Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Christ, he loved how honest she could be.
Right here.
Open.
Giving it all to him.
“I also think that’s partially territorial,” she went on. “That was the beginning. You’ve been mine for a while and the longer she extends the drama, the more pissed I am.”
“Mm,” he murmured.
“I know it’s not mine to be pissed about,” she noted.
“I’m sorry? I’m still stuck on the ‘you’ve been mine for a while.’”
This time, her body twitched on his.
She then dropped her head and gave him a deep, wet kiss.
When they came up for air, she was no longer on top of him. He’d rolled her to her back and had his chest resting on hers.
Through their kiss, Moon had been dislodged from their feet, and now he was again walking on them to find a new spot.
“To end,” he said, his voice gruff, “I care about you. You care about me. It’s territorial for the both of us. However, I’m also protective of you. You miss him and I sense that. So you’re feeling my concern more than anything.”
“It was a long time ago, Tommy. I can’t say Rollo doesn’t have my undying love, but I’m not harboring that in a way that will inhibit me from moving on.”
“I didn’t think that was the case. Though, good to know.”
Mika released a soft laugh.
But her tone was not amused when she said, “Cadence is many beautiful things, and for me, one of those is that she’s a memory of her father. I just wanted to make sure, since she’ll be that for you too, it’s okay.”
“You okay with Chloe?”
“Of course.”
“Honey, it’s the same thing.”
She relaxed under him. “Okay.”
“We’re good,” he told her. “More than good.”
“We are definitely that. More than good.”
That was when Tom relaxed.
He kissed her.
Mika kissed him back.
They murmured to each other in the dark for a while longer, nothing serious, just digging deeper into each other, so all of it was important.
And then, still wound together, Moon selecting his place, draped across their feet, they fell asleep.
* * *
“I’m out,” Judge declared.
“Thank God I have to go into the office and get some work done,” Jamie muttered.
“Thank God I have to leave,” Hale replied, also in a mutter.
“I’m sorry, honey.” Tom turned to Mika. “But I’m doing whatever Judge is doing, and I don’t really care what that is.”
Mika burst out laughing.
They were at lunch the next day.
Another big party.
But they’d finished eating, and Judge had snuck the server his credit card so the bill had been paid.
And the women had decided the next thing on the agenda was to go to Saks Fifth Avenue’s shoe floor.
“You’ll only be annoying and put a damper on the proceedings,” Chloe declared in Judge’s direction. “So with our blessings, go do your thing.”
“We’re meeting at Dad and my place for dinner?” Dru asked.
Before anyone could confirm, Jamie turned to Chloe and Judge.
“Are you sure you two want another family dinner? You don’t want to go out in the city for a couple’s night?”
Chloe’s quick glance to Mika was barely discernable.
Except to a father’s practiced eye.
She wanted the new growth of the family roots digging deeper, just like Tom did.
Which was why she answered, “Judge and I are doing that Sunday night. We’re not missing Dru’s cooking.”
“I’ll have to nip out of the shopping early to get started on that,” Dru replied.
“Do you need help?” Mika asked.
“You’ll sacrifice time from Saks’ shoes?” Dru asked in return.
“I love a beautiful shoe, but I also love to be elbow deep in chopping,” Mika shared.
“That’s good, since one of the things I’m making is maque choux and lots of chopping is involved,” Dru returned.
“Don’t look at me, darling,” Nora put in when Mika glanced her way. “When it comes to cooking, I’m that grandmother in Sixteen Candles who opened the donut box and declared breakfast was served. Without the godawful cigarette, of course. And no way in hell I’m cutting shoe shopping short.”
Everyone laughed.
A member of staff who looked like the manager approached, appearing uncertain, his eyes darting between Jamie, Hale and Tom.
“Is everything okay?” Tom asked.
The man’s shoulders slumped in relief that his decision had been made for him, and he took a step forward to Tom, leaned deep at the waist, and said in a low voice in Tom’s ear, “I’m sorry, sir. But we thought you should know. Word has gotten out you’re all here and there is a…well, no way to describe it except that there’s a very large group of paparazzi outside.”
“Goddamn it,” Tom bit off, then to the server, “My apologies for the language.”
“No worries. Understandable,” he replied. “We’d like to invite you to leave through the kitchens, there’s a small alley out back. Though, it’s not large enough for your cars to get back there.”
“What’s going on?” Jamie asked.
“Paparazzi outside,” Tom told him.
Nora craned her neck to look to the front. “Really? How fabulous.”