Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85565 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
His mouth was open in a little o of surprise before he seemed to catch himself. “Uh, no. No, thanks. I’ve already had more than I should have. Actually…” He looked around at the rapidly emptying bar. “I should probably go…”
That same hesitation from before was there, as if he were waging some sort of internal battle between what he wanted to do and what he should do.
I knew which side I wanted to win. I grabbed a glass and filled it with ice. “Let me get you water first. You don’t want to go to bed without hydrating.”
“Yeah. Okay.” He relaxed in his seat. When I handed him the cool glass, he nodded a thanks and took a deep gulp. I watched the way his throat convulsed as he swallowed, the dip and bob of his Adam’s apple. I wanted to trace my fingers around it and then follow with my tongue. I busied myself collecting empty glasses the couple sitting next to him had left behind, needing something to do with my hands so that I wouldn’t be tempted to reach across the bar and grab the man.
He took another swallow, licking a stray drop of water from his bottom lip in a way that made it impossible not to stare. I let myself ogle him, not caring if he noticed.
Clearly he noticed me noticing. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. “You trying to rush me out of here to get home to your girlfriend?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he seemed to regret them. “Sorry. Inappropriate.”
“An ass like this would be wasted on a girlfriend,” I said, making sure to show off my assets as I turned away from him to run the register’s close-out report. I’d caught him staring at my ass so many times tonight, I knew it would get his attention. “Would have to be a boyfriend.”
He chuckled and murmured into his glass as he took a sip of water. “Good to know.”
Karlie began wheeling the big ungainly yellow mop bucket out of the back. As soon as my customer noticed her pregnant belly, he scrambled off his stool to help. “Here, let me,” he said, maneuvering it into the dining section of the bar.
Karlie shot me a look with a smirk and raised eyebrow. “A city gentleman. And he doesn’t even have a Boston accent. How highbrow.”
“Not from Boston,” he said with an odd glance toward me. “I grew up in Connecticut. Little town called Coventry. It’s about thirty minutes east of Hartford.”
Just as I opened my mouth to ask him where he lived now, if not Boston, Karlie tossed her balled-up denim apron at the nearest table. “Your night for mopping anyway, big guy. I have a hot date with my bed and whatever flavor ice cream’s on sale at the Quickie Mart.”
I saluted her and started toward the mop bucket, but the guy beat me to it. He’d already tied Karlie’s apron around his waist and was squeezing the water out of the mop when I reached him. “What are you doing?” I asked as I grabbed for the mop.
He looked up, slightly startled, but didn’t let go of the handle. “I thought I’d help.”
“Why?”
His expression turned a little sheepish. “I was enjoying hearing you talk about McBride and your plans.”
“Oh.” I didn’t quite know what to say to that.
He hesitated, and the same blush from before colored his cheeks. “And I wasn’t quite ready to say good night.”
“Oh.” This time my answer came out more like a breath than a sound. I became acutely aware in that moment how close we stood to one another. How if I slid my hand a few inches down the mop handle, my fingers would brush against his.
I shifted toward him, curious how he would react. He sucked in a breath, but he didn’t make any move toward me. Nor did he move away. I let my fingers trail down the wooden handle until they reached his. He shuddered slightly at the connection. So reactive, even at the simplest of touches. His eyes searched mine, and he looked overly stressed for such a hot moment.
That he was attracted to me was obvious. His pupils were already wide and black, his eyes half-lidded. His breathing came light and fast, and I could feel him straining toward me. But still, something held him back.
Well, I’d never been one to not go after something I wanted. “Then let’s not say good night yet,” I murmured, before closing the distance between us. I slid my fingers into that hair I’d been itching to touch all night and pulled him toward me.
As soon as my lips touched his, I was gone. The sweet, fruity taste of him, the expensive cologne scent of him, and the delicious, surprising height on him.