Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 469(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Why did Katy marry Sean instead of you?”
The gleam in Colten’s eyes dies along with his smile. “Wow.” He stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “You really know how to ruin a good day, don’t you?”
“I’m the person who tells families how their loved ones died. Ruining people’s days is kinda my thing. And I don’t really care why you didn’t marry Reagan’s mom. I’m just reminding you that we are not friends, so your incessant attempts will always be met with my incessant need for answers.”
He shakes his head while finding the door to my office, stopping at the threshold with his back to me. “She asked me if I loved her.”
I glance up at the door.
“I hesitated,” he says. “Two seconds … maybe three. Then I started to answer, but it was too late. She said she would never marry a man who hesitated … but more than that … she wouldn’t marry me because she had to ask.”
Leaning back in my chair, I hug my arms to my chest. “Text me the park and the time.”
I hide behind a tree like a creeper watching Colten and Reagan play T-ball. This was a bad idea. Everything that involves being with Colten Mosley outside of work is a bad idea.
Some things never change. I spent most of my childhood entertaining bad ideas when it came to Colten.
On a deep breath, I step into view and smile at Reagan as she runs the bases of the small field.
“You came.” Colten’s smile gobbles up his whole face.
I shrug. “It’s a nice night. Not as humid. And I could use a little fresh air.”
“Daddy, it’s her.” Reagan runs right into Colten’s leg, hugging it while pointing at me.
“Yes, it’s Josie.”
“Hi, Josie!” She gives me a quick wave before grabbing the bat.
“Hi, Reagan.”
Colten sets the ball back on the tee. Reagan smacks it and starts running the bases again, stopping at third base to chase a butterfly.
“No attention span.” Colten shakes his head.
I chuckle.
He slides his hands in his pockets and watches her. “Do you remember when we said we’d never have kids?”
Yes. I remember. Colten said he’d never bring children into the world because he was afraid he’d inherited the loser dad gene. I just … never wanted to be a mom even though I’ve had a great family. I wanted a career.
And Colten … I wanted Colten Mosley. Had he wanted to marry me and have ten kids, I would have said yes.
“Well …” I clear my throat. “I didn’t have kids. She’s all yours.”
His head inches side to side several times before looking at me. “What about now? Are you dating a new guy every night because you’re looking for love? A husband? A family?”
Rubbing my lips together, I shake my head and watch Reagan and the butterfly. “Just sex, Mosley. I don’t want or need a husband. And we know I’m not exactly maternal, so I’ll leave the childrearing up to women who are more nurturing.”
“Occupational hazard?”
I smirk. “Something like that.”
“Well…” he blows out a long breath “…I hope the sex is good.”
I snort. “Yeah. I’m sure you do.”
Reagan runs toward us, and Colten hunches down, letting her tackle him. “Oof!” He falls backward, and she straddles his chest, pressing her hands to his cheeks.
“Love you, Daddy.”
“Oh, Button.” He jackknives to sitting and grabs her tiny head, giving her a loud smooch on her forehead. “I love you too.”
“I’m hungry.”
“Okay. Let’s hit a few more balls then we’ll grab dinner.”
Reagan softens all his rough edges. I need those rough edges to remind me to keep a safe distance from him. The dad version of Colten Mosley is too much.
We find some great Tex-Mex a few blocks from the park. My treat. Then he fastens Reagan into his Tahoe and starts the engine before stepping outside with me again, back resting against the closed door. “Thank you for meeting us tonight.”
I cross my arms over my chest and nod several times. “It was fun. Reagan is great. I’m amazed at how close you two are given the fact that you don’t have shared custody.”
“We FaceTime almost every day.” His brows knit together as he stares at his feet for a second. “I gave Katy full custody because it was better for Reagan. No need to shuffle a baby back and forth between two homes. And I trusted that she’d do the right thing when Reagan got older.”
“The right thing?”
He glances up at me. “Katy is a better person than I am. Even if I couldn’t love her like…” his gaze averts to the side “…like she deserved to be loved; it wasn’t a reflection of her. I trusted her to either let me into Reagan’s life if it was best for our daughter or to raise her with someone else. She chose me.” He shrugs a shoulder.