Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
She shrugged. “She’s not really . . . well . . . extraordinary. You’re extraordinary, Chris.” Darcy touched my arm, her expression sincere. “And that’s a quality you deserve in your life partner.”
I rebelled at every word out of her mouth. “One: I struggle with this concept that somehow we deserve and/or are entitled to anything.”
“If we work hard enough for something, we certainly are entitled to and deserve it.” Darcy disagreed vehemently.
“Two,” I continued as if she hadn’t spoken because I was goddamn annoyed by her judgment of Hallie. “Hallie Goodman is funny, sweet, compassionate, and the type of beautiful that comes from being extraordinarily kind. If anyone doesn’t deserve someone in this scenario, it’s me.”
Lips parting in shock, Darcy slumped against the booth. “Wow. You really do like her. I’m . . . Chris, I’m sorry. What I said about her was awful and . . . Oh goodness, you know I try not to be my mother, and the snobbery is hard to beat back. Matthias is right! Forgive me.”
She gave me big, remorseful eyes, making it hard to stay angry at her, even though I still felt this kernel of indignation in my gut. I tried to laugh it off because I’d never been the type to hold a grudge, and I wouldn’t let my irritation with Hallie’s date hurt my friendship with Darce. “Of course, I forgive you.” My gaze drifted back to Hallie.
“Chris, you’re clearly extremely bothered by the fact that she’s on a date with another man. I think we should leave.”
Hallie suddenly got up from the table and began heading toward a hallway that had a neon sign above the wall that read RESTROOMS with an arrow pointing the way.
“Darcy, I hate to be rude, but just give me a few minutes.” I slid off my seat before she could protest and hurried around the tables. Derek had his phone out and was engrossed in whatever was on there. He didn’t notice me hurrying after his date.
The hallway was low-lit, with two doors on the left for men and women. It made an L-shape as it turned left toward the end. I ducked my head around the corner and saw it led to an emergency exit. We were alone.
Leaning against the wall opposite the ladies’ room, I waited for Hallie.
I didn’t have to wait long.
She stepped out of the room, head down, as she rummaged through her purse.
I finally processed her outfit, and my fingers curled into fists as heat shot through me. Hallie wore an oversized sweater, an off-white color that made her pink hair pop.
And that was it.
It fell to her upper thighs like she’d just rolled out of a guy’s bed and pulled on his sweater.
She wore it with a pair of the sexiest goddamn shoes I’d ever seen in my life. Her legs had a shimmer to them that drew the gaze. Jesus Christ, she had great legs. I wanted them wrapped around me.
I pushed off the wall, and her eyes flew up at the movement.
“Holy shit.” Hallie gasped, clutching her chest. “You scared me.” Her hand dropped as her round eyes got impossibly larger. “What are you doing here?”
Instead of answering, I took hold of her elbow and guided her around the corner, out of sight. I situated her against the wall and settled my hands on her hips, the fabric of her sweater sliding an inch up her thighs. She felt warm beneath my touch but also small and delicate. A renewed wave of something I didn’t quite understand crashed over me.
It disconcerted me to consider it might be possessiveness.
That was not a quality I admired in anyone. My father had treated my mother like a possession.
Fuck.
Staring at her, dazed, overwhelmed, I reassured myself that I didn’t see Hallie as a woman to possess.
The difference between me and my father was that I wanted to belong to Hallie as much as I wanted her to belong to me.
“Chris?” Her breath hitched on my name.
It took every ounce of willpower I had not to kiss her.
My hands flexed on her hips. “Why didn’t you tell me you were dating someone?”
Hallie stared at me like she’d never seen me before. “I’m not. This is a first date. It just kind of happened. You know my friend Althea . . . Derek’s her fiancée’s brother. It’s casual. Nothing serious.”
I frowned at that. “So you’re a casual dater?”
She stiffened and murmured, “I need to get back.”
Her eyes dropped to my mouth.
Oh yeah, I was so done with this dance. “What if I asked you to end your date with him and come back to my place with me?”
She shifted beneath my hands, those gorgeous eyes searching my face. “You’re a good guy, Chris, so I know this can’t be some pissing contest, right? I mean . . . you friend-zoned me.”