Page 22 of October

“Does that bother you?” I ask him. “Me being so efficient? Is it taking away from things you’d like to be doing?”

“Not at all. I was teasing you, Wren. Your efficiency keeps this house moving and keeps Casey’s life normal. You’re irreplaceable to me… to us.”

His words melt over me like warm syrup on pancakes.

“Thank you for saying that.”

I needed to hear that more than he knows.

A few moments later, we are sitting across from each other at the small dining table, having breakfast and chatting away like this is our normal life.

“When do you get to see your photos for the calendar?”

“Actually,” he replies, standing briefly to go grab his phone from the counter. “I bet I have an email from her now.”

He scrolls his phone for a brief moment before exhaling sharply. “They are ready.”

“Let’s see them! I bet they are amazing.” I scoot my chair around to be closer to him so I can see them at the same time as him.

“They’ll be good in the sense that Sarah is an amazing photographer. That’s about it.”

I roll my eyes. “You clearly don’t own a mirror because… HOLY SHIT!” I exclaim and rise to my feet. I have a sudden surge of energy and I can’t sit still.

These are the best, most attractive, yet tasteful and sexy photos I’ve ever seen.

“Whoa,” he says as he scrolls through the dozen or so she sent over for him to choose from.

“I told you!” I lean over to get a closer look at his phone. He’s shirtless, of course, in the photos with a small, cheesy little Halloween setup around him, but he looks stunning. His jawline could cut glass, those abs make my thighs quiver, and his arms… don’t even get me started. “This is going to sell so many fucking calendars.”

“You think so?” He closes the email then lays his phone face down on the table. “I don’t know, I guess I just feel weird about the whole thing.”

“I know so. In fact, I need the link to buy one… or seven.” I kiss the top of his head. “You’re doing a good thing. Don’t feel weird about it. You just don’t like the attention.”

“I don’t mind it from you.” I can feel his hand sliding along my inner thigh. “In fact, I love the attention from you.”

“Yeah?” I step around until I’m between him and the table. “I do love giving it to you.” I slowly start to sink to my knees.

“Oh fuck…” he groans as he wraps his hands around my arms to help me down.

“Fuck? Sort of, yes.” I smirk and give his boxer briefs a tug down to show him more attention than he could have imagined over breakfast.

At least, for now, I can pretend like our time together isn’t dwindling away with every passing second.

Chapter 13

Ash

Tonight feels differently thanI thought it would.

While I knew I really cared about this girl and wanted this time with her more than anything in the world, I don’t think I ever expected to feel as strongly as I do right now.

This could be bad.

If this progresses and goes south, Casey will lose someone she loves and needs in her life. I don’t want that for her.

I lie back in my bed, the same I’ve shared with her over the last week, with my arms behind my head, watching her wash her face in my en suite bathroom.

She fits in so well here, with me, in this house. Hell, I don’t even know what my life would or could look like without her.

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