Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78894 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Because I’m his mother, Mason.”
“No, you’re the woman who gave him life, Ashley. You didn’t even want to hold him after he was born, so don’t give me that I’m his mother bullshit. Tell me why you’re really here?”
She looked at me again, giving me a once-over as she ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Are you dating?”
I ignored her, and she started to laugh. “I’ll take your silence as my answer. Really? Her?” she asked, jabbing her thumb in the direction of the kitchen.
“Palmer is Charlie’s nanny.”
Her eyes went wide. “Nanny? Wow, you must be rolling in dough if you’re able to hire a nanny for our son.”
“My son.”
She smirked. “If my memory is correct, it took both of us to make him, and I did all the work bringing him into the world.”
Before I could respond, Palmer walked in carrying a tray with three mugs and a pot of hot coffee.
“I figured you might like something hot to drink,” she said.
Ashley looked down her nose at the steaming pot. “I don’t drink coffee. But thank you.”
I wasn’t about to point out that she’d always drank coffee in the past. For all I knew, she’d given it up.
Palmer set the tray down on the coffee table and then sat in a seat across from Ashley. She rested her hands in her lap, and I could tell she was feeling a bit awkward.
“So, what are we going to do about me needing a place to stay?” Ashley asked. “Your house is big enough, Mason. I’m sure you have a spare room I can stay in.”
I opened my mouth to tell her to shove it up her ass, but Palmer responded first.
“I’ve taken care of it.”
Ashley and I both swung our heads to look at Palmer, who sat there with a soft smile on her face.
“What do you mean, you’ve taken care of it?” Ashley snarled.
“A friend of mine owns a bed and breakfast in town, and I called her while I was getting the coffee ready. I asked if she had any available rooms and if I could call in a favor. She said she did, and that you’re more than welcome to head on over. It’s only for one night though.”
I nearly lost it laughing when Ashley’s mouth fell open. I had to fight the urge to go over, pull Palmer up, and kiss the living crap out of her.
“You want me to stay at a bed and breakfast?” Ashley asked.
Palmer gave her a one-shoulder shrug. “I don’t think you have any other options, as it seems clear to me that Mason doesn’t want you staying at his house.”
Ashley’s mouth opened again, then snapped shut.
“Her husband has a four-wheel drive truck with studded snow tires, and he’s on his way over to pick you up,” Palmer continued. “I wasn’t sure if you drove or took a taxi here?”
Blinking several times, Ashley snapped her head back to me.
I simply smiled. “Looks like your problem’s solved. You can stay there tonight, and tomorrow you can leave Seaside.”
When it was clear Ashley wasn’t going to say anything, Palmer went on. “He should be here in the next ten minutes. Do you have a car parked outside?”
Jerking her head back to Palmer, Ashley said, “I’m sorry?”
Leaning forward and speaking slower, Palmer asked, “Did…you…drive…here?”
I could practically see the flames shooting out of Ashley’s eyes. “I’m not one of the kids you nanny; I understood you perfectly fine.”
Palmer raised her brows. “Okay, do you have a car?”
“Who is this woman, and why is she grilling me?” Ashley asked.
I had taken off my jacket, so I folded my arms across my chest once more. “I already told you who she is. Where’s your car, Ashley? She’s only asking because clearly you can’t drive it in this kind of weather, and we’ll need to get your car for you if you left it somewhere. I honestly can’t imagine how you got here without driving—even if it was a rental you got at the airport.”
“Someone dropped me off.”
I leaned forward. “Someone dropped you off? Like an Uber?”
Her eyes drifted away from mine, and I knew a lie was coming. “Yes.”
Palmer’s phone rang.
“Hello? Oh hey, Tim. Yes, if you’re able to. You got here faster than I thought you would. Okay, great. Thanks.”
She hung up and looked at me. “Tim is here with his truck. He can take you to the bed and breakfast for the night until you figure out what to do. Maybe the friend who dropped you off can pick you up there tomorrow.”
Ashley stood. “You think I’m going to climb into a truck with a stranger? You’re insane!”
“He’s not a stranger,” Palmer stated. “He’s a police officer for the city. He and his wife also run a local bed and breakfast, which happens to have an empty room. I would call yourself lucky you even found a room to stay in tonight. And honestly, I’m not the one who showed up on someone’s porch on Christmas expecting to be welcomed in.”