Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28593 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
At least this way, we have a shot at stopping Gavin before he gets someone hurt or destroys someone's career.
"It's our only plan, pretty baby," he reminds me.
"I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it."
He smiles, reaching out to cup my cheek. "Believe me, Trouble, I'm not thrilled about it, either."
I sigh heavily. "Set it up, Elysa. Tell him whatever lies you have to tell him."
By the time dinner rolls around, I'm a nervous wreck. I've changed four different times and paced a hole in the floor. Elysa is in much better shape than I am, even though she's the one who has to pretend she's still into Gavin.
"I'm never dating again after this," she mutters, throwing herself down onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. "I'm going to be a crazy cat lady."
"What? No way." I twirl to face her with my hands on my hips. "You can't give up just because your first attempt didn't work out." Like me, Elysa hasn't ever dated much. She bumped into Gavin downtown one day, and he asked her out. They hadn't been dating long, but she was having fun with him. I don't want him to scare her away from trying again, especially since she was way too good for him in the first place.
She scrunches up her nose at me. "Easy for you to say. You won the dating lotto. I ended up with a dud."
I plop down beside her, resting my head against hers. "He has teammates, you know."
That perks her up. "Oh, I didn't think about that. Are they hot?"
"Probably." I shrug. "They play hockey fifty million hours a week."
"Good point."
The timer on the oven dings.
"I've got it," I say, climbing to my feet. "I need something to do anyway."
"Good, because I hate cooking." Elysa kicks her feet up on the couch with a cheeky grin.
I shake my head, laughing as I enter the kitchen to check the lasagna. The scent of tomato sauce and garlic fills the small space, making my stomach growl. I pull the oven open, and my mouth waters. It looks amazing. Elysa may not like to cook, but she's fantastic at it. Me, on the other hand? Well, not so much.
I can handle the basics, but anything beyond that is asking too much. Heidi is the sister with skills in the kitchen. Our adopted mom taught her everything she knew. She wants to open a bakery when she graduates. If anyone can do it, Heidi can.
"Damn, you look good," Colter growls behind me as I put the bread in the oven. He quickly crosses the kitchen, stepping up right behind me. His hand brushes my ass before I feel his erection grind against my ass.
"Colter," I groan, slowly rising to my feet.
He pulls me back against him, his arms wrapped around me. "Fuck, I missed you."
"You saw me this morning."
"Too long," he mutters, nuzzling my throat. "Way too fucking long."
I melt against his chest, my body heating as he kisses all over my neck. He's right. A full eight hours without seeing him is way too long. I missed him like crazy today. I kept expecting him to show up at the office. But we thought it would be best if he stayed away today, just in case Gavin decided to show up to see Elysa. Neither of us wants to give him any reason to suspect this is a setup.
"I missed you too," I whisper.
He spins me around, tilting my head back with a finger beneath my chin. "Yeah? You missed me?" His hazel eyes scan my face, his expression probing. "Enough to come home with me again tonight, goddess?"
"Maybe."
"If you don't come home with me, I'm sleeping in your bed with you. Think you can be quiet while I'm fucking you all night?"
"Colter," I groan, my blood threatening to liquefy.
"Don't Colter me, Trouble," he growls. "One way or another, I will be sleeping in the same bed with you tonight, and I will be fucking you until you pass out on top of me. So if you don't want Elysa to hear us, then you had better pack a bag and come home with me."
"Maybe," I say again. I'm definitely going home with him tonight. But I like teasing him. I like when he gets growly and bossy. It's kinda hot.
He narrows his eyes at me and then smirks. "You just have to fuck with me, don't you?"
"Yep, and we both know you love it."
"Yeah, I do," he says, his expression softening. "I love every goddamn thing about you, Leia."
Oh, my goodness. That's the second time he's basically told me that he loves me. He means it too. I see it lurking deep in his eyes. This crazy man is in love with me.
"Colter, I lo—"
"Gavin just pulled up," Elysa interrupts, popping her head into the kitchen.