Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
I would take that card home, frame it, and remember it as the time I could dream for a moment that a movie star wanted to hear from me.
But instead, all I feel is pathetic.
And now I can’t stop the tears from falling.
“Oh, god,” I hear him mutter. I must look so pathetic to him right now. After everything that happened, now I’m just sobbing in the street. I cover my face with my hands, wishing I could hide away somewhere right now.
I want to run again, or at least to keep walking away, but I can’t see where I’m going.
I try to tell him to leave me alone, but all that comes out is an even louder sob.
“Come to my office,” he says, and I don’t know why he would think I want to walk however many streets it must be to find an office around here. That’s what I was supposed to be doing in the first place!
“Come on. I’ve got tea and cookies and a place to wash your face. It’s right across the street. Please?”
I manage to look up at him, embarrassed to let him see my face right now, in order to judge whether he’s making a serious offer.
He looks thoughtful, worried even. Like, he actually does want to make sure I’m okay. But it’s possible I might just be an inconvenient eyesore that he wants to get out of the middle of the street, so I don’t call too much attention to him.
“Okay,” I say because, at this point, it doesn’t feel like there’s much worse that could happen.
I know, I know. So many worse things could happen when you follow a strange man to a strange place. But for some reason, the way he talks and the way he acts makes me feel like I can trust him. Like he’s an honest man.
The kind of man who really would just give me a cup of tea and something sweet to ward off the shock and then send me home when he knows I’m not going to collapse in the street.
“It’s right here,” he says, pointing. He appears to be pointing to a house, which confused me.
“That’s a house,” I say out loud because there’s a difference between feeling in your gut that you can trust someone and just straight up walking into a situation that is dangerous.
“I know,” he says. “I converted it into an office on the lower floor, and I live upstairs. But don’t worry – we’ll stay downstairs. I promise.”
“Alright,” I say, and nod. With tears still running down my face, I need to calm down, and having some tea does sound good.
He touches my arm to lead me toward the house, and I feel such a strong spark that it makes me gasp out loud.
I look up into his face, and he seems so stunned that I think he must have felt it, too.
Then he looks away and mutters something about going inside and begins to lead the way, and I feel my heart go with him. The only choice I have is to follow.
CHAPTER FOUR
Hunter
I don’t know what she’s doing to my head, but I want her. I want her bad.
It’s not her vulnerability that triggers my inner alpha male so strongly that it’s a miracle I don’t pull her into my arms and carry her away like a caveman.
I’d do anything to stop her from crying, anything at all. It’s not the fact that she willingly decides to go with me, seemingly open to my request. It’s none of that.
It’s her, the essence of her, and the raw spirit inside her. Somehow, I feel like it is reaching out to me. When I touch her arm, and a spark of electricity flows between us, making her gasp and leaving me stunned, it’s like confirmation.
We’re meant to be together. I don’t know how I know it, but it’s the clear and plain truth. And I want to make her mine right now.
The only thing stopping me from propositioning her in the street is that it wouldn’t be right – not now, not while she’s in this state. She needs to calm down, feel better, and get back into her right mind. Then, and only then, can I make my move.
But I’m not going to take care of her just for that reason. I’ll take care of her because it’s the right thing to do.
After what she went through, she needs someone looking out for her. If it leads to something else, great, but it’s not my motivation.
Although I can’t say I’m not thrilled at the excuse to spend some more time with her.
“Here,” I say, leading her to the front door and opening it. We’re lucky; I left it unlocked while I was going after the boys and then when she ran from me, so anything could have happened. Thankfully, I don’t think anyone noticed.