Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I’m laughing.
He’s smiling down at me.
Something a lot like hope flares in my chest. Maybe, just maybe, we can do this.
“You can bring whatever you want,” I tell Maddox a few hours later. We’re at his place, and so far, all I’ve seen him pack are clothes and toiletries.
“I’m a simple man, baby. I don’t need much.”
“It’s supposed to be your home too, Maddox,” I remind him.
“This house is small. I’m a minimalist at best. I’ll box up my PlayStation and some photos.” He nods to a frame that has him standing between an older couple.
“Are those your parents?” It has to be. The three of them are smiling widely, and a pang of sadness hits me. I miss my parents so much.
“It is. Hank and Cassie Lanigan, and their pride and joy, of course,” he teases, pointing to his chest.
“So modest,” I tease back.
He stalks toward me and wraps an arm around my waist, lifting me in the air. My body is molded to his as he holds my gaze. “I’m your favorite too. Admit it,” he says, leaning in close.
Is he going to kiss me?
I lick my lips, and his eyes move to watch the action. “Say it, baby. Say I’m your favorite.”
“I mean, top ten,” I goad him.
“Brogan,” he growls.
“Maddox.” I pitch my voice to sound all deep and sexy like his, but I fail miserably, and we both fall into a fit of laughter.
He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth, and I suck in a quick breath at the action. “One day, baby. One day you’ll admit it’s me. I’m your favorite. None of this top ten bullshit. Just your husband sitting next to you, holding that number one spot.”
“We’ll see,” I taunt.
He shakes his head and slowly lowers me back to the floor. My body slides down his, and I feel his erection, but I pretend like I don’t. I turn away, trying to hide, I’m sure, my tomato face, but my husband, he’s tenacious and won’t hear of letting me hide in my bubble. His arm that is still around my waist holds me to him while the other lifts my chin so that our eyes connect.
“That’s all you, Brogan.”
“Um, that’s all you,” I say, feeling even more heat rise to my cheeks.
He grins. Damn, that grin and those straight white teeth are a lethal combination. “Let me rephrase. That’s all because of you. Only you.” He kisses the tip of my nose before releasing his hold on me.
“Damn swoon book,” I grumble, loud enough that he can hear me. He tosses his head back in laughter, and I love the sound. Maddox is a laid-back guy. He’s easy to like and fun to be around.
The next six months won’t be lonely, but I have a feeling the after will be worse than when Briar and the girls moved out. Only time will tell.
Once we have his truck packed up, it’s close to time that he needs to be at the shop. “Take my car,” I offer. “I’ll drive your truck to the house and get everything unloaded.”
“I don’t want you lugging in all of this.”
“Well, what do you suggest? You have to be at the shop in forty minutes.”
He ponders this for a few minutes. “How about I just pull my truck into the garage? That way it’s not out in the weather, and you take me to work, and I can get one of the guys to drop me off after work, and then I’ll be home.”
“I can pick you up too,” I offer. It feels like the right thing to do.
“Nah, I don’t want you out on the roads after dark. It’s supposed to snow. I’m sure one of the guys will drop me off.”
“Okay. Well, you better get moving. We’ll hit a drive-thru and get you some food to scarf down before you have to start. I don’t need you passing out while trying to mark someone’s skin permanently.”
“Babe, you do realize it’s only the person getting ink that gets lightheaded, right?” he asks, humor lacing his tone.
“Yeah, yeah, let’s go, Lanigan.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He rushes to pull his truck into his detached garage while I make my way through the house, turning off the lights, and locking the door. I meet him at my car, and he opens the door for me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to remind him that he doesn’t need to do that, but it’ll be wasted words. Instead, I smile and say, “Thank you,” as I slide behind the wheel.
Thirty minutes later, I pull up outside the shop to drop him off. He’s got his food in his hands when he leans over and kisses my cheek. “Let me know you make it home. Thank you for the ride.”
“Wives give their husbands a ride to work sometimes, right?” I shrug like it’s no big deal, but the smile on Maddox’s face tells me that it is. “What’s with the cheesy smile?”