Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
My gaze traveled right back up to that stunning face.
Hair like white flames framed it, and those ice-blue eyes sparked beneath the blinding rays of sun that slanted in as the sun climbed for the sky.
All the hope I had that I’d come to my senses this morning was shot straight to hell.
“Good morning.” It was a shaky breath from that delicious mouth that was coated in a shiny pink.
The scent of sweet, sugared cherries radiated from her skin.
Clearly, this woman knew exactly how to do me in.
“Mornin’,” I rumbled, stuffing my hands into my front pockets so I didn’t do something stupid like reach out and curl them around her waist.
Tug her against me so I could feel her heat.
“Let me grab my purse and coat,” Piper murmured, and she ducked away, moving to where her coat was slung over the back of the couch.
The couch that her son was standing on. Facing us, he held onto the back cushions and grinned in my direction.
A single dimple denting his adorable cheek, hair as white as his mom’s and his eyes just as blue.
Though his were twinkling and filled with an untainted hue of innocence.
“I is Finn!” He lifted his little hand in the air like I might not notice him there.
Like I didn’t remember his name.
Like the fear of him being hurt hadn’t shifted something intrinsic inside of me.
Against my better judgement, I stepped into the cabin, kid drawing me forward like he had a bow twined around my heart.
“Hey there, Finn. You remember me?”
“Feo!” He shouted it as he jumped, clinging to the back of the cushions as he did.
A chuckle rolled out.
“You be careful,” Piper warned as she shrugged into her coat, “or you might fall off and bonk your head.”
“I not bonk my head.” He was all beaming smiles with his tiny, gapped teeth.
“Oh, don’t worry, we won’t let him get any bonks on my watch,” Nelly called as she came bustling out from her bedroom.
“I not fall.” He shook his head emphatically, and Piper grasped him by both of his chubby cheeks and pressed a long kiss to his forehead.
Lingering and breathing him in like she was having a hard time leaving him for only a second. “Be a good boy for Nelly.”
“Newwy Bewwy.” He bounced and pointed at his great-grandmother as she moved his way. Her gait was a bit unsteady, like she was guarding her left hip from an old injury.
“That’s right. You’re going to stay with your Nelly Belly and we’re gonna make some pancakes and eggs since we miraculously had a big order of groceries show up an hour ago.”
The older woman sent me a knowing wink from across the room.
I scratched at the base of my neck, looking at my boots as I mumbled, “Figured someone might be hungry first thing in the morning.”
Had sent in the order last night while I couldn’t sleep.
It wasn’t a big deal.
“I hungee!” Finn bounced again.
Piper exhaled a weighty sigh like she really wanted to say something about the groceries but was doing her best to rein the scolding.
Because her kid needed to eat, and she knew his well-being far exceeded any instinct she had to reject help. I could feel the absolute adoration she had for him radiating from her. Way her spirit billowed in the air like a blanket.
A cover for his little soul.
“We’re gonna take care of that, aren’t we?” Nelly scooped him up like he didn’t weigh a thing and carried him into the kitchen, crooning at him the entire way.
“You ready?” I asked, fully turning my gaze to Piper. Getting the damn breath ripped from my lungs.
Fuck me.
She’d pulled on this white beanie, and her hair flowed out from it, cascading around her shoulders and back. She tucked the collar of her puffy white coat that was trimmed with fake fur up close to her defined jaw.
Lips so fucking pink and parting on an unsteady breath when she looked at me.
And those eyes…
Shit.
She heaved out the pressure as she slung the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Yeah. Let’s get this over with. Bye, you two. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”
“Good luck,” Nelly hollered from the kitchen.
“I’m going to need it.” Piper muttered it low before she came my way.
A frisson of beauty and light.
Trying to get my shit together, I stepped out and moved to the side so she could angle by. I pulled the door shut behind us and wiggled the handle to ensure it locked.
Piper moved across the porch, stepped off the single stair, then turned toward me.
Blinding rays of sunlight slanted down from the crisp, blue sky, lighting her in a glittering glow.
A winter goddess standing in the snow.
She crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for me, agitation stirring through her body, her breaths salient in the frigid air.