Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“Too what?”
“Emotionally involved, and you will hurt me. You already did. You—in that kitchen—God. Please leave me out of this war. I just want out of it.”
“I would never hurt you, Carrie. Ever.”
I shove against his unmoving chest. “What do you think that was in your sister’s place? What do you think you did to me?”
“My father’s brutal. If you had lashed back at him, he would have come at you hard at the party and beyond. I was protecting you.”
“If that’s your way of protecting me, I’ll stick to protecting myself. I can’t do this.”
“I have never asked a woman to trust me. I am asking you. Trust me. I won’t let you down.”
“When this is over, maybe. But not now, and I get it. You’re you. You can’t wait. You can go fuck whoever you want, and I’ll fuck whoever I want and—”
His fingers return to my hair, tangling roughly. “You do not have permission to fuck any other man. I do not want another woman. We’re together. That isn’t changing.”
“I’m afraid to trust you.”
“I know, baby. I know you have reasons, and I’d feel the same in your position, but I need you to look at everything I’ve done to earn your trust.” He brushes his lips over mine. “I need you to think about how we feel. That’s real.”
His intercom buzzes. “Your car is waiting and our flight is scheduled for two hours from now.”
“I’ll be right there,” he calls out.
“Flight?” I ask, my heart racing. He’s leaving? “You’re leaving?”
“I have a problem I have to deal with. It can’t wait. I’ll have internet on the plane. You can reach me. We aren’t over, baby, and neither is this conversation. And if you don’t leave now, I will pull your skirt up and fuck you. I will forget this trip and I can’t. Not this trip.” He releases me and steps back. “Go, baby.”
I don’t immediately move.
He arches a brow.
“Carrie?”
“This doesn’t mean we’re still us.”
“Just tell me you’ll listen when I get back. Alone. Be with me long enough to really hear me.” He steps to me, his hands on my waist. “I don’t know if there was another way to handle what happened in that kitchen, but I swear to you, I meant to protect you. I hate leaving right now. Promise me—”
“I will. I’ll listen.”
He breathes out in relief and cups my face. “I’m not letting you go.” He kisses me and turns me toward the door. “Go, baby, before I don’t let you.”
I don’t want to go but I do. I exit his office, and I know that I’m in a quicksand of my emotions with this man. I know that I’m in dangerous territory with Reid, but I have nothing to go on but what I feel. And I trust this man. I want this man. I’m going to risk everything for this man.
Chapter fifty-six
Reid
I’m on my way to the airport for my trip to Montana when one of the investors I met yesterday calls and wants to meet. He has another investor he needs to introduce me to who is leaving town in the morning. I can’t refuse, not with this Grayson deal in play and I change all my plans. By the time, I’m finally through with the meeting, it’s nearly seven at night when I reach the airport and board the private jet. The first thing I do when I’m settled into my seat is dial Carrie. “Hey, are you wherever you’re going?”
I read the question. She wants to know where I’m going, and I don’t want to lie, which is why I don’t offer it up. “Actually, I’m just leaving. One of the investors needed me in a meeting. The good news is we landed more money, and considering how vague I’ve been about this project, we’re looking good.”
“That’s wonderful and the vague thing is good. I don’t want the competition trying to put together a group of investors to beat us on this.”
I love how damn smart she is. “Exactly. Listen, baby, I’m about to take off. I’ll land really late. I won’t call you and risk waking you up. And I’ll be up early. I won’t likely have much of chance to talk tomorrow, but if you need me, call or text.”
“I will. Are you going to make it back for the meeting?”
“I’ll fly back late tomorrow night, in the middle of the night if I have to. Just remember that my silence means nothing, but I am trying to get back to you. Okay?”
“I’m okay. I’m going to listen to you and I’m not thinking of more reasons to doubt you. I did plenty of that on Sunday.”
“I’m working on a way to fix those doubts.”
“What does that mean, Reid?”
“When I get back we have a lot to talk about. No confessions. Don’t read into that. I haven’t done anything to confess. I’ll see you soon.” I disconnect and hope like hell my plan works.