Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been touched by someone who cared about her. That asshole in high school didn’t count since he’d lied to her.
It would be nice to have a hug from someone who gave a shit about her welfare. Just one cuddle.
Then again . . . one might not be enough. It would be hard just to have a small taste of something when she needed the smorgasbord.
Shit.
The heat was messing with her head.
“I’m going to start back,” she said as Hux watched her far too closely. As though he was trying to read what was going on in her head.
Good luck sorting that out, buddy.
Because she had no idea herself.
“Thanks for the water. And taking care of me,” she said stiffly. Even though she thought it had been overkill.
Maybe.
As she turned, she knocked the bottle of water over. She froze. Shit. Shit. Shit.
She was never this clumsy.
“Sorry.” She reached down and picked the bottle up. As she stood, the world spun and she had to take a moment to ensure that she wasn’t going to faint. Or vomit.
Because both things were a possibility.
“Sorry?” Hux asked. “It’s just water.”
Right. Of course it was. She rubbed at her forehead. She had a pounding headache. Maybe she should have drunk more water.
“Yeah. I . . . I have to go.” She needed to lie down on her bed. After she had a cold shower. She felt unbelievably exhausted.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Hux asked as she turned away and headed back down the path.
Shit. She hoped she could make it back without passing out again.
“I told you, didn’t I?” Was she talking inside her head instead of out loud? It was hard for her to think. “I’m heading back.”
“How?” Hux asked.
How? Was he joking with her? “By walking.”
“Are you hearing this, Owen?” Hux asked. “She thinks she’s walking back.”
Owen just grunted.
“Darlin’, you’re not walking back.”
“I . . . what? Why wouldn’t I?”
Hux just sighed.
“Get in the ATV, girl. You’re not walking anywhere,” Owen said gruffly from where he sat in the driver’s seat.
Hux sent him a surprised look that she didn’t understand. But her feet were moving before her brain caught up with the command. Where was she going to sit, though?
Hux gestured to the front passenger seat. “In you get.”
She climbed in as Owen turned to grab another bottle of water. He twisted off the top.
She stared at it thirstily. Why hadn’t she drunk that whole bottle before she’d knocked it over?
Idiot.
Then, to her shock, he held the bottle out to her. She stared at it numbly.
“Drink,” he prompted.
“Oh. Thank you.”
He just nodded, not saying another word. She glanced over at Hux. “How will you get back, though?” She couldn’t let him walk back while she rode. He had to be as tired as she was.
His eyebrows rose. “Don’t worry about me, darlin’. I’ll be fine. I’ll drag myself home, bit by bit. If I don’t make it back by sunset, send someone after me, will you?”
Damn. Now she felt terrible. It was her fault he was out here and now he didn’t have a way to get back easily.
“Here. Take my seat. I feel much better and can walk back.”
Owen reached out to place his arm over her stomach. She froze. What was it about these men? Why did their touch feel so electric? So right?
It made her want to melt and at the same time, run. Far and fast.
Lord, this was confusing and she wasn’t sure that she liked it.
Perhaps it was best to go back to an existence where she wasn’t touched and no one paid her any attention.
“Get in,” Owen said to Hux.
Hux jumped on the back, shaking his head at her as she twisted to look at him. “You always so self-sacrificing, darlin’?”
She didn’t think she was . . . was she?
She nibbled at her lower lip. Did she sacrifice her own needs for others?
Maybe. But that was her job, right? To give Jonathan whatever he needed.
However, there were times when she wished her life had taken a different turn. A life where she was free to do what she wanted.
“Hey, stop.” Hux reached out to touch her face and she moved slightly back.
His mouth dropped open and she was aware of Owen beside her, silent and watchful.
Whoops.
Crap.
She didn’t mean to do that. It’s just . . . these guys kept surprising her. What was with all the touching? People didn’t touch all the time like this, right?
“Easy, darlin’,” Hux said in a low, soothing voice. It felt so . . . so healing. Like she was a million jagged pieces and his voice was helping to piece her back together.
Bit by bit.
Silly Chloe.
“I wasn’t going to harm you. Just stop you from hurting yourself.”
“Huh?”
Okay, that was a really intelligent answer there, Chloe.