Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
She sat at the table but Rome didn’t sit back down. He left the room and this made her nerves go through the roof. She tried to keep telling herself it was all good. Of course it was all good.
Only, it didn’t feel good.
Nibbling on her lip, she waited, feeling a little panicked, but she held her breath. He came back through the door, and she turned her head to see him carrying two plates.
All too soon, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Plates of food were a good thing. She didn’t know what she expected him to have in his hands, but it wasn’t food. Beth didn’t know how she was going to be able to stomach some food, but she would force it down. She didn’t want to be rude.
She had no idea how this night was going to play out. He’d already touched her, and much to her surprise she had responded to his touch. No one had ever put his hands on her, and yet, one touch from Rome and it was like she didn’t even know her own body. Nothing seemed to make sense to her now. She couldn’t help but hate her brother a little for putting her in this position.
She didn’t know what she was supposed to do. Should she tell Rome she was a virgin? Would he even believe her, or just assume she was trying to get out of having sex with him? Everything was so messed up right now. So confusing.
So … so … so … everything.
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she smiled and thanked Rome, hoping she didn’t show him her internal conflict, as that was the last thing she wanted to do.
“This looks delicious,” she said.
“I didn’t know if you were a vegan or had any special dietary requirements.”
He certainly didn’t cater to any, as the steak and potatoes with broccoli looked delicious. Her mouth watered for a taste.
“Nope, I’m fine. I can eat steak and potatoes. I also love broccoli.”
She picked up her knife and fork, and then looked toward him, trying not to think about the fact she was so very naked. It didn’t matter.
“Eat,” Rome said.
He took a sip of his wine, and then reached for the bottle. The moment he tried to pour her a glass, she covered the top with her hand.
“I don’t drink.”
“You don’t?”
She shook her head.
“Do you want to tell me why?”
There was no point in lying. “I’ve seen what alcohol does to a person, and once you spend a lot of time attempting to clean up other people’s messes, well, it doesn’t exactly hold any appeal.”
“Have you ever had a drink?” he asked.
“No, I’ve not needed to.”
Again, she had picked her parents up off the floor from one too many beers. She had to scrub sick out of carpets, and hold their heads above the toilet as they nearly choked on their own vomit.
Not a good advertisement for drinking. At least, this conversation distracted her from the other dilemma she was having, the one where he was fully dressed and she was still naked.
Also … they were going to have sex. She was a virgin and didn’t have a clue what she was doing. None of this was going to end well for her.
Slicing into the steak, she couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful it was, and how it sliced through like butter. The taste was sensational—juicy, sweet, succulent pieces of tender meat.
And, her mouth watered for more. The potatoes were full of flavor, nothing bland about them at all. She hated unseasoned potatoes. There was nothing worse to her.
She couldn’t help but glance at Rome, only to find him watching her. He was eating his food, but now his gaze was intent on her, and she didn’t know what to do. She felt her cheeks heating, and as she did, she wished she’d taken the time many years ago to learn how to put makeup on. She’d be able to hide all the times she blushed.
“This is really good.” She didn’t like to be nervous. With him staring at her, it was making her so. She tried to ignore it, which only seemed to make everything worse.
“I have a good chef.”
“Ah, so you didn’t cook this yourself?” she asked.
“I don’t cook.”
She pressed her lips together and offered him a smile.
“Do you?” he asked.
“Ugh, yes, I cook. I don’t like ordering takeout, and I can’t afford a chef.” It was supposed to be a joke, but it kind of fell flat.
“Why do you live with your brother?” he asked.
She put a bite of potato in her mouth and turned to look at him. “He’s my brother.”
“He’s trouble, Beth, and not one you should be dealing with.”
There was no arguing with that, seeing as she was naked in this man’s dining room through no fault of her own, other than the brother she had. This didn’t feel good to her. “He’s still my brother and although he has messed up, I know he wouldn’t do anything to harm me.”