Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22633 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
He shrugs and keeps driving up the mountain. “It will.”
I put my hand on his forearm and feel his muscles flex under my palm. He’s affected by my touch. “Why? Give me one good reason… Why should I?”
There’s torment in his eyes. “Because I messed up. That day I met you, I fucked up. I want to make it right.”
I cross my arms over my chest. I can feel myself softening to him, but I’m trying to keep my wits about me. “Fine, you want to be forgiven? You’re forgiven. You could have saved eight million dollars and just picked up the phone to apologize to me. You don’t spend that kind of money to make something right, Ben.”
“Will you go with me or not?”
I bite my lower lip. “I’m not fucking you.”
His eyes drop to my lips before looking back at the road. “That’s your decision. I would like for you to stay, Maggie.”
I should demand he take me home, but I don’t. Instead, I turn and sit straight in my seat and look out the side window. “Fine,” I mutter. “I’ll go home with you.”
I don’t have to look at him to see his reaction. I can see the smile on his face through the reflection of the glass. I hope I’m making the right decision.
Ben
She agreed to come home with me. I thought she would refuse me, so I press on the gas a little harder to get us home faster.
She’s quiet the rest of the ride, and when I pull into my driveway, I try to look at my cabin through her eyes and imagine what she’s seeing. To me, it’s my sanctuary, but what will she think about it?
I’ve only ever had my brother and sister here, so it’s hard to know how someone else would see it.
I grab her bag, and she gets out of the truck before I can come around to help her. She doesn’t trust me. I can’t see it by the way she’s glaring at me, and I can’t say I blame her. I pushed her away, and I invaded her privacy. I’m going to have to earn her trust back.
As we walk toward the cabin, I’m watching her as she looks up at the one-story house in front of us. She likes it. Her eyes are sparkling, and there’s a soft smile on her face, letting me know she approves. I don’t know why it means that much to me, but it does.
I open the front door and show her around the cabin. It’s an open concept, and I point out the different rooms. She’s quiet as she takes it all in. I walk across the room to the door that leads to the guest room. I would love if she would share a bed with me, but I know I’d be pushing it. “This is your room.”
She reaches for the bag that’s in my hands, and I let her take it. She walks into the room and slams the door in my face.
I scrub my hand across my face. Fuck, I need a drink.
I walk into the kitchen and pour a small shot of whiskey into a glass. As I swirl the amber liquid around, I think back to seeing her on that stage. I’ve never felt so attracted to someone in my life. I’d barely noticed the woman that went before her, but it’s like my body knew when she would be walking out. The other men in the room wanted her too. I knew they would, but I also knew that I wouldn’t be leaving without her. I would have bid whatever I had to bid to have this opportunity with her. All I want is to claim her and make her mine.
She’s not happy with me at all, though. I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but she’s not in any mood to listen to me. Fuck, what if she leaves?
My feet carry me across the house before I can think better of it. I knock on her door and stand impatiently waiting for her. She cracks open the door and looks up at me. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t leave. I mean, promise you won’t try and walk off this mountain. It’s dangerous.”
She leans against the doorjamb. “Well, then don’t give me a reason to if you’re so worried about it, Ben.”
She’s so beautiful as she looks up at me. The need to pull her into my arms is strong. “I know I don’t have a right to ask you this…”
She licks her lips. “What?”
Fuck, I feel like a schoolboy, but I know I need to take it slowly with her. “Can I kiss you?”
She bites her lip. She wants to say yes. Her eyes get darker, and her breath hitches. “I said…”