Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56799 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“Sylvie will be here soon to help cover the floor. Don’t worry about a thing. I can run this place for as long as you need.”
Clara smiled. “I know you can. You’re indispensable to me.”
Her throat filled with emotion. Clara and her kindness often collided with memories of her mother. They were both lovely, refined, and so sweet.
“Go home and rest,” she said, studying Clara, concerned about her pallor. “I’ll call you later and see how you’re feeling.”
Oliver visibly gritted his teeth. “She has me. She’ll be fine,” he bit out.
Was it jealousy over their relationship? Fallon shrugged and decided not to waste any more time thinking about Oliver and his eccentricities. The last thing she wanted was to upset an already ill Clara.
Oliver and his mother departed, leaving Fallon alone at the gallery. The weather was gorgeous and the day passed quickly, a ton of browsers coming in and out. She sold one of her favorite pieces to a man who needed an anniversary gift for his wife, promising to deliver while she was at work next week.
When she finished, Fallon walked into the painting side where Sylvie was setting up the easels for tonight’s group of women. They’d booked the evening to celebrate someone’s thirtieth birthday, and those type of evenings usually meant a lively group. Although she usually enjoyed overseeing them, she was glad Sylvie was managing the night alone.
She and Sylvie talked for a bit, then Fallon left her alone to finish readying the room. Back at Clara’s desk, she picked up her bag which she’d stored beneath the desk after the other woman left, accidentally moving the mouse. The computer came to life. Sure enough there was a P&L statement on the screen. With a sigh aimed at Oliver, who’d probably been asking his mother for money, she shut down the machine for the night.
She glanced at her watch and saw it was almost five. Time to head home where she planned to pour herself a glass of pinot, take a warm bath, and not masturbate to thoughts of Noah.
The chime of her cell phone was a welcome interruption and she hoped it was one of her siblings so she could make dinner plans during the week. A distraction was exactly what she needed to take her mind off of the man who’d turned her down, even if it had been the right thing to do. She’d been tipsy enough to suffer a hangover the next morning, so she was glad he’d respected her enough to say no. Even if it hurt her feelings.
Retrieving her phone from inside her bag, she was shocked to see Noah’s name on the screen. After two run-ins with the girls, she’d saved his number and her stomach fluttered at the sight.
She swiped to answer the call. “Hello?”
“It’s her!” she heard a familiar girl’s voice say.
“Say hello!” her sister said.
“Dylan or Dakota?” she asked, laughing.
“Dakota, and I don’t have a lot of time. I borrowed Daddy’s phone.”
Why was she not surprised, she thought and shook her head in amusement. “Hi, honey. What’s going on?”
“Daddy might come back any minute and he can’t know we’re calling. So, when can we come paint like you promised?”
No point in telling the girls their father would see her number in the list of calls and realize what was going on. They’d find out soon enough.
“I think that’s up to your dad.” He’d have to call her and set up a time.
Dakota groaned. “He’s been busy makin’ nanny appointments with people we are not going to like.”
“We really won’t!” Dylan chimed in. “But Aunt Shannon has the flu and Grandma said she can’t watch us every day. Just the days she doesn’t have cansta.”
Cansta? Fallon was going to have to figure that one out later.
“You haven’t even met the person yet. How do you know you won’t like them?” she asked.
“We just know…” the young girl said, drawing out the word.
“Dakota Powers, who are you on my phone with?” Noah’s angry voice sounded.
“Uh-oh, gotta go!”
Fallon expected her to disconnect the call but instead she heard Noah’s deep, sexy voice. “Hello?” he asked more than stated.
She gripped the phone harder. “Hi, Noah. It’s Fallon.”
“Girls!” he bellowed at them. “Go to your room and we’ll discuss you sneaking my phone off my dresser later.”
“Hey, Fallon.”
“Hi.” The word came out mid-laughter. “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. They’re just so… so… precocious,” she said.
“That’s one word for it. I’m sorry they bothered you.”
She envisioned him running a hand through his hair, tousling the soft strands in frustration. “They’re no bother. Honestly. I enjoy them.” Probably more than she should considering she was attracted to their father.
He cleared his throat. “I meant to stop by today to talk. About Friday night. But my sister had the flu and couldn’t watch the girls and Mom had her weekly canasta game.”