Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
“Better than would be prudent to discuss at the lunch table.” Suggestion filled his voice.
Ezra groaned though he managed to keep a smile on his face. Ezra was still grieving the loss of his wife, but he was finally getting to the point where we could joke around, where we didn’t have to tiptoe and worry he would lock down the way he used to.
“Rub it in, asshole,” he said, wry amusement tugging into his features.
Caleb lifted his hands in feigned innocence. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Yeah, but it is written all over your smug face.” I pointed at him.
His grin just grew, and he shrugged. “Can’t help it.”
Then his brow lifted as he angled toward me and lowered his voice, “And it’s not like you’re not out getting your dick sucked every night of the week.”
“I’ll have you know I skipped last night.” I pitched him a smirk, the distaste of what really had gone down last night burning like acid in my guts.
I hadn’t slept at all.
Trying to figure out my angle.
How the fuck I was going to get myself free.
Feet pacing the ground as I’d wrestled through every scenario.
I should have gone and blown off some steam. Found a willing body. Fucked it out of my system. But I’d ended up lying in bed instead, texting Dakota because she was the one woman I couldn’t get off my mind.
Then I’d jerked myself to the memory of her tits spilling out of that dress when I’d found her stranded on the side of the road.
Clearly, my willpower sucked.
“The travesty,” Caleb taunted.
“While I was at home watching Minions for the hundred-thousandth time with my kids.” Ezra let go of a self-deprecating chuckle.
He had three adorable kids.
His twins, Owen and Oliver, were four, and he had a little girl named Olivia who was six.
“Hey, man, it’s a good fucking movie,” I told him. “I don’t know what you’re complaining about.”
Ezra laughed an incredulous sound, and he roughed a hand over his short hair as he sat back and challenged, “And you’ve seen it?”
Of course, I’d seen it.
“It’s one of Kayden’s favorites.”
“Right.” Caleb shared a look with Ezra.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” It came out a scoff undercut with a warning.
Knowing exactly where they were going to take this.
Too bad my mind was already there, or maybe my subconscious had made the leap.
Racing out, drawn toward her the second she came out from the kitchen through the swinging door, carrying an order for another table.
I immediately looked her way.
She might have owned the place, but she never hesitated to jump in, to get her hands dirty, in the middle of every facet of her restaurant.
My attention got stuck there—on her face that lit up in one of her earthshattering smiles, those plump lips coated in a shiny, glossy pink as she laughed at something a customer said.
Pink hitting her cheeks.
No doubt, she was getting a compliment, the way both humbleness and pride radiated from her.
She was facing me, so this time, I had the vantage of the front of that red dress. Her tits were pressed up, cleavage barely exposed at the neckline that tipped down. Hair in one of those high ponytails she loved to torment me with.
My stomach twisted, and I had to force myself to look away.
Too bad my gaze tangled with Caleb’s when I did.
He smirked. “As you were saying…”
My head shook, voice low. “Dakota and I are just friends. Hell, she’s like a fucking sister to me.”
“That’s some kind of fucked up sisterly relationship you have then.” Pure insinuation rolled out of Ezra.
I sent him a glare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Disbelief filled his expression. “Dude, I could literally hear your heart taking off at a sprint the second she came out the door.” His voice twisted with the prodding. “Tell me you weren’t just thinking about spinning her around, pressing her over the counter, and hiking that dress up around her waist so you could get to the sweetness underneath.”
My teeth ground, visions of it assaulting my mind. “I don’t appreciate you talking about Dakota like that.”
The words were stones.
Ezra’s mouth split in triumph. “Exactly my point.”
“Just because I’m protective of her doesn’t mean I want her.”
“So, you wouldn’t mind me going for her?” he pushed.
Unease spiraled through my senses. It was exactly what I should want. For her to be with someone good.
A nice guy.
Someone who was stable and honest and had a fucking future that he could offer.
A guy someone like me could only hope to be.
Too bad I could hardly stomach the thought of him with her.
“You want her?” I shrugged like the thought of it didn’t make me want to puke. “Go for it.”
Laughing, he clapped me on the shoulder, squeezing tight and shaking me. “You are so full of shit, Ryder. You’re literally about to levitate off your seat, head spinning around. Demon-possessed. I’m actually scared.”