Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Chapter 16
* * *
Valentina
I felt awful.
Am I ashamed of him?
He’s a handsome, smart, successful man. What the hell is there to be ashamed about?
Is ashamed even the right word?
Embarrassed?
I felt embarrassed.
The two emotions were similar but with one significant difference. Ashamed was what you thought of yourself. Embarrassed was about what others thought of you.
I was not ashamed. Yet for some reason, I did care what other people would think. Regardless of the distinction between the emotions, the result was the same for Ford: I’d made him feel terrible.
It was late, but I knew I’d never be able to sleep. He might be feeling the same way, so I figured it was best to clear the air. I plucked my phone from the nightstand and thought about what I wanted to say before typing.
Valentina: You were right. I am treating you like my dirty little secret. But it has nothing to do with you or what I think about you. I think you’re an amazing man, and I’m still flattered and bewildered that a guy as great as you would even want me. But regardless of the reason, you do, and I want you, too. I just have this stupid sense of what’s appropriate and inappropriate, and I need to get over it. I’m very sorry for the way I acted, Ford. Can you forgive me?
A minute later, my phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Ford: I’ll need an in-person apology.
I blew out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and smiled.
Valentina: I can do that. How about I take you out to breakfast tomorrow?
Ford: How about you get your ass out of bed now instead? I’ve been standing at your front door for ten minutes debating on knocking.
I practically leaped out of bed and ran to the front door. Ford was leaning against the house and didn’t move. He waited for me to come to him.
I walked out and stood in front of him. “I’m sorry.”
He slid an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. “You need to stop giving a shit what other people think. Appropriate and inappropriate doesn’t matter if you want something and you’re not hurting anyone.”
I nodded. “I know. I need to work on it. And if it makes you feel any better, it’s not just you. I love white pants, and I still won’t wear them after Labor Day because of some archaic fashion rule.”
Ford’s lip twitched. “Well, now I don’t feel so bad.”
I rested both my hands on his chest. “It’s not going to happen overnight. But I’ll work on it.”
Ford’s hand slid down to my ass. “I’d be happy to help you work on being inappropriate”
I laughed. “I bet you would.”
He lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine. “I can’t stay mad at you.”
On that note, I needed to address what had started this whole thing. “I still don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be together in front of Annabella.”
Ford crossed his arms, and a muscle in his jaw flexed.
“But it’s not what you think. I know you’re upset with her now, but you’re her role model. She looks up to you. Teenagers pay attention to what people do, more than what they say. Do you really want to show her it’s okay to have a summer fling? She’s not going to understand why it would be okay for you and not her.”
Ford thought about it for a minute. “Fine. I guess you’re right. Her defense about getting herself in trouble by using a fake ID is that I used to drink when I was underage. It makes it hard to say something’s wrong when you’ve done the same things.”
“Exactly.”
Ford cupped my cheek. “See? We’re a good balance. I’ll help you get the inappropriate stick out of your ass, and you’ll help me set a good example for my pain-in-the-ass sister. Now, let’s kiss and make up.”
His hand slid into my hair, and he gripped the back of my neck and tilted my head up. Planting his lips over mine, his tongue dipped into my mouth and our bodies immediately melted together. The man could seriously kiss. He made my knees weak and left me panting every single time.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked when the kiss broke.
Ford looked into my eyes. “Yes, I want to. But no, I’m not going to. Another night…when you’re ready for me to come in.”
I was disappointed. But he was right. Though my body was definitely ready to go there, I wasn’t sure I was.
I nodded. “Okay.”
He kissed me one more time, then pressed his lips to my forehead. “Goodnight, beautiful.”
In a daze, I watched him walk down my stairs. He turned back as he reached the bottom and called up to me. “You still owe me breakfast tomorrow. I’ll be back to collect in the morning.”