Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Danny didn’t offer sympathy because her tone said she didn’t want it; she’d clearly moved on from that point in time, had only brought it up to make her point. “I know,” he said, his eyes going to Catie. “She’s fucking amazing, and I knew that even when I was an asshole kid.”
That was why he’d always been able to mess with her—because he’d known she’d mess back with him as hard. His parents had raised him to protect those who were weaker than him, but he’d never—not once—seen Catie as that.
“I know I’m the lucky one here,” he said, the truth spilling out of him in the busy chaos of the restaurant. “I’m never going to take it for granted.”
Veni’s expression thawed. “Hmm, I guess you might be acceptable.”
Grinning even as his heart thundered at what he’d just admitted to himself, he said, “Pass the sweet-and-sour pork please.”
Catie, who’d ended up seated across from him, raised an eyebrow when he next met her eyes. He winked to tell her all was well and that he hadn’t broken under Veni’s interrogation. The slightest shake of her head, a sparkle in her eye, and yeah, his heart really hadn’t gotten the memo about this being a quick burn.
Rubbing the heel of his hand over the organ in the aftermath, he got up to visit the restroom. He was in the process of washing his hands when Ward entered the spacious area. Which was why Danny wasn’t sure why the man had to come stand next to him at the sink.
“Is it serious, you and Catie?”
Danny was not up for a heart-to-heart with Catie’s douche of an ex. “You’re in front of the paper towels.”
Stepping back, Ward watched him pull towels out of the dispenser. “You know you’ll never understand her like I do.” His eyes held a hard shine. “You have no idea what we go through.”
Danny wanted to snort at the arrogance of the man saying “we.” As if Ward was in the same league as Catie. But Danny had grown up in rugby—and sad to say, there were always a few assholes who thought that being physical off the field meant something. So he didn’t snort.
Instead, he threw his used paper towels in the trash and put more space between them, then said, “Oh hey, I think someone’s trying to get in the door behind you” and slipped out when Ward moved.
“No feeding the fuckwits,” he muttered under his breath after he was out of earshot; his brothers had taught him long ago that while a burst of anger might feel good in the minute, it just led to a mess in the aftermath—and it gave the instigator control.
Yeah, no, Danny wasn’t about to dance to Dickwad’s tune.
Catie shot him a worried look when he slipped back into his seat, and he knew she’d clocked the fact that Ward had gone into the restrooms after him. He waited to make sure no one else was looking, then crossed his eyes at her.
Her shoulders eased up, her lips struggling not to break out into a grin.
And he went back to his food.
“I’ve never seen you two together this long,” Veni said from his elbow, dawning realization in her voice. “So I never understood how well you know each other.”
His chopsticks loaded up with noodles, Danny frowned. “I’m sure I met you the year after I first met Catie—you and your dad drove Catie up to Auckland one time.”
“I don’t mean timewise.” She waved a hand, her nails unpolished and clipped short due to her work as an ICU nurse. “It’s how you know each other—you do that eye-talking thing all the time. It’s fascinating to watch.”
Not sure if he was embarrassed to have been caught at it or happy because she’d pointed out that he and Catie were intimate on more than just the level of the physical, Danny opted to shove the noodles into his mouth to give himself room to think.
It also gave him time to process the fact that Ward was walking back to the table with a noticeable limp—as if he’d injured the leg on which he wore a prosthesis. Forehead furrowing, he watched the other man slip into his seat beside Catie and lean his head toward her while shooting dagger looks at Danny.
Seriously? The dude was trying to set Danny up as a bully?
22
MEMO TO WARD: CATIE IS NOT HERE FOR YOUR BS
“Your new boyfriend thought it was funny to kick out my leg.”
Catie almost stabbed her chopsticks into Ward’s classically handsome face, which was all sharp lines and bright blue eyes. “Ward, you’re just being an idiot now,” she said calmly. “You’re the one who cheated, remember? This dog in the manger stuff doesn’t suit you.”
Those pretty eyes glittered.
She wasn’t afraid of violence. Ward was the kind of macho asshole who picked fights with men but didn’t hit women. She’d never have gone out with him if she’d realized his fight-picking tendencies off the bat, but oh well, live and learn.