Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Of course I insisted she stay with me until given the all clear to return to the house. I’m hardly a knight in shining armor, whisking her away from a perilous situation on my white steed. I’m more like a selfish knight who’s up to no good. I also want to know what’s going on in that head of hers.
Doreen offered to take Mimi to Frank’s house, who I understand is Doreen’s boyfriend. Though this seems a silly bit of terminology given he’s no boy and they’re both well into their senior years. Anyway, she’d said Mimi was welcome to stay there, too. Oddly enough, Mimi looked like she’d been offered the choice between the devil and the deep-blue sea—death by wolves or lions—when I’d suggested, as an alternative, she come home with me. It seemed the logical explanation. A win-win situation. She gets to avoid the senior citizen love-in and gain the pleasure of my company. I didn’t put it quite like that, obviously. I just suggested if she did decide not to come with me, she might have to endure Doreen and Frank monkey noises. The low-hanging fruit is always the easiest to grab.
“Hmm,” I ponder. “It’s hard to tell. Sometimes these things can take a couple of days, so I’ve read. If you’re uncomfortable”—though why would you be—“I could give Polly a call. See if you can stay with her.”
Mimi’s brows dip, and she gives an adamant shake of her head. “That would involve telling her why I’m with you in the first place. It’s not a conversation I really want to have.”
“Agreed.” Best not to give Pol any ideas.
“Should I be insulted or flattered?” she asks, now looking amused.
“Relieved. You should definitely be relieved.”
“You know you’re gonna need to explain why.”
“Right, well, when we all had lunch together, I could actually see her mentally shopping for tiny baby clothes.”
Mimi barks out a laugh as I knew she would. “You’re paranoid. Your mom so isn’t the type.”
“What type would that be?”
“Controlling, I guess.” Her expression falls a touch, no doubt remembering her own situation.
“Oh, she absolutely would be, if I let her.” I glance away. “She’s just good at hiding it.”
“I still can’t see it.”
“That’s because she’s so good at it. A silent assassin—a steel fist in a velvet glove.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“You’ve known her for only a little while. Take my word for it. She’s a mother of three sons in their thirties and has one daughter happily married. “Yet”—
I hold my forefinger up—“there isn’t a sniff of a grandchild on the horizon.”
“No!” Mimi scoffs.
“She might play the game well. I just want to see you happy,” I intone, pitching my voice a little softer. “But what she means is she wants us all to be knee-deep in nappies—diapers,” I amend, “and in need of a rescue visit from gorgeous grabby granny.” I make a snapping claw with my hand.
“Well, let’s definitely not call her,” Mimi replies easily.
“I’m glad were on the same page.” About babies and her accommodations. We just have to get rid of those ridiculous dating ambitions. “What about Heather? I could call her. She and Archer have a spare room.” I’m nothing if not reasonable, though I always have an angle.
“I’ve only met her once. I couldn’t impose like that.”
“Well, that leaves my place or a hotel. And the downside of a hotel is—”
“Turning up looking like a refugee?”
“I was going to say a hotel doesn’t have me.”
“Is that supposed to be a plus or a minus?” she asks cheekily. “I’m not sure.”
“Come on, Mimi. You enjoy my company.”
“Oh, so I’m back to being Mimi now?” She quirks a teasing brow, enjoying our exchange.
“Until you misbehave again.”
“Misbehave? Who do you think you are? Don’t answer that,” she adds quickly, blood rushing to her cheeks.
“Don’t remind you that I’m Daddy?” I murmur sultrily.
“Stop,” she whispers, her eyes dropping to her lap. She whispers a quiet, “Damn.” When I my gaze skims her way, she seems to have unraveled the hem of her dress. “It’s not like I could wear it to work anyway,” she mutters. “What the heck am I going to do for clothes?”
“Naked works for me.” She scowls at my offer. “I’ll join you if it’ll make you more comfortable.”
“And for work? What if I can’t get into the house tomorrow? What will I wear to work on Monday?”
“I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
“Does your sister have more clothes at your place?”
Perfect timing. “I was thinking more about this,” I say, silently thanking the parking gods as I pull up right in front of a boutique just off Brompton Road.
“If we’re going shopping for Lavender’s gift, this look won’t be well received in a place like this.” She adds a flourish of her hand down her torso.
“A black AMEX gets well received everywhere.”
“Can’t we do it another time? I don’t much feel like shopping.”