Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“There’s this little bistro about a five-minute drive from here. They serve a variety of salads and sandwiches. How does that sound?” I asked, and she smiled.
“Great. Want me to meet you there?”
I shook my head.
“I want to take you,” I insisted. She nodded and walked around to the side of my car. I opened her door and looked at her pale cheeks as she slipped inside. I closed it and walked around to my side, starting the car to drive the few blocks to Olive.
Once we were seated at the bistro and she sipped her water, I leaned back and stared at her. She looked like a little girl right now, and I thought back to what the officer said. “Elyse, please talk to me about what’s going on.”
She stared at me and leaned her head back, rolling it back and forth as she groaned. “I don’t know how to say this, Ryder. I don’t know if it’s even worth your time.”
“We’re good together, Elyse. You know as well as I do,” I told her as she looked at me. “Here, look at the menu so you can order something. You don’t look like you’ve eaten in a while.”
She took it, and I saw her eyes shimmering with tears as she tried to read, blinking as she tried to regain her composure. When the waitress stopped by the table, Elyse managed to order a salad in a shaking voice. The waitress looked at Elyse and then me with wide eyes as I placed my order. Elyse wiped at her eyes and smiled weakly. “I’m sorry. This wasn’t what you were expecting, I’m sure.”
“What’s going on?” I asked in a soft voice.
“I don’t know where to begin.” She reached for her water to take a long sip. “I went to that hockey game knowing damn well what you did and how you played. I just struggled watching it. I suppose aggression isn’t my thing.”
“So, date me and don’t come to a game. That’s not difficult.” I shrugged and watched as the waitress placed our drinks in front of us on the table. I hated the idea, but I was going to push a little and see where it got me. I wanted a girl who would be my biggest cheerleader, and most thought that my tough guy act was a turn on. I’d gotten a lot of sex that way in the past.
“Really?” She stared at me before playing with her napkin. “Don’t you guys like girls wearing your jersey and screaming your name? I’d think you need a girl who likes your sport and your career.”
“I can separate things in my life. Having a girl to come to cheer me on is always great, but it’s nights like this that matter more. It’s a night like the one at your place that keeps the blood flowing through my veins.” Elyse blushed, and I licked my lips slowly at the sight. “It’s the way you make me feel that matters. And the way I make you feel when we are together.”
“You’ve only just met me. You must connect with tons of people with how many you meet.” Her protest was weak, and I raised an eyebrow.
“Do you remember what I said about the people in my life? My mom raised me to watch out for people.”
She lowered her eyes at the reminder and lifted the glass to her mouth. When she finished, Elyse nodded slowly.
“I meant that. There’s something about you that makes me want to keep you close. I don’t want to stop this thing that’s happening. I just see something simmering underneath the surface that’s hurting you. I want to make that go away.”
Her eyes widened, and she rested her hands on the table. “It isn’t that easy, Ryder. Nothing is.”
“You feel this between us?” I asked as she met my eyes. “I just want to spend time with you, Elyse. I’ve never met a woman like you before.”
“I’ll try,” she gave in, but I knew that Elyse was still going to pull away from me. I dropped the subject as we ate, asking about the bookstore and her friendship with Tori as she picked at her salad.
Fuck. This was going to be difficult, and I paid the bill quietly as she waited. I walked her to the car and drove her back to her own, stepping out to make sure she got inside it safely.
“Can I kiss you?” I asked as she pressed her lips together nervously, finally nodding. I wasted no time in claiming her mouth, holding her face steady as I worked my tongue against hers. I cupped her face, and she moaned as my tongue slid against hers, needing more. I felt her mold her body to mine and groaned against her lips. I remembered how it felt to have her come against my body, still feeling her heat through her clothes as she cried out my name. I kissed her harder, sliding a hand down to cup her ass while the other slid into her hair.