Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“I meant we need to go because the whole time you were napping, your stomach was growling. You were upset when you came back to the table at the diner, and you just pushed your food around on your plate. You must be starved.”
He’s talking quickly, feeding me information and more than likely hoping I will forget the semi-intimate moment we just shared. I know he's being considerate. He sees the ring. He sees how upset I get over Alec, but he’s in the dark about our relationship. I need to explain to him what Alec and I had. I know it will be brutally painful for me, but I don’t want him backing away from me because he thinks I’m a grieving fiancée. I’m grieving yes, but just not in the capacity he thinks.
“I could eat,” I say with a lightness to my tone.
He stands and helps me up with an extended hand. We turn to walk back into the house, but he never pulls his hand from mine. Our fingers are twisted together comfortably like it’s the most natural thing in the world for us.
He releases it once we step inside, and he locks the door behind us. I follow him to the kitchen and watch as he waters a few house plants in the window over the sink. When he’s finished, he carries the crackers trash from feeding the ducks out of the house and puts it in the outside trash can after setting the alarm on the home and securing the door.
Rather than handing me the helmet as he’s done the other times I’ve gotten on the bike, he scoops it up and places it on my head, maintaining eye contact with me. I look up at him and continue to memorize his handsome face even long after he’s done with the strap on the helmet, enthralled by him.
The double beep of someone setting an alarm on the car breaks into our moment. He shakes his head slightly as if he’s just coming awake from a trance. My stomach growls embarrassingly loud.
“Right. Food,” he says climbing on the bike and standing it up so I can climb on behind him.
I wrap my arms around him, and once we’ve hit Main Street, his hand is against mine on his stomach just like it was on the ride out to the house.
***
“I promise, I’ll never doubt you again,” I tell Kid before wrapping my lips around my straw.
“I appreciate that. When I said half chocolate, half strawberry was the way to go; I meant it.” He takes a long drink of his as well.
“Seriously, this is the best milkshake I’ve ever had.” I adjust the napkin around the old school metal shaker cup, so I can pull it closer.
“Try this,” he says dipping a small French fry into his shake and offering it toward my mouth.
He hisses when my lips touch the tips of his fingers and groans when I moan in appreciation at the decadent taste of sweet and salty as it hits my tongue.
I watch him in fascination. More throat clearing. More shifting in his seat. I love that I affect him. If I had doubts yesterday as to whether or not he was attracted to me, he’s more than cleared that up today. He’s still maintaining his distance though, and that’s driving me crazy. The first guy I’ve ever felt an all-out attraction to, and he acts as if he can’t let it go any further than just spending time together. He slips up occasionally. The kiss. His response to the French fry. But then he catches himself and pulls back again. It’s frustrating, to say the least.
“Emmalyn loves the fry and shake combo as well,” he says changing the subject from my throaty moan to something more neutral. “I still can’t convince her of the shake mixture though. She’s a chocolate girl through and through.”
“I was too, until today,” I say with a wink that brings a smile back to his face. It seems to calm him, bring back the playfulness that disappeared a minute ago. I want to laugh. I’m the teenager; he’s the former Marine, and I feel like the seductress, and he’s acting like the inexperienced virgin. The dynamic is strange but somehow rejuvenating at the same time.
“What’s the story with you guys?” It seems like a simple question. I know she’s with Kincaid. I really want to ask about the redhead, but I’ll save that for a later conversation.
“Em had a rough time before she came to the club. It’s not really my story to tell, but Kincaid assigned me to keep an eye on her when he and the other guys had to leave a couple times for work.” He shrugs his shoulder as if it’s no big deal, but I can see the affection he has for her in his eyes. “We grew pretty close. She’s almost like the long lost sister I never knew I wanted.”