Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 148(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
More importantly, I was done putting my own pride above what was right for Hailee. If the goal was for the three of us to be a family, then that meant learning to act as a family, with each person contributing to the unit. Making the people around him happy and comfortable was how Logan expressed affection.
I held his gaze in the rearview and nodded. “I think that’s a fantastic idea.”
“Do you think you’ll want to open another shop, Dad?” Hailee asked me. I’d had to close my auto body shop when I went inside.
“I’ve thought about it” I said. “I’d like to open a new place eventually, but it sounds like I should maybe wait until you’re finished with school, and we know a little more about where we’ll be living.”
“That’s probably the best way to do it,” Logan said. “In the meantime, I’ll let you work on the 1955 Porsche Spyder I picked up at an auction last month.”
Hailee snickered. “Wow, Logan’s going to let you touch his new baby?”
“Why not?” he said. “I let him touch you, and you’re far more precious to me.”
“I disagree with the opinion that you allow me to touch what’s also mine,” I said. “But I’m too keen to get my hands on your Spyder to argue.”
We drove for a few hours. Instead of heading to the airport and then to Oregon, Logan and Hailee surprised me with a luxury suite at a five-star resort nestled in the Northern California countryside, with views of the mountains and vineyards.
Everything about the place screamed luxury, from the French-style architecture to the massive infinity pool. We parked in a temporary spot at the main entrance and went inside.
Hailee took my hand and led me out to look at the sculpture garden while Logan checked us into our private villa. It felt surreal to be out in the world again, especially somewhere so starkly different from anything I was used to. I was grateful that Logan had sent along a set of clothes and shoes to the prison in advance of my release, so I didn’t have to roll up here in a jumpsuit. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little out of place among all the finery, and the resort staff who were uncomfortably eager to assist me.
Hailee seemed to pick up on my unease.
“We thought we’d order room service and have lunch in the villa,” she said, squeezing my hand. “Does that sound good?”
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I said quietly.
Our villa was down the road from the main building and up a hill, tucked back from the communal spaces and other villas. Large windows, high ceilings, and a warm, buttery color palette made the place feel light and airy. There was a massive bed and two lavish bathrooms, including one out on a balcony with a tub and a shower. The elevation as well as the mature trees around the building protected the outdoor space from being visible from the ground.
Talk about an upgrade from the last six years.
Hailee unpacked her things while we waited for room service to arrive. Having taken all of two seconds to put my things in a drawer, I went out to sit on the patio with Logan.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, gazing out at the rolling fields of grapevines. It seemed as good a time as any for a quick heart-to-heart.
“I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly for taking care of Hailee and making all of this happen. I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Just be the best damn father you can be to our girl, and we’ll call it even.”
I made sure to look him in the eye when I told him, “I will. You can count on it.”
It was a promise I intended to keep.
We ate a delicious lunch out on the patio and then Hailee suggested we go for a swim. After changing into our suits, we went back to the main building and then followed the marked path to the outdoor swimming pool.
“This place looks even better than it did on the website,” she said, peeling off her coverup to reveal her pink bikini. My mouth went dry at the sight of her curves.
The three of us went into the water. A few other guests laid out on lounge chairs and chatted at small tables, but all seemed wrapped up in their own worlds. It was a good thing, too, because Logan and I couldn’t help getting handsy with our girl in the water.
Hailee swam between the two of us. We made a game of stealing touches below the water’s surface, skimming her belly or thighs with our fingertips. But that wasn’t enough. We grew bolder, brushing our bodies up against her ass and breasts.