Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 143842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 719(@200wpm)___ 575(@250wpm)___ 479(@300wpm)
How I’d gone from promising myself that I’d never in a million years allow Cody Cooper to touch me because what kind of horrible person did that make me to him giving me the best orgasm I’d ever experienced Saturday night.
How I’d gone from him insisting on staying here for one night to make sure Pruitt didn’t come back around to him kissing me like he’d actually meant it in front of the very monster out in that parking lot.
How I’d gone from hating my new neighbor to him out in the backyard putting together a playhouse for my daughter while I finished dinner inside.
Whatever game it was? I knew I was playing it with fire. A crackle in the distance that warned those flames were gathering strength. A few moments more and they’d make it over the ridge and completely consume.
So lost in my thoughts, I nearly jumped out of my skin when the back door burst open and a clatter of energy ripped through the air, though my smile was easy when I found my daughter racing into the kitchen, flapping her arms overhead.
“Mommy! We did it! We got my playhouse all the way done because Mr. Cody is so very strong and has the biggest, most giantest muscles I ever seen, and it’s ready and we got the biggest surprise! You need to come see!”
The crash of words tumbled from Maddie, my little whirlwind grinning so wide as she jumped in place, all dimples and chubby cheeks and innocence, wild locks of blonde curls framing her sweet face.
She grabbed my hand and tugged. “Come on, you have to come see right now!”
True to his word, the second we’d gotten back, Cody had gone directly into the backyard and started putting her playhouse together.
“Okay, okay, give me one second and let me turn off this burner so we don’t burn the gravy.”
I flipped off the knob while Maddie kept tugging at my hand. “Right now, Mommy! Hurry!”
I laughed as she hauled me along. “Someone is excited.”
“I’m the most very excited ever.” She dragged me across the room and out into the descending night.
The air was grayed and cooled, the heavens colored in sweeps and swirls of fading color as the darkness wisped across the sky.
Maddie turned to face me as she led me down the porch steps. “Close your eyes, it’s a surprise.”
“A surprise, huh?”
“A really good one.”
I peeked over at the playhouse that had been set up beneath the big oak tree that stood on the far end of the yard, its branches stoic and its reach wide.
Madison’s playhouse was made to look like a cottage, the plastic shaped into planks of wood with a gray door and white-framed windows that were missing the glass.
She bounced all the way across the lawn until we were in front of it.
I knew the ceiling was basically only high enough for Maddie to stand in, so I was giggling when she threw open the door and demanded, “Keep your eyes closed all the way, Mommy, and follow me all the way inside!”
Trying to keep them closed, I got to my knees to crawl inside, squeezing through the narrow doorway as I patted my hands on the ground to guide myself.
When I made it through, Maddie shouted, “Open them!”
I was on my knees when I did, and a soft gasp escaped when I opened them to take in the scene. Blankets had been spread out on the floor and little twinkle lights were strung up on the ceiling, casting it in a soft, warm glow.
Her Princess Verona bunny and a couple other dolls were set up on the right side at the little table that extended from the wall.
And Cody…Cody had somehow wedged himself inside, the heap of a man curled up in the left back corner with his knees pulled to his chest and a fake pink pearl necklace around his neck.
“Surprise! We’re having a party!” Maddie threw her arms up again.
“A party?” I barely mouthed as I looked to Cody, an apology in my expression.
“That’s right,” he rumbled in that dark voice, his rugged face so handsome in the shadows that played through the confined space. “We’re having a party. I even got dressed up.”
He gave a soft tug to the necklace around his neck.
“And we have to eat in here because it’s a dinner party and I even got drinks but it’s not wine because I’m not old enough.” Maddie lifted a plastic teacup that brimmed with water, sloshing it over the side in her enthusiasm.
“Wow, this is amazing,” I drew out, sending Cody another apologetic look when I said it.
He just smiled one of those easy smiles.
Like this was no big deal. Like he wasn’t single-handedly wreaking havoc on my sanity. Or maybe he was just tweaking that sanity into something brand new.