Page 81 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“Now you’re just romanticizing things.” I handed her the last plate. “She works for me. She’s too young for me.”
She shrugged. “You do know that I’m eleven years younger than your father. Don’t judge someone by their age.”
Like she said, my father was more than a decade older than my mother, but he didn’t have a child when they’d met. They’d wanted the same things. To build a family together. It made a difference.
I dried off my hands and turned to face my mother. “She’s newly divorced, and she wants to be single. And I’m in the same boat. I’m not looking to expand my family.”
“And why not?” she pressed.
“Because I can’t risk that with Melody. I can’t bring someone into her life who might leave in the end. With me and Melody, there’s no risk of anyone hurting her.” I was surprised by my own words. I hadn’t realized how deep that need to protect my daughter ran.
“Are you worried about Melody or yourself being hurt?” She held her hands up when I started to argue. “I’m just saying, you stepped up to the plate for Melody. And I’ve seen your guard come up over the last five years, and I get it. But not everyone is going to leave, Archer. Look at you. You chose to stay.”
“Winnie’s young, Mom. She deserves a family of her own. But we’re friends, and I’m happy I hired her. She’s been great to Melody, and she’s become a good friend to me. So how about you don’t make it weird for anyone, huh?” I held my arms out, and she stepped into my embrace.
“I just love you, and I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy, Mama. You don’t need to worry about me.”
I glanced out the back window and saw Melody and Winnie on the tire swing in the snowy yard, my father pushing both of them. Their heads fell back in laughter, which made my chest squeeze.
My mother was right about one thing.
Winnie was good for both of us.
twenty-two
. . .
Winnie
I’d just comeout to the kitchen to make breakfast and pack up Melody’s lunch when she came around the corner, crying frantically.
It was early. She wasn’t usually up just yet.
“Winnie! Daddy’s hurt and he’s calling for you. He needs help, I thinks. He needs help!” Melody had tears running down her cheeks, and I dropped the pan I’d been holding in my hand on the counter and started running after her.
“Where is he?”
“He fell in his bathroom,” she croaked.
We both turned into his bedroom. I raced for the door and pushed it open, with Melody right beside me.
There stood a naked Archer Chadwick in all his glory as he stepped out of the shower.
Dripping wet as he wrapped a towel around his waist.
I clapped a hand over Melody’s eyes as I stared at him.
We’d made out more times than I could count now. But we’d never taken things further. I’d never seen the man naked. Sure, I’d ground up against him enough times to know that he was large and thick, but I’d never seen it in all its glory.
And oh my… this was the kind of body that could inspire an entire romance book.
He was the book boyfriend dreams were made of.
Chiseled and hard and built.
A little trail of dark hair led down to his well-endowed package, which appeared to be more than happy to see me.
