Page 25 of Stay
Oh my. Have they already started with you?
Ruby
I’m finding out that the bets at Sunny Side are LEGENDARY.
Scarlett
Let’s just say that the nosy britches in town love nothing more than to place bets on the love lives of the Landmark family. Things besides love lives are wagered on as well, but the romance really gets their knockers knocking. And it all goes down at Sunny Side, an otherwise lovely place to get the best pancakes, omelets, and hamburgers.
Ruby
And fries and shakes…
Sofie
Is knockers knocking a saying?
This is such a fun town.
Scarlett
That’s the spirit! Please don’t get too offended when everyone you meet tries to pry information out of you so they can go tweak their bets. They do mean well.
Noted.
CHAPTER TEN
ACCLIMATED
SUTTON
By the time Friday rolls around, I’m more than ready for the weekend. This case is exhausting me already and we’re only getting started. I can’t wait to have a couple days off, and it has nothing to do with the fact that, in such a short time, Felicity Shaw has turned my house into a cozy, welcoming oasis. Eachnight I walk into the house, the aroma from the kitchen smells like heaven, and the smiles on Owen and Felicity’s faces when they see me make me feel like a fucking rock star.
Not only is Felicity beautiful, but she’s sweet and easy to be around. And caramel pie debacle be damned, the girl can cook.
So far, she’s made baked ziti, steak with garlic mashed potatoes, homemade mac and cheese that Owen and I lost our minds over, shrimp fettuccine, all with the most incredible salads, and tonight I watch as she pulls pepperoni rolls out of the oven.
I’m about to go on about how great the food looks when she steps out from behind the island and I notice that she’s more dressed up than usual. My eyes wander slowly down her body against my will, taking in the fitted blue sweater dress, her long legs bare and her feet still in the cute fuzzy slippers she wears when she’s inside.
She looks incredible.
When I reach her eyes again, her cheeks are flushed and she resumes her path to the table, pepperoni rolls in hand.
I swallow hard, setting my things down and moving to the sink to wash my hands. Sometimes I feel her curious eyes on me and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t flattering, but I’m doing my damnedest to keep this professional and not let my guard down around her. Hard to do when we’re in my home and she’s the one making it better.
It’s even harder when her very presence snags something inside of me and rattles me around.
I’m thirty-five. I’ve seen plenty of great bodies in my lifetime, but fuck me if I’ve ever seen one that shakes me up like hers does.
It’s been too long since I’ve been with anyone, but I can’t even blame that.
I thought a mid-life crisis happened later in life, and that it meant you were sad about aging, which I don’t feel at all. But maybe my crazy reaction to her could be chalked up to that.
All I know is that my hand is getting a helluva workout.
“Did you see what we made yet, Dad?” Owen asks, bouncing over to me.
Guilt and happiness permeate throughout me, both constants since Felicity arrived.