Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
I wasn’t kidding about what I said last night about the atmosphere in her home. It felt like home there. It’s somewhere I want to fit, somewhere I want to belong because of the two of them.
Every time I realize that I’m thinking this way—that Palmer might be an endgame kind of woman—I’m more assured that I’m right. She is. Quite frankly, I think I’m falling in love with her.
I’ve never felt this way before, so I’m not totally sure. I just know that the depths of my feelings for Palmer are deeper than I’ve ever had for another woman.
Palmer is not just beautiful or a good conversationalist. She’s not simply engaging or just fitting into my life conveniently. The thing with Palmer is that there’s not potential to develop something more. There just is more.
I love her honesty and the way she takes care of Ethan. I adore her heart and how she tries to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. She doesn’t need me or my fame or my money—I don’t think she even knows how much money I have. I don’t think she cares.
“You’re right,” I admit, looking at my mother. “I have to look at things that way too. And there are some things that I will have to take off the table if I leave here and go back to the West Coast.”
Mom stills and sets her mug on the table. “Are you talking about Palmer?”
A slow smile slips across my face. “Yeah. I am.”
She falls back in her chair. A mixture of relief and joy spills across her face. “Cole, I am delighted.”
“Well, temper that for a minute because we haven’t actually cemented anything.”
“Oh, like you have to cement things. You’re the most handsome, most brilliant man on the planet.” She looks around. “Besides your father,” she says, a little more loudly.
I laugh.
“I had to add that in case he can hear us,” she whispers, making me laugh even more. “But on a serious note, I’m not just happy about this because you’ll be with us. I’m thrilled because I think Palmer is a great young woman, and her son is perfectly spoilable.”
All I can do is shake my head. “Don’t go wedding planning yet. I have a couple of things to work out before this is a thing.”
“Well, you just go work them out because I’ve already committed to this.”
“I . . .” My voice trails off as my phone buzzes on the counter, next to the coffeepot. I walk over to it and see Palmer’s name on the screen. “Hang on, Mom.”
“Sure.”
I swipe the button and answer. “Hi, Palmer.”
“Hey, Cole.”
My insides twist. Something is amiss. I can hear it in her tone.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I . . . I don’t want to do this,” she says, her voice on the edge of breaking. “But I don’t know what else to do. Val usually bails me out on stuff, but she can’t today, and I’m halfway to West Virginia by now and—”
“Palmer, what’s going on? Cut to the chase. You’re starting to freak me out a little bit.”
“No. Don’t do that.” She sucks in a breath. “I got to the office today and found out that the auction in Parkersburg is today, not tomorrow, and Burt’s not here. Kirk’s wife’s appointment is also today, not tomorrow, so I’m not sure what the hell happened with the schedule, but all I do know is that I have to go to the auction, and Val is headed to Columbus because she thought—”
“Breathe.” I inhale and exhale loudly for her benefit. “This is going to be okay. What do you need from me?”
A long pause settles between us.
“Palmer?” I ask gently. “What do you need?”
“I don’t know,” she says as if she’s afraid to ask me for anything.
I replay what I know, what she just said, and try to grasp how I can fix the situation.
“I’ll tell you what,” I say, hoping this is the right answer. “I have nothing to do today. So why don’t I run by your house whenever Ethan gets off the bus, and we’ll throw some balls around. Maybe grab some dinner and hang out. Then you won’t have to rush.”
“Really?”
“If you aren’t comfortable with me at your house, I can take him to Mom’s. But if he comes home a spoiled little monster, that’s not on me.”
I glance at Mom. She’s grinning.
Palmer sighs. “Cole, are you sure? I feel absolutely shitty about even calling you with this, and I know this is one hundred percent not your responsibility, and I—”
“Stop.” I shake my head. “You didn’t ask me to do anything. I volunteered. But if you want to feel shitty about something, then feel that way about not just calling and asking me outright.”
I can hear her smile on the other end of the line. It makes me smile too.