Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
We’re big boys who can make our own decisions, and as long as our choices don’t interfere with Blue Blood business, there’s no reason for Hex to get involved.
At the end of the day, he knows me. He has to know I won’t let Brynn interfere with the bigger picture.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy her—and protect her—in the meantime.
Chapter Fourteen
Brynn
When we get to his place this time, it feels a lot different than it did last night.
For one thing, I have a suitcase, my schoolbag, a pink quilted travel bag full of stuff, and my exercise mat with me. Killian is carrying all of it while I bring my purse and my cat.
“I feel bad making you carry everything.”
“You’ve got the thing that scratches. I’m good,” he assures me.
I bend to kiss the top of Toast’s head. They haven’t gotten off to a great start. “She didn’t understand why you were touching me. She’s a bit possessive.”
He smirks as he puts my bags down on the floor next to his couch. “Yeah, well, so am I, so she’s gonna have to cool it.”
I crack a smile, then bend to let Toast down so she can explore her new temporary home. “Thank you again for letting us stay here. This was so nice of you.”
Killian turns and saunters toward me, his gaze making me feel warm all over. “What can I say? I’m a nice guy.”
I smile as he encircles my waist and pulls me close, my arms naturally winding around his neck. “That’s not what you were saying last night.”
He leans in to kiss my neck and sends shivers dancing down my spine. “Maybe not, but I think I was pretty nice to you,” he murmurs.
My cheeks warm at the memory. “I can’t disagree.”
Pulling back, he looks at me. “Just so we’re clear, that sneaking out on me bullshit? Can’t happen again. Especially now, with this rogue fuck potentially lurking in the shadows.”
I nod my understanding. “I won’t sneak out again. I got in my head a little last night, and ironically, I was worried about being late to work since you didn’t set an alarm for me. Speaking of,” I pull back, “is there a charge cord for this burner Rip—er, Hex left me? Because I don’t think the battery will last long tomorrow if I don’t charge it tonight.”
He lets go of me and looks at the phone as I draw it out of my purse. “Yeah. I have one just like it. I can use that charger.”
“Okay,” I say softly.
“You don’t work again this week, right?”
I shake my head. “Just on Sundays, though I do usually volunteer at this homeless shelter for a few hours on Friday nights.”
He shakes his head. “You’re not doing that this week. No unnecessary outings alone, and I’m not spending my Friday night at a fucking shelter of any kind.”
I crack a smile. I didn’t take him as the philanthropic sort, so I’m not surprised. “That’s fine. I can let them know I won’t be able to work my shift this week. They should have plenty of time to find someone else to cover it.”
He heads for his bedroom—presumably to grab that charger—so I grab the big pink travel bag off the floor and bring it to the kitchen so I can unpack some of the things I brought. It feels strange to make myself at home in a guy’s apartment, but I wanted to bring some of my own stuff so as not to put him all the way out.
I take out my open box of granola bars and a fresh box of cereal. I grab the oatmeal and my half-empty carton of strawberries, then I line up Toast’s tins of cat food so I can ask Killian where I should put them when he comes back.
Since I’m at the counter, I can’t help noticing the food he left out. Raw chicken breast still in the carton, two potatoes, some broccoli. He was clearly in the middle of preparing dinner when Hex called him or showed up here, whatever happened.
Killian comes back with the charger. He comes to the kitchen and plugs my phone in, then puts it down on the counter. “Since it’s a burner, I’m guessing you didn’t download anything you’re attached to?”
I shake my head. “I just used it to text you and call Hex.”
“Well, we’re in the same apartment and you certainly don’t need to be talking to him, so we’ll let this charge over here for the night.”
I crack a smile, putting my strawberries in the fridge and then returning to the counter. “Sounds good to me.”
“Are you still hungry?”
I nod, my gaze drifting to the food on the counter. “Do you think this is still good? I should have probably told you I eat mostly a vegetarian diet. I’ll usually eat meat once a week, but… I also feel terrible at the idea of the chicken dying so we can eat it, and then it just gets thrown in the trash. The meat is already here, so I’d rather we eat it.”