Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
But Ava’s days are numbered.
I’m gonna try it the legal way first, even if it’s not respectful, as Quinn keeps saying.
“How? I am a good girl.” He gives me a blank look, and I, of course, grin. “What? I am.”
“You’re not, but you’re also being very sexual.”
My lips twitch. Man, he walked right into this one. “You’re the one making it sexual.”
“Emery, I’m serious!” he yells, his eyes wild, his face turning red. “Nothing can happen between us.”
“Like before, you’re assuming I’m only here for sex. Last time, I smacked you for that accusation. Should I make it harder this time?”
Heat flares in his eyes. “I’m not joking.”
“I’m not either,” I say simply. “You’re the one thinking something will happen. I just need a place to stay.” We both know I’m a huge-ass liar, but I continue to grin widely at him. Since I don’t want to argue with him anymore, I ask, “Can you be a sweetie and get my stuff for me? You know how much I love my computer.”
He doesn’t even answer. He lets out a frustrated breath and marches out the door. “Thanks, bestie!” I call after him, and when he huffs another frustrated breath, I smile. But as quickly as it appeared, it falls away as I look around the plain-ass room. There is nothing in here. Even the bed has no sheets or bedding. I’m surprised he didn’t turn this into a recording room or something along those lines.
The fact that he is fighting this so hard has me giddy. The attraction between us is still alive, not that I didn’t think it would be. We’re too good together. He’s the best I’ve ever had. While in public, he is all sweet and charming, the boy next door, in the sheets, he is a dominating alphahole who rocks my world. He knows how to make me come in ways I never imagined, and I miss the intimacy I’ve only experienced with him.
God, I’ve missed him.
When my suitcase is empty, my clothes put away, I realize Quinn isn’t back yet. I bring in my brows. Did he leave? It doesn’t usually take this long. Before I can walk out of the room to go look for him, praying he didn’t drop my computer and is deciding whether death would be better than telling me, my phone rings.
Elli Adler.
Fuck.
I hesitate for only a second before I answer, “Hey, Elli.”
“Hello, Emery. Do me a favor. Go in the bathroom.”
I do as she says, but slowly, because what if she is setting me up and a sniper will be waiting to blow my brains out? Okay, Emery, this isn’t one of the mafia romances you read. Get it together.
What? I have a huge brain; it’s always busy. So what if I enjoy smutty mafia romance to help me relax?
When I reach the bathroom, I shut the door and sit down on the closed lid of the toilet. “Okay, I’m in here.”
“Great. Listen, Quinn called me.” Of course he did. He’s such a mama’s boy, but not in a creepy way. In a sweet way. Or maybe it’s a red flag that I’m ignoring. “What are you doing?”
I pause. I could lie, but the truth is always better with Elli Adler. “I’m on Operation Get Quinn Back.”
She exhales gratefully. “Thank God. My son hasn’t been the same since you left. I wanted to hate you, but I couldn’t. I get it. You were both young. But then he goes and tries to marry this girl, and I’m not happy. She doesn’t eat my food because it’s ‘heavy.’ What the hell?”
“That’s so rude.”
“Precisely,” she agrees quickly. “I don’t know what she has over him. The whole family has been trying to figure it out, but he’s so tight-lipped and insists they’re in love.” I grunt and she laughs. “My thoughts exactly. Now, you’ll be living there with him, and he always tells you everything. So, will you do me a favor?”
I already know what she is going to ask, but I agree anyway. “Absolutely.”
“Figure it out for me, and don’t let my son make a second mistake.”
“A second?” I ask, confused.
“The first was letting you get away.”
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I swallow thickly, the emotion and love for this woman overwhelming. “It was all my fault. I pushed him away.”
“I know, but he shouldn’t have let you get so far. You were scared. He should have fought harder.”
I shake my head, though I know she can’t see me. “No, Elli. He fought hard. I pushed harder.”
“So, fix this, Emery Elaine.”
I close my eyes, hating when a tear escapes. “I will.”
“Good. Don’t drive him too crazy.”
“Can’t promise that, but I will promise to break up this engagement.”
“Great. Make my baby happy again.” I can hear the smile in her voice.