Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“No.” She pushes my hands away when I dab at her with a paper towel.
Hope chuckles and leans against the counter, watching us with a smile.
“You want to go around with a dirty face all day?” I ask my daughter.
She scrunches her nose but lets me finish.
I turn and sweep my gaze over Hope’s bright pink leggings and black tank top. “You look pretty.”
“Thanks.” She tugs at the hem of the top. “How was church?”
“Good. Teller brought his idea to the table.” I toss the paper towel away and set Grace down. She curls her little arms around my leg. “It went well. Although apparently Bricks is a bit superstitious.”
She laughs. “I can understand why it would seem creepy at first.”
“Rav tracked me down after to complain that I haven’t been to the new clubhouse enough.”
“Aw, I thought he didn’t want the married folk invading the Den of Sin?”
“That’s what I said.” I tap my hand against the still-warm coffee pot and pour what’s left into my mug. “I tasked him with organizing a family-friendly Halloween party.”
She laughs even harder. “So, you punished him by giving him work to do?”
I smile into my coffee cup. “Sure. Why not?”
“You’re diabolical, Mr. President.”
I set the mug on the counter and fill a water bottle instead. “I think I’ll go downstairs and work out. Join me?”
“Which room?” She lifts an eyebrow.
I drop my gaze to Grace who’s wide awake and curious about everything. “The gym.”
Is that disappointment pulling Hope’s mouth down?
I bend over to pick up Grace and hold my hand out to Hope.
Downstairs, I duck into the laundry room in search of a clean pair of gym shorts. When I enter the gym Hope and Grace are sitting on a large, thick blue mat in front of the wall-length mirror. I can’t remember the name of the pose, but Hope has the soles of her feet together, legs in a diamond shape and her hands curled around her feet, gently leaning forward. Grace follows her mother’s movements for a second or two then rolls to her back, throwing her feet in the air and laughing.
“Giggle monster is right.” Hope stretches her fingers and tickles Grace’s toes.
This is infinitely better than an awkward afternoon at our new clubhouse.
“Come here.” I sweep Grace into my arms and settle onto the weight bench. “You’re the perfect size for this.”
“Dada!” she giggles and squeals as I lift her up and down.
After a few reps, I sit up and study Hope, standing sideways in front of the mirror, examining herself with a critical eye I don’t care for.
I set Grace down and walk up behind Hope, cupping her hips and turning her to face the mirror. “What’s with the frown?” I ask.
“Nothing.” She runs her hands over her stomach and wrinkles her nose.
I rest my hand over hers, stopping her movement. “Any changes look real fucking good on you.”
“I’m not fishing for compliments.”
“I’d rather you were,” I answer honestly.
“I know it’s stupid.” She blows out a sad breath. “My mother was always so hyper-critical of me. My father too. But it’s her voice I hear, reminding me that I’m too pudgy.”
I’ve known from the day we met that she struggled with those issues, so I figured something like that was going on in her head. “I hate that your parents did that to you,” I say gently, pulling her closer. “But you’re the most important person in Grace’s life. I don’t want her growing up seeing you doubt yourself, because it will make her question herself.”
She stares at me in the mirror and blinks. “Wow.”
“Besides, I don’t want her thinking her looks and appearance are the only things about her that matter.” I snort and shake my head. “Believe me, I’m aware of how fucked up that sounds, given the businesses the club operates.”
“You’re right.” She bites her lip and still seems troubled. “I don’t want her to be thirty-eight and still questioning every curve and flaw.”
“You don’t have any flaws.” I wrap my arms around her, hugging her tight. “And I love every single curve.” To prove my point, I turn her to face me and slide my hand over her ass. “You fit my hands perfectly.”
She pulls away, but I tighten my grip.
“You think she needs to watch us fondling each other?” she asks with a teasing eyebrow raise.
“I’m the only one doing the fondling.” I squeeze her ass. “What’s wrong with knowing her parents are attracted to each other? It’s how she got here.”
She releases a loud snort-giggle and leans into me, pressing her face against my chest. Her warm breath and laughter like a soothing balm on my skin. “That’s true.” She kisses over my heart. “Thank you,” she murmurs against me.
“For?”
“Always being so patient with me.”
“I know no other way.” I kiss the top of her head. “When it comes to you,” I add.