Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
The act has my gaze sliding down his abs and landing where that perfect V, along with his happy trail, dip into the front of his shorts like the biggest tease.
Nate leans down, gives me a quick kiss, and then takes off running toward the pool—his backside almost as perfect as his front—yelling, “Cannonball,” as he jumps in and makes a show of splashing the kids.
“Might want to wipe that drool,” Carol, Nate’s dad’s assistant, says with a smirk. “You know, they say it’s bad for the mom-to-be to be craving anything. When I was pregnant, my husband insisted on making sure I got everything I craved. His mother said if a pregnant woman doesn’t get her cravings fulfilled, the baby will come out drooling.”
I bark out a laugh at the gray-haired woman who’s old enough to be my grandmother. “Is that so?”
“Yep. So, if it’s your baby daddy you’re craving, make sure it’s being fulfilled.”
She winks at me, and I laugh harder, seriously loving this family.
“Well, in that case”—I glance at Nate, who’s taking turns throwing his niece and nephew into the water—“I’d better go get my fill.”
I wink back at her, and she nods in approval.
I’m about to head over, but my bladder screams in protest, so I take a detour inside to use the bathroom. One thing I won’t miss about being pregnant is the constant need to go pee, and from what Kira and Ana have told me, it’s only going to get worse as my pregnancy progresses.
Once I’ve washed my hands, I head back out, but before I get to the doors leading outside, a masculine voice says my name, stopping me in place.
I look back, assuming my name was being called by Nate—maybe he followed me inside—but the next spoken words have me realizing my name wasn’t called…it was mentioned.
“She doesn’t want to move here, and Nate isn’t going to force her.”
I glance around the corner and see Dustin and his wife, Valerie, standing in the kitchen, talking. It must’ve been Dustin who said my name.
“You could always step up as COO,” Valerie says.
“Yeah, except I like my position, and I’m not sure I’d be able to run Bradford the way Nate does. He’s going to work remotely for now. Besides, if anyone should be stepping into that position, it’s you. You’ve been working under him for years now.”
“I’m nowhere near ready for that,” Valerie says, shaking her head. “I thought when Nate became CEO, I’d move up as COO and be trained by him. I don’t want to step into that position and fail.”
“Then, we’ll have to bring someone on board.” Dustin sighs.
“But it’s always been a family-owned and -run company,” Valerie points out, making my heart sink.
“What choice do we have?” He pulls his wife into his arms. “In order for Nate to be with Paige, he has to move there.”
“But he’s worked so hard, and he was so close to becoming CEO. Where will he work?”
“I don’t know.” Dustin shakes his head. “And it sucks. I mean, he’s busted his ass to make this company what it is. But I get it—if I had to choose between you and my job, I’d choose you every damn time.” He kisses her softly, and she sighs into him. “All we can do is support his decision. He’s going to work remotely for the time being, and we’ll figure it out as we go. You know Nate. He wouldn’t leave the company hanging.”
“He must be devastated,” Valerie murmurs. “I hate this for him.”
Tears prick my eyes at their words. At the fact that I’m causing this because of my own insecurities. I want to support Nate and move to Dallas so he doesn’t have to leave everything and everyone he loves behind, but I can’t do it. I can’t give up my entire life and move to Dallas. What happens if we don’t work out? Then, I’m left with nothing. I’ve put so many people first, and I was left with nothing every single time. I hate that he’s in this position, but I can’t put him first.
Which only leaves one option…
We need to end whatever this is between us and focus on raising our baby together. It sucks that we’ll have to co-parent long-distance, but it’s done all the time. We’ll figure it out.
I step outside since I have nowhere else to go and I don’t want Dustin and his wife to know I overheard. I’m about to have a seat back at the table where I was sitting before when Nate calls my name.
“Come in the pool,” he says with a smile, swimming to the edge. “The water’s nice.”
I consider saying no, but the last thing I want is to draw attention to myself in front of his entire family. Nate won’t stop until I tell him what’s wrong, and at his family’s home, in the middle of his dad’s birthday barbecue, is not the place to have this conversation.