Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“My name is Sierra Davidson,” I say, and she interrupts me before I finish.
“I don’t know anyone by that name,” she snaps, “and if you are calling to sell me something, I’m not interested.”
“I’m not calling to sell you anything,” I reply quickly before she hangs up on me. “I was wondering if”—I look over at Caleb to gather the strength—“if by any chance you gave up a child for adoption twenty-five years ago.”
“Who is this?” Her voice goes down into a whisper. “Who gave you this number?”
“I’m looking for my birth mother.”
“Stop looking.” She doesn’t give me a chance to finish. “You need to stop looking. We don’t want you looking into things.” My blood runs cold. “We’re not interested in having anything to do with you. Forget this number. Forget my name. Just like I have tried to forget you.” I don’t say anything else because the phone disconnects.
My mouth opens but then quickly closes. “That—” Caleb stands up, not sure what to say. I can see his jaw getting tight.
“Well, that answers that,” I say, trying not to feel crushed. I shake my head. “I did my part.”
“You did,” he agrees as I look up at him, the tears making it hard to see.
I get up, trying to be as strong as I can be. “There you have it,” I state, and he wraps his arms around me while I sob out. In the comfort and strength of his arms, I let go of the pain from finding out I was adopted, from the pain of finding out my birth mother wants nothing to do with me.
He rubs my back. “It’s her loss, baby,” he soothes softly. “It’s her fucking loss.”
Chapter 32
Caleb
“It’s her loss, baby.” I rub her back, pushing away the rage I have inside me. “It’s her fucking loss.”
“I guess so,” she says, defeat filling her voice, and if I thought I was angry before, I was wrong. Now I’m not only angry, I feel like I could murder someone with my bare hands.
“Why don’t I go and draw you a bath?” I offer as she pulls out of my arms.
“I don’t want to have sex with you right now.” She smiles through her tears, and I see she’s trying to be strong.
“Baby.” I kiss her lips, tasting the tears. “You’re the one who is always jumping me.”
“Did I jump you this morning when I woke up to your face in my crotch?” She puts her hands on her hips.
“Yes,” I confirm. “You were wiggling your ass in your sleep. You basically said ‘eat me, Caleb.’” She rolls her eyes. “So I did.”
“I wiggled my ass in my sleep.” She takes a deep sigh. “This fucking sucks.”
“It does,” I agree with her.
“I mean, I didn’t think she would welcome me with open arms.” She shrugs. “But I didn’t think she’d tell me to take a hike.”
“I’m sorry, baby.” She blinks away the tears, or at least she tries to blink them away. “You are better off. She doesn’t deserve to know how amazing you are.”
“You’re just saying that because you love me.”
“Damn right, I do.” I smile at her. “I love everything about you, and even if I didn’t love you, I knew you were amazing before I fell in love with you. I knew you were hot.” I hold up a finger. “I knew you had a wicked sense of humor.” I add another finger. “I knew you were a pain in the ass with all that attitude you had.” I shake my hand at her with three fingers held up. “I also knew you are the type of woman who takes all things thrown at her and gets back up.”
“I am that person,” she states proudly. “It’s her loss,” she finally says. “I’m fucking amazing.” I try not to laugh. “And I’m kind, and I’m loyal.”
“You are all fucking that,” I agree proudly, “and you’re mine.”
“I’m yours.” She nods. “Now I’m going to go upstairs and get into a bath, and my man is going to pour me a glass of wine and make me my favorite meal.”
“Um,” I say, “yeah, I am. I just need you to tell me what your favorite meal is, and I’ll make it.”
“Shrimp scampi.” She tells me something that I would have never guessed, not in a million years. “I took out the shrimp this morning.”
“Then I’m going to get on my phone and find a recipe and make my woman her favorite meal”—I kiss her—“after I deliver a glass of wine to her as she takes a bath.”
“You’re very, very smooth.” She winks at me as she starts to walk away.
“I’m the only one with romance in this relationship.” She stops walking and looks over her shoulder at me. “I’m still waiting for you to romance me.”