m here to be your nurse.” She said it in a way that I’m sure sounded perfectly reasonable, but I just stared at her in confusion.
“Excuse me?”
“Do you mind if I come in?” she gestured towards the apartment. “Mr. Bennett sent me.”
“Okay, sure. Sorry.”
She came in with a medical bag and took a seat as she started to explain. Matt and Nicole joined me in the kitchen and listened in.
“Mr. Bennett has hired me to be your round the clock nurse and baby consultant. I’m here to help you with whatever you need, whether it’s assisting with meal preparation, cleaning, or any medical emergencies that should arise.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I protested.
“I’m really not.” She frowned. “I’m highly qualified for this job, Miss Valentine. If you’d like me to provide credentials…”
“I’m sure that you are,” I said apologetically. “But the thing is, I don’t need a nurse or a consultant.”
“But I’ve already been paid,” she argued. “A lot of money. Mr. Bennett wants to ensure you and his baby have the very best care. I’m here to help you.”
She said it as though I didn’t understand what her role was, but it was perfectly clear. Ryland had hired someone to wait on me hand and foot. Again, another gesture that I’m sure seemed perfectly logical to him.
I decided to try for another tactic, one that wouldn’t hurt her feelings.
“Look, I really appreciate your offer of services. But as you can see, the apartment is already quite full, and there’s really not room…”
“I can sleep anywhere,” she volunteered. “A sofa will do. And once Mr. Bennett has finished up the arrangements for the new apartment, I’ll have my own room…”
New apartment? I glanced at Nicole, and she shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe it’s not such a bad idea,” she said. “You could use a little help, Brighton. You’ve been really busy with the charity stuff lately, and you look tired all the time.”
“Really, Nicole?” I squeaked.
Matt chuckled and pulled her to his side. “If you aren’t happy with the arrangement, Brighton, maybe you should take it up with Ryland?”
“Oh he’d like that, wouldn’t he?” I grumbled.
The poor nurse looked like she had no idea what she’d gotten herself into.
“Why don’t you relax and dish yourself up a plate of food,” I told her. “I’m going to speak to Mr. Bennett myself.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Brighton
I fully expected to hold onto my anger and give Ryland a piece of my mind when I stormed into his apartment. But as I walked through each room, I came up empty.
I padded back through the living room, wondering if he could still possibly be at work. It was late though, and I doubted I’d be able to get into the building. Then another thought occurred to me. One that had been bouncing around in my head for a while.
I wondered if he’d found someone else since he’d given up on me. If he was out with her at that very moment. My heart stuttered, and my stomach churned.
No, he wouldn’t do that. Ryland always told me he’d waited five years for me. There was no way he could just move on so quickly. But as fast as he’d gone cold, I really didn’t know where his feelings were at. Just when I thought about giving up and walking out the door, something out on the balcony caught my eye.
I turned around and examined his profile in the moonlight as he stared out at the skyline. All of my irritation deflated when I saw him sitting there in the cold, looking more lost and alone than I’d ever seen him. I drew closer to him, unable to keep my head and heart from wanting the same thing. I pushed open the glass door, but he didn’t hear me. His skin looked ice cold, and his eyes were empty.
“Ryland?”
He turned at the sound of my voice, and something flared to life in his eyes as his gaze travelled over my face. He took a step closer on instinct, but then stopped short.
“Brighton? Are you okay?”
His eyes travelled down to my belly as I nodded, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets in an effort to control himself. I could tell he wanted to touch me, and honestly, I wanted him to touch me too. We were so close, but so far away.