Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Getting to his feet, he had every intention of leaving, only the door to her bedroom was slightly ajar, and he couldn’t resist going inside to look. The moment he did, the scent of her surrounded him. Damn it. He missed her.
There was no getting away from the feeling. He missed her and wanted her back so badly. He sat on the edge of her bed, which was still neatly made.
What did he have to do to prove he wanted her back? Beg? He was not a begging man.
Sure, he’d lied and manipulated, but he hadn’t stepped out on her. He hadn’t fucked Trixie, and he wasn’t embarrassed by her. The truth was, he wanted her all to himself without having to share her. What was so wrong with that?
He liked being near her. She was one of the few women he enjoyed spending time with. Did he have to apologize for that?
Running his hands over his thighs, he felt himself overcome with a wave of tiredness. He was finding this exhausting. Nikki was so damn stubborn she was willing to quit the job she loved and the career she wanted, to get away from him. He had to change that.
He leaned back against the bed and sank into her sheets. The bed was hard and not very comfortable, but the scent of her was what kept him there on her bed, enjoying her. It wasn’t nearly as good as having his arms wrapped around her, but it would have to do.
Darlene was wrong. He didn’t need to do anything to win her back. Nikki would come to her senses, and she would cave to him. Even as sleep started to take hold of him, he knew that was a lie.
****
The following morning, Hawk was standing by Nikki’s car, in her mother’s driveway, waiting for her to come out.
In the past week, he might have taken up stalking, but he wanted to make sure Nikki was okay. The last thing he wanted was for her to end up in danger, or hurt, or something stupid. He had to remember that letter on her window. Nothing else had come from that letter, but he wasn’t willing to risk it.
Sleeping in Nikki’s bed had given him a good chance to rest, although he was still tired.
There had been a small layer of snow through the night. Not enough to bring traffic or businesses to a halt, but a dusting to make everything look positively beautiful.
He didn’t have to wait long for Nikki to step out of her mother’s house. The moment she caught sight of him, she stopped.
Seconds passed as they just looked at each other.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I came to see you.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know you’re upset and I can see why, but we need to talk.”
“No, I don’t need to talk to you.”
He clenched his hands into fists. “Are you going to be this stubborn? Are you going to play the martyr, is that it?”
His reaction got the response he needed.
“How dare you? Who do you think you are that you can come here—”
“I’m the man that has pushed you to the point where you’re willing to let it get in the way of your future. Your happy future. The career choice you always wanted. I thought you were better than that. I thought you were stronger than that.”
“It’s all based on a lie!”
“Who gives a fuck what it’s based on? Sure, I helped you get your foot in the door. No one was going to hire you, not even Darlene. Not because of your mom, but because you had no experience. I helped, and if you want to throw all of that away because you’re pissed at me now, that is on you.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Nikki asked.
“Giving you a reality check. Yes, I fucked up. I lied and manipulated, but I never cheated on you. You can hate me all you want, but right now, the fact you are going to a job you hate, is on you. You want to make me pay, continue to do the job you love. You want me to suffer, let me see you every day and know I can’t touch you. I can’t be with you, but don’t ruin your life out of some stubborn, stupid, moral high game. You’re better than that.”
He turned on his heel and went back to his bike, moving out of the driveway so she had the chance to leave.
Nikki didn’t get back into her car. She glared at him, and then after a few moments, she climbed into the car. She drove all the way to the drive-thru, just as he expected her to.
He stayed for ten minutes, and then he headed back to the clubhouse and parked his bike. Pulling out his cell phone, he sent Darlene a text to let her know he’d talked to Nikki.