Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Honey,” Barb whispers under her breath. “Do you remember eating anything with shrimp or pine nuts in it?”
“No.” Addison’s lips look like a botched filler job gone wrong. Her eyes are watering like crazy. “I just ate the pasta! Oh God, what am I going to do!”
“Don’t panic, stop panicking. It’s fine, we’ll get you some allergy medicine. Maybe there’s a doctor here—Oh wait! The other groomsman!”
“The one who does coke?”
I cough into my hand. “Um, maybe we can be of service, you see my assistant asked what was in the pasta, and we just found out there are remnants of shellfish, scattered around it.”
Addison jumps to her feet. “THEWES NO WAY! I CHECKED THE MENWU!”
I keep my laugh in; it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. “Well, maybe they’re wrong but the evidence is…” I hold out my hand. “Definitely, jarring, to say the least.”
“It’s fine!” Scarlett jumps in. “We’ll just find you some Benadryl and ice packs, you’ll be totally fine!”
“UW!” Addison jabs a finger in Scarlett’s direction. “UW PWOISIONT ME!”
“Yeah, not going great,” I whisper under my breath. “Should we go for plan B?”
“I didn’t poison you! I’ve been with this guy the entire time!”
“UW BOTH DID!”
“But can you poison poison?” I say so only Scarlett can hear me.
“AGHHHH!” Addison screams and stomps her foot.
“Yeah, definitely plan B.” I grab Scarlett’s hand and flip her around. “Run!”
We move quickly through the crowds. Addison’s still screaming and now throwing what sounds like silverware, and I do what smart men do.
I grab Dustin and yell. “Cover us!”
“Again?” he grumbles. “And if she hits me?”
“Give her a form!” I yell and then me and Scarlett are out, running through the hall and toward our suite.
She’s stumbling next to me.
And I may or may not be laughing.
When we finally get back to the suite, I close the doors, lock them, and turn around only to see Scarlett already taking off her dress.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I’m panting, I’m not sure if it’s from the run or if it’s because I see bra.
Her dress falls to a pool at her feet, she steps out of it in her red heels and walks toward me.
Mouth dry I grab her and press a rough kiss to her mouth. “Why am I getting rewarded?”
“Easy.” She shrugs a pale shoulder. “You stood by my side.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Scarlett
I made the choice the minute he offered to go with me to my evil sister, because what sort of hero actually goes to the villain and says, yeah, I’ll play even though I know we’re all probably going to die a fiery death; hey, at least we’re together.
That’s what having him by my side feels like, and I’d forgotten what it was like to have someone you’re attracted to, romantically interested in, and sometimes loathe, just ride or die no matter how many times you’ve argued over the last hour, no matter how many mishaps.
His simple answer was yes.
There was really no explanation.
There was no arguing in the one moment I needed someone to just hold my hand, even though the situation was semi-comical.
Killian’s green eyes are wide while he watches me walk toward him, his full gorgeous lips part, his hands at fists at his sides, fingers moving back and forth between tense and relaxed like he isn’t sure if he is allowed to touch when all I want him to do is touch, tug, jerk, slam my body into the nearest wall and lift me up against it.
Romance novels go one of two ways: you have this emotional moment where the people tear up and cry over the sex, or you have the moment where you just get taken. I’m okay with both, or a combo of both, but right now, what I really want is to be lost in him and do something for me.
Maybe that’s what empowerment is all about, wanting—no needing, taking the consequences and making the most of the small moments you’re given.
Killian’s breathing heavy, his eyes don’t take in my body like I thought they would, they’re fully trained on mine, half-lidded, his caramel hair is messy from his run.
“Why am I getting rewarded?” he finally asks.
“Easy.” I shrug, because it really is such an easy answer. “You stood by my side.”
In one stride, he has my elbow in a death grip, his hands are warm, and huge against my arm, he uses his other hand to grip my ass and lift me against him. We’re finally alone.
His lips are hot and tender at the same time. Maybe he wants to savor the moment as much as I do. He pulls away lightly, brushing kisses down my jaw and my neck, small nibbles here, bigger bites as with one hand he slowly tugs my bra down, then flicks it completely off.
“Wasting no time?” I ask.