Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Of course, we’ve always had the excuse of our siblings being married, it seems insane that I too would want to marry a Flores. My brother and my sister have already wed to hers, so even entertaining the thought is crazy.
Besides, why would Mara want someone like me when she could have her pick of eligible grooms? A large part of me rejoiced when her parents cut off her arrangement requests. If I’m honest, it was more than a large part that was happy. Maybe even all of me. I still don’t know why they did it, but if anything, it gives me time.
Our families have been at odds since my brother Felipe married her sister Amelia. It only got worse when her brother Cillian married my sister Glenda. Now my father’s business is failing, and he’s looking at me to help make connections and restore the family's name. Felipe is checked out and has cut them off completely. It’s complicated for me, because I’m the youngest by so many years, so I was left at home alone with them for longer. I was the one that had to stay behind and watch everything they built crumble. Yes, they’re miserable and not good people, but they’re still my parents. It’s not as easy for me to get them out of my life when I’m their last chance to help them.
The problem is that helping them means I can’t have Mara. Not having Mara means her ending up with someone else. Mara ending up with someone else means that I would commit murder on her future husband for touching her.
See, complicated.
“So do you normally try to cook for people you have over?” Mara asks, breaking into my thoughts.
“People or women?” I look up at her over the soapy dishwater, and I can see her face is flushed.
“Just people, I mean it’s not my business.”
I grin at her but don’t answer because I like watching her squirm. Is she jealous? God knows if she had someone in her place, I’d probably burn the building down. And I really like this building.
“How are you liking school?” I change the subject, and she latches on to the question.
“It’s a beautiful campus, and so far everyone seems to be nice. Although I don’t know if that’s because of who my family is or because they’re actually nice.”
“I know the feeling, but in the opposite way.” When she waits for me to finish, I go back to scrubbing the pan I’m holding so I don’t have to look at her. “I mean, my family isn’t exactly the most respected, as you know. So I never know if people are friends with me because of my brother’s influence or because they actually like me.”
“I’m sure it’s because you’re a great guy.” She blushes again as she says it. “At least you don’t act like a freak all the time.”
“You’re not a freak.” I shake my head and grab another pot. “You just have anxiety.” She’s quiet for so long that I look up and see her staring at me. “What?”
“I don’t know, you just say that so casually, like it’s not a big deal.”
“It’s not.” My brows pull together. “At least it’s not to me.”
Once the dishes are in the washer, I go around and clean up the rest of the mess.
“Why did you really invite me here tonight, River?”
Hearing her say my name is like a wave of heat to my cock. Fuck, I want to hear her say it while I’m buried inside her. I might have made a bet to fuck her, but it’s all I’ve ever dreamed about.
“Because I want a chance to get to know you.” It’s not a lie; that’s exactly what I want. “Because I think you want a chance to get to know me.”
“What’s changed all of a sudden?”
She watches me as I come around the counter and move next to her chair. I grab the back and spin it around so that she’s facing me and then I bend down close. Her sweet scent assaults me, and my mouth waters for a taste.
“It’s not sudden; it’s just the first chance I’ve had to get you alone.” She swallows hard, and I lean even closer. “And now that you’re here, I’m not sure I want to let you go.”
The doorbell rings, and I curse because it’s just broken the moment.
“Pizza’s here,” she says lightly, slipping out from under me. “I’ll grab some plates.”
I have no choice but to leave her there as I walk to the front of the apartment to get the door. What the fuck am I doing? Am I really going to spend a week fucking Mara and then let her go? How can I possibly hold on to her?
Maybe I’m just as selfish as my father, because I want my cake, and I want to eat her too.