Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“How are things going?” Griff asks, stepping into my bedroom. He’s changed out of his black suit and into another. Though he doesn't have a tie on or the jacket so it’s a bit more relaxed. Not much though. He always looks so serious.
“Great. I think Mrs. Putnam was a carpenter in a past life. Look at her go.” I pop out from behind some of the stacked boxes. I point to the cat tower that is taller than I am. Not that it’s hard to be taller than me. Most things are.
“I’m convinced there’s nothing Mrs. Putnam can’t do.”
Griff’s eyes run up and down my body. “You changed.” His tone is back to being curt again.
I’d wondered where he disappeared to after he showed me to my new room. He’s been gone for a few hours. Is it weird that I missed him? Every time someone entered the room to drop something off, I would peek over to see if it was him. A pang of disappointment would hit me each time when I realized it wasn't. I’m sure he went to his office to work. He’d pointed it out to me when he gave me a mini tour of the house. He seemed to be in a bit of a rush after lunch. His phone kept going off, but he ignored it for the most part.
My father’s office was always off limits. I’m guessing Griff’s will be the same. It’s probably why he pointed it out to me so I’d know to stay out.
“I did.” Who wants to hang around in a black funeral dress? I’d put on my favorite lounge clothes that I thought were extra fitting because of the cats.
It’s a matching sweat set of shorts and crop hoodie. It has little kittens all over it. The set goes perfectly with my kitten slippers. I might have gone a bit overboard when I put on my headband with kitten ears, but Mrs. Putnam said I was as adorable as the kittens, so I left them on. I actually thought I might even be a bit sexy. Not that I know anything about being that.
He stands there staring at me. Is he thinking it’s a bit too snug? My hips are a bit wider than the girl who modeled it in the picture online. I thought since the model was taller than me that the size might still work. She looked sexy in it. But based on the way Griff is looking at me, I’m guessing I’m not pulling it off. I might have told myself it was to celebrate the kittens and that's why I picked it to wear, but I was curious what Griff might think too.
“I wanted to be comfortable.” I walk over to him and undo the buttons on his sleeve, then roll one sleeve up to his elbow. The man needs to relax a little. He’s in his own home and dressed to the nines.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making you more comfortable.” I do the other sleeve before I go for the top two buttons around his collar. “Is that better?”
“No.” The one word comes out deep and growly.
“Really?”
“When you come to dinner, you’ll need to be dressed properly.”
“Are we going out somewhere?”
“We’ll go to the dining room where we’ll have dinner each night at seven sharp. I’ve made a schedule. I emailed it to you.”
“Emailed me?” I scrunch my nose.
“I got your email from Frank. Is it not current?”
“I think.” I shrug. “I never check it really. If I’m bored or something, but now I’m a mom of three so I’m a bit busy,” I deadpan.
He doesn’t even crack a smile. Tough crowd.
“I’ll have it printed for you.”
“Can it be laminated too?”
“I suppose.”
“I’m teasing you, Griff.” What the heck? Did something change in the last couple of hours? I shift on my feet, feeling a bit unsure of myself. I tug on the bottom of my hoodie, trying to make it cover more of my stomach.
“That you are.” There he goes, growling again. My stomach flutters at the sounds as another strange sensation ripples through my body. It’s the same one I felt when he touched my hand.
“Are you over there screwing this up?” Mrs. Putnam asks from across the room. The hell? She’s got the second tower half built now.
“I’m not screwing anything,” he mutters. “Dinner is at seven.” He turns and leaves my room. I stare after him.
“You’re not changing,” Mrs. Putnam says.
“But–”
“Trust me, sweet girl.” She winks at me, leaving me unsure of what to do.
Instead of dwelling on it, I grab a toy and go test it on the mama, completely forgetting about dinner or any schedule at all.
7
GRIFFIN
“You’re certain these are her favorite foods?” I watch over Mrs. Putnam’s shoulder as she places the bubbling dish of macaroni and cheese onto the counter.