Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
She grabbed onto a belt loop in his jeans, trying to ignore her stomach digging into his shoulder as he walked through the room. Though she couldn’t see more than his delectable ass, a glance to the side revealed they were headed to his office.
And since he was carrying her away for the whole bar to see…Gabby was holding out hope whatever he had to say would bode well for her future.
* * * *
Gabby’s parents were pieces of work, Maddox thought, ignoring the clapping, as he strode through the crowd that had parted for him. It was a wonder Gabby had turned out as sweet and caring as she had. He supposed he had Annabelle to thank. That and some innate combination of sweetness and a core of steel inside his girl. One that made her willing to defy expectations and grow into her own person.
He hadn’t meant to make a scene. That wasn’t his style. But after listening to Gabby stand up to the people who’d raised her, Maddox wanted one thing. To get her alone and assure her that yes, he was in it for the long term too. And he wasn’t letting her go.
He stepped into the office behind the bar and kicked the door closed behind him, shutting out the noise. He had one hand around the back of her knees and the other on her ass which he couldn’t not squeeze. Especially since she wore a skimpy Lycra outfit that outlined her curves and had him drooling.
“Hey! Are you going to put me down?” she asked. He still felt her finger curled into his belt loop.
“Do I have to?”
They hadn’t been together long but he’d spent most of their time together telling himself he could handle it if she decided to leave, but knowing he was lying to himself. Now that she’d announced her decision to stay, Maddox wanted to keep her close.
But he lowered her to her feet, holding onto her shoulders, steadying her.
She tipped her head up to meet his gaze. And when he looked into those gorgeous green eyes, he finally felt like he could breathe. “Do you have any idea how amazing you are?” he asked.
Her eyes opened wide, and her lips parted in surprise. “Seriously? Why would you say that?”
How could she not know? “You stood up to your parents and that took courage. You took control of your life and that makes you brave. All in all, you’re amazing.”
Her smile lit up the room and his heart. “Now, I have a confession,” he said.
Her grin slipped. “What is it? Because after that caveman display, I kind of hoped you had more in mind for us back here than talking.” She looped her arms around his neck and rubbed her breasts against his chest.
He groaned at the feel of her nipples digging into his skin beneath the cotton shirt. “We’ll get to that. Soon,” he promised, dipping his head and running his nose along hers.
Her eyes darkened, growing hazy with a desire that matched his. But it had to wait.
“I have to admit, I kept waiting for you to get bored,” he admitted. “I thought you’d resent having to work for a living and decide to go back home.” He cleared his throat. “I knew Preston was an issue, as were your parents’ demands. But I didn’t want to have my hopes up and my heart broken. Turns out, I underestimated you.” He hated to admit he hadn’t trusted her.
“I know.”
“What?” How could she have caught onto his feelings? He’d kept them well-hidden or so he’d thought.
She laughed for a second, but her expression quickly sobered. “I knew something was bothering you, but I wasn’t sure if you thought I was overstaying my welcome, or you were worried about…me leaving.” She shrugged. “Based on the things you said when we first met, I knew you didn’t trust easily.”
“Which things?” he asked warily. He’d confessed to a few hang-ups about them, but not all.
“Oh, me being too young, our experiences being worlds apart…” She waved a dismissive hand through the air.
“You being a virgin,” he went on to add, giving her the rest of what he’d held back. “And the fact that you’d probably want marriage and kids one day whereas I’d sworn off both.”
The color drained from her face. “You don’t want marriage or a family?”
“I didn’t.” He kept his hand on her jaw, his thumb brushing her soft skin. “Then I met you. Pretty soon I wanted everything. But you do have a lot of life to live before we dive into a family.”
“And we should still take time to get to learn more and enjoy each other, but I need to know you’re in this just like I am,” she said, staring into his eyes, her expression hopeful.