Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95906 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
The amount that he supposedly owed me was considerable, but I didn't give a shit about it. I wanted to crumple the paper in my hands, but I forced myself to remain calm and said, “Is this really what you want to talk about?”
“It's all I know how to talk about,” Micah murmured. I sighed and pushed the paper away and made a move to stand. His fingers immediately closed around my wrist and squeezed.
Hard.
“I need this, Con. Because as amazing as last night was, this is my reality. I have two kids who are depending on me to make the right choices. They need and deserve a future. I don't understand what happened last night. I don't understand what I'm feeling. I'm not saying we can't talk about last night, but it can't be part of this.” He jerked his chin in the direction of the piece of paper. “I know I didn't act like I cared when you offered me this arrangement, but I need it. The job history, the income, legal custody, all of it. I can't risk Christopher’s and Rory’s futures on a pipe dream like Brady did.”
I knew he was right. I knew he needed to put his faith in something that he could make sense of, yet it still stung. But it was also a visceral reminder of where we were in our lives and it wasn't in the same place. Micah was trying to find his footing in the world. He needed independence and stability. He needed to know that he could take care of himself and the children he was raising as his own.
I’d agreed to help him do that, so I had to accept that the night before hadn't really changed anything. Knowing he was right about deserving some level of security, I pulled the paper back in front of me and skimmed it with a more discerning eye. As tempted as I was to go through it and fiddle with the numbers so that the amount he supposedly owed me was considerably less, I knew Micah was smart enough to pick up on it. There were only a couple of spots where he'd overestimated things, so I fixed those and then handed the paper back to him.
“Thank you,” he murmured as he tucked it back into his pocket.
I nodded. “I'll go give my PI a call to see if he's made any progress on finding Clara.” I made a move to stand, but Micah's hand shot out again and he once more wrapped his fingers around my wrist.
“Con,” he began. I hated that he still hung his eyes around me. I wasn't sure if it had to do with me or it was just so ingrained in him that he didn't even realize he was doing it. In any case, it was all I could do not to tip his chin up to force him to look at me.
“I’m scared,” he admitted so softly that I almost didn’t hear him.
All my frustration at his insistence that we keep our business arrangement in place disintegrated just like that. I knew he wasn't talking about how much he owed me or even the stuff with Clara, though I knew that weighed heavily on his mind.
“Me too,” I said as I placed my free hand over the one he had on my wrist.
“You said I didn't have to ask,” Micah whispered.
I knew what he was talking about. I’d told him the night before that he never had to ask me to stay. My heart leapt into my throat as I realized what he was trying so hard to get out. I reached out to clasp the back of his neck and drew him forward so I could cover his mouth with mine. Micah whimpered and dug his fingernails into my wrist as we kissed. We were both breathing heavily by the time I released him. Before I could answer him, Christopher and Rory came running through the door.
“Uncle Micah, come look. Christopher and I found a butterfly!”
The little girl began tugging on her uncle’s arm.
The one he'd been holding on to me with that he’d released as soon as the kids had come into the house.
“Okay, I'm coming,” Micah said as he stood. His eyes met mine and I could see the worry in them. Just as he began to step away from me, I grabbed his hand and gave his fingers a squeeze.
I made sure the kids were out of hearing distance before I stood and leaned into him just a little. “Tonight,” I said softly against his ear. I heard a little breath escape him and then he was squeezing my fingers hard.
I forced myself to release my hold on Micah as I watched him hurry after the kids. I knew that, at least for the foreseeable future, I had the nights to look forward to.