Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Spotting Billy and Sarah, I wave. They whip candy toward us, and Jenny grunts. “Geez, super arm. Did that Rollo bust my eyebrow open?”
“They’re five. I doubt they’re strong enough to break skin.” I smile from ear to ear, and my students wave at me as they pass.
“So cute. Well, we can go. That’s all I really want to—”
“Sweet baby Jesus.”
“What?” I ask, looking around. My heart does a triple flip, and I groan.
“I think we’re gonna stay a bit longer. Why do firefighters have such an aura about them? Is there some rule that they have to be hot to apply? Come to Momma. . .”
I roll my eyes as the fire department float nears. It’s not the people on the float who irk me. It’s the man walking next to it, handing out roses. “Are they too good for candy? It’s a parade. People want candy, not flowers. How tacky.”
“Shit, I’ll take tacky. And that one. When he gets close, I’m going to pretend to faint. Just stand back, okay?”
I can’t believe her. He’s not even that attractive. Okay, that’s going a bit far. Anything to convince myself I don’t want him. Because I hate him. Despise him, actually.
My skin prickles as he gets closer. Dressed in his fire gear minus the jacket, he offers a nice view of the muscles behind his tight-fitted shirt. The tattoo on his arm peeks out from under his sleeve, and my fingers ache to trace the painted lines. I wonder when he got it. What it means. He walks up to a little girl and hands her a rose. His hair is perfectly in place. His stupid sexy smile makes my nipples pebble. What in heavens is wrong with me? I clear my throat and shake the thoughts away. Stop being ridiculous. “I’d wait for the next float. Honestly.”
“Wait. . . is that. . .?”
Oh, it is. “Not sure.”
“The guy from the bar. It is! How do you not recognize him? You two were outside and. . . wait, you two aren’t—”
“Us? Ew. No way. Gross.”
“Well, if you’re not interested. . .” She pushes up her boobs and tries to get by a little kid. “I’m totally gonna try this one. If it doesn’t work, I’m gonna fake that my cat climbed up a tree. I’ll just happen to be in lingerie when they arrive.”
“Oh, come on, he’s not that good-looking.” Yet, I can’t seem to stop staring. Ben hands off another rose and steps back into the street, his gaze catching mine. I try to look away, but I can’t. His alluring eyes, the color of the purest ocean, gleam, holding me captive. My heart beats erratically with each step he gets closer.
“Shit, he’s looking this way. Okay. Wish me luck.”
I suck in my bottom lip, needing the pressure of my teeth to calm my nerves. In and out, I take short breaths, my chest tightening. He starts to make his way toward me. Please don’t do it. Please just leave me alone.
As he steps in front of me, his searing eyes do their best to break me down. I open my mouth, but it’s not to tell him off. It’s to confess how sorry I am for the way I reacted that night at the bar. How I’ve never felt so alive. The way he touched me, fucked me with his hand, brought me to the most blissful orgasm. . .
I shouldn’t have left.
“Ben, I. . .” I trail off as he reaches toward me, a rose in his hand. I slowly raise mine to accept it when he shifts and offers it to Jenny. She beams at his devilish smile and accepts the rose. He steps back and, without another glance my way, walks off.
“Holy shit, that was hot.”
My shoulders slump. I swallow the lump in my throat.
“You think it would be weird if I called the firehouse? Maybe get his—hello? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Call. But I wouldn’t hold your breath. He seems conceited. Guys who look like that always are. You ready?” I fight through the crowd to leave. God, I hate him.
Chapter 10
Makayla
“You have got to be kidding me!” I hiss under my breath.
I can’t believe this is how movie night is turning out. So much for a nice time floating in the pool and watching one of our favorite movies on the outdoor screen. Why did Hannah have to suggest we put names in a hat? Ben should have to take a lawn chair. He was the one who popped the float and made the numbers uneven.
“Come on, Kip. You can’t put them together,” Hannah argues.
Kip shrugs his shoulders, looking around at the floats. “Han, what do you want me to do? It’s all we have left. If you two hadn’t popped the other two—”