Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Looking back, I could see it all with crystal clear clarity. Marie had been right to kick me to the curb. Everything had always been about me, and she deserved more than that. She deserved a partner who could put her first. That wasn’t me. That would never be me. I’d been raised by a selfish asshole, and the years spent trying to keep myself alive had honed that same selfishness in me.
A good partner had to be able to put the other person first, and I couldn’t do that. I could be a decent guy, sure. Hooking Nicky up with a fun Halloween was nice. I wasn’t a monster. But one act of kindness didn’t make me a good partner. Just like Marie, Savannah deserved that. A man who could put her happiness first. God knows her husband hadn’t. I wasn’t going to be one more man who used her strength and didn’t give back.
I was good for orgasms and food. That was it. If she wanted something casual, I was here. God knows I was willing. Something more than casual was not on my radar.
I didn’t think it was on hers either. Savannah wasn’t looking for a boyfriend. Even the sound of it didn’t fit. Boyfriend. What were we, seventeen?
I wouldn’t seduce her. I could. That’s not arrogance. That’s reality. She came apart in my arms from little more than a kiss. What she needed was a good, hard fuck. All she had to do was ask.
I wasn’t holding my breath. Savannah was the most disciplined woman I knew. If I was hoping she’d break before I did, I wouldn’t put the odds on me.
That was fine. I had more on my mind than Savannah Miles. Like finishing my plans for Halloween.
Chapter Thirteen
FINN
I barely saw Savannah all day. She spent as much time as she could in her little apartment with Nicky, who coughed and sneezed his way through the hours. Every time I saw her, she was pouring another glass of juice or scrubbing her hands under hot water.
I didn’t blame her. Nicky was great, but at the moment, he was spewing germs everywhere he went, which made this trick-or-treat and scavenger hunt possibly a bad idea. I’d asked, and his costume had a full-face mask, so I figured that would be good enough.
Not long after four, I headed upstairs with my assembled bags of goodies for our trick-or-treat volunteers to hand out. Griffen, Hope, and Royal were still in the office. I handed Griffen their bag of treats, saying to him while glancing at Hope, “You should hand these out. I don’t want him to sneeze on Hope and get her sick.”
Griffen’s eyes clouded. Hope immediately shook her head. “I’ll be fine.” Shooting Griffen a look, she nudged his shoulder with her own. “I’ll be fine. This isn’t the first cold that’s gone through the house since I’ve been pregnant. Though hopefully it’s the last.”
Hope rubbed one hand over her very swollen abdomen. Not much more than a month left. Pretty soon, the big day would be up to the baby. I didn’t want to think about that. Hope was tall but slender, and that baby was anything but. Lately, I wasn’t sure how she could get up once she sat down.
Griffen opened the Halloween-themed gift bag I’d grabbed at the grocery store and peered inside. “Nice,” he commented.
Royal did the same. “You stopped by Sweetheart. Did you save a truffle for yourself? Daisy does things with chocolate . . .” He stared at the ceiling with a knowing grin. “They’re seriously good,” he finished, still grinning.
“Daisy’s Grams was generous, so I snagged a few for myself and Savannah.” I hadn’t had a chance to give Savannah hers yet. She had her hands full with a sick kid and her regular heavy workload. Griffen wouldn’t mind her taking it easy when Nicky was sick, but Savannah would mind.
“Give us ten minutes,” Griffen said, “and we’ll head upstairs.”
My spur-of-the-moment Halloween plan hadn’t taken the whole day, but on top of handling meals and planning shopping for the week, it had been a busy day with still more to get done before it was over.
I threw a “Thanks,” over my shoulder as I headed for the front hall and the stairs to the second level. Miss Martha met me on my way.
”I wasn’t going to come by today,” she said. “With August and Thatcher already at the Inn helping Tenn with the Halloween party and Nicky sick, but Savannah told me your plan when I called earlier, and I thought I could pitch in.”
“That would be great. I’m just headed upstairs to talk to Aunt Ophelia and Claudia. I can definitely use you up there.” I looped an arm through hers. “Have you seen Nicky yet? He looked awful this morning, and he was miserable about Halloween.”