Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
She ducks her head and combs her hair forward. I noticed last night that she kept doing the same thing. As if trying to cover where her jaw was broken.
I’ve also noticed the slur in her speech at times. I’ve never wanted to kill someone so much in my life. Had I known what was going on, I would’ve broken my deal with Pappoús, no question.
“You used to hang with models and movie stars. I don’t compare to them.”
“Does your mouth taste like ass? Because you’re talking shit,” I deadpan.
She looks at me with wide eyes, then bursts into laughter. Her face lights up with it. I can’t help but release my own smile.
“I thought Ven was the only one who could deliver like that with a straight face. You have her beat.”
“I don’t know how you don’t see it. Do you look in the mirror?”
“Not really. Do you?”
I freeze and narrow my eyes at her. I’ve missed her calling me on my shit. Zoe was right. I still haven’t come to grips with things in my head. A look in the mirror isn’t the same for me.
I avoid it until my scars are covered. That’s when my confidence returns. It’s something I haven’t addressed because I haven’t needed to.
I wink at Shawna. “We have something to work on together.”
“What’s that?”
“Seeing the truth. I can’t wait for you to see you like I see you.”
“And you? Will you see what I see?”
“Someday.” I wink again.
It’s not a lie. I’m going to try to move forward because I think I’ve found the woman I want to take home to Pappoús. That means I’m going to have to put myself out there.
She’s the one I want to see my scars. Let’s hope she can love me through them.
Shawna
“I miss you too, princess,” Joshua says, smiling into his phone.
“How long will you be gone?” The voice of a little girl comes through the speaker.
Joshua chuckles. “It will only be a few more sleeps. You can be a big girl until then for me, can’t you?”
“I guess so. Can you bring me something?”
“Sure, I’ll bring you something back. What should I bring you?”
“Um, I could always use a new princess dress. Oh, and a tiara. Please.”
He laughs again. The smile on his face is breathtaking. I should be making our ice cream sundaes, but I can’t tear my attention away from this amazing man.
“I’ve got you. Now be good for me and go to sleep.”
“Okay, love you.”
“Love you too, princess.”
Oh my God, this man is really a father to those kids. I’ve witnessed him filling the role all day. First, he made an appointment for someone to go see the girls to wash and braid their hair, then he made one for a barber to visit the boy for a cut.
I couldn’t help but smile as he went over the lessons for next week with the tutors. He wanted to make sure the kids were on track and being challenged. If I thought he was hot before, this man has now exceeded all my fantasies.
“Need some help?” he asks as he walks over to where I’m drooling and making our ice cream.
“Nope, I’m all done.”
He lifts a brow and bites his lip. “Two? I thought we would share.”
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to.”
“Come on. Let’s pick up where we left off.”
I follow him back to the couch. We’ve been sort of playing twenty-one questions, trying to fill in some gaps. I’m not going to lie. The chemistry is there. The way he’s been looking at me all day has kept my heart racing.
With each question, I’m starting to feel more and more connected to him. I love how at ease he makes me feel.
“Okay, so where were we?” I say as we settle in our seats.
“I think it was my turn to answer.”
“Cool. Um, I have a question I’ve been dying to ask,” I reply.
“Come on, let me have it,” he says with a sexy groan.
“I always figured you dyed your hair for a gig. You haven’t modeled in years. Why not go back to your natural color?”
His eyes grow distant for a moment. I bite my lip. Not sure I should’ve asked. Dropping my gaze to my bowl, I berate myself for being so stupid.
“I don’t know, I think it’s my way of holding on to the past. You know? When I went blond, things started to take off. I was in high demand.
“I guess I never let go of that. Or at least, I haven’t wanted to. I knew where I was headed at that time in my life. I had a plan and I was sticking to it. Then it was all gone,” he finishes, and his gaze grows distant again.
“I can’t believe you got more work as a blond. You’re gorgeous with your dark hair. I loved when it was long. That angel campaign was my all-time favorite. I knew then you were a star,” I babble on before I can stop myself.