Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. Let me get you a coffee.” He presses his hand to the small of my back and walks me to the order line.
“What are you doing here?” I question. It’s a long way off from Almont and expensive.
“Didn’t your mom tell you I was coming?”
It’s our turn before I can answer. “A tall café mocha, please,” I say. I’m about to pay, but Rick takes care of it, stopping my hand from reaching out, giving me a look to let it go.
“Yeah, but I ignore her rantings about us getting married.”
The girl hands me my coffee and then we walk to a high table and take a seat. He sighs, taking a deep breath. “About that…I hope this doesn’t come off like an asshole, but I think of you as just a friend.”
“It doesn’t. I feel the same way. I hope you didn’t come all this way to tell me that.”
“I didn’t. I might not have mentioned it before, but I’ve been trying to get out of Almont even longer than you. I’ve gotten my big break and I’m a game developer. I’m here for a conference and then I’m moving out of Almont although I haven’t decided where yet. I figured with all the talk about us getting together in town that you should at least hear it from me first.”
“Thank you.” I give him a hug and then squeal at his success. “I’m so proud of you, Rick.” We talk for another twenty minutes before he has to go, so we part ways and agree to stay friends. As he goes, I feel the heavy weight of my misery. My shoulders slump and I head back to my apartment.
I fall into a fitful sleep when I hear pounding on my door. I think it’s the front door, but then it’s too close. My eyes pop open to see Grant standing in my bedroom with his suit looking completely disheveled.
“Doll. I need you to come back to me.” There’s a vulnerability in his voice that does something to my heart, but it’s not enough. I can’t go back to a business deal.
“I’m sorry Mr. Masterson, but I can’t give you a baby.”
“Why not? Is there something wrong?”
“Yes, I realized that I’m not heartless enough to give up my own child for money. I can’t separate my heart from a piece of me, so you’ll have to find another woman. I’m sure thousands would take the offer. I still have most of your money to return to you.”
“I don’t want the fucking money, Doll. I want you. I’ve always wanted you. From the second you crossed my path I knew I had to make you my wife and put my baby inside you.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me out? Why the contract?”
“Call me crazy, but I couldn’t let you get away. I had to have a reason to have you by my side without kidnapping you.” I’m trying to stop myself from falling for his lines. True or not, I hardly know him, but he looks so freaking sexy. “I knew if I told you that I’d fallen madly in love with you from one look that you’d think I was nuts or nothing but a player. I’m neither of those. Well, I’ve felt insane since I met you, but I’m not a player. In fact, well…you weren’t the only one saving yourself that night. I hadn’t kissed anyone since I was sixteen years old and that was disastrous. I started working the very next day and never stopped even throughout college.”
“If you felt like that why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you come after me?”
“I tried to give you time. I tried to be the better man after you walked away. I knew I’d been a dick that day, but that’s because even though you were on your period I still wanted you to the point of pain. Then you’d know that it wasn’t just about the contract. I tried to get some work done so I could take time off for you. I’ve been working nonstop since the day after you left. I made sure my company was running smoothly, so I could take a month to show you how much we were perfect for each other.” He caresses my cheek, brushing his fingers over me.
“Why today?” I stammer out.
“I’d been in California on a business trip, when my security guard sent me footage of you and Ricky together. I had to get you to pick me over him. I flew back as fast as I could and came straight here.”
“Ricky? Rick and I aren’t together, and we never were. Wait! How do you know about him?”
“Your mother messaged you that first night on your old phone talking about your engagement.”
“That’s the lie? You thought I was engaged?” He nods sheepishly. “She’s nuts. He was the town’s most eligible bachelor and she thought I should marry him. We’re friends and nothing more. Since he was in town he just wanted to break it to me that he didn’t have feelings for me like that. We talked and laughed off my mother’s fantasies.”