Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 64066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
“Where are we going?”
“Dinner.” He glances at his watch. “You’re making me late, Everly. I don’t like being late. So, hurry up.”
“We decided no dates, so no.” I look back to the cake wanting to pick it back up—if there’s one thing you can’t take from me it’s cake. I love all cake, and to me it’s like a drug I need.
“This isn’t a date. Now get changed.”
“No. Now fuck off.”
He huffs at me. “You’re fucking me off, Everly. Get. Changed.”
I poke my tongue out at him like a petulant schoolgirl and cross my arms over my chest in a huff. “Fuck you.” Reaching next to him, I grab the cake and pull it back to me.
He’s fast, though, catching me before I can start eating. Gunner removes it from my grasp then captures my face with his other hand, his thumb running along my bottom lip. “I’m late, Everly. I don’t have time for games.” Something in the way he says it makes my resistance fail.
“Fancy or casual?” I look up at him as I give in. He’s dressed as usual in a suit, so I have no idea.
“You decide. Anything you put on looks good.”
I smile as I walk past him. That’s one of the first real compliments he’s thrown my way, and I soak it up like a dry sponge does water.
Going straight to my closet, I pull out tight black jeans and a nice shirt to pair with it and some heels. It doesn’t take me long to slide it all on and walk back out to find him on his phone deep in thought.
“Ready,” I say.
He closes his phone, slides it in his pocket, then takes my hand as we walk out. I like it when he touches me. Anywhere. Anytime. It’s nice. It makes me believe what’s happening isn’t just in my head, but is real.
We get into the back seat of the car in silence and start to drive.
“How have you been?” I ask breaking the silence.
He turns to give me his full attention, which is nice to have. “Busy. I’ve been working.”
I try to stop the words that are going to fall from my lips, but I can’t. “And you haven’t seen any other women?”
“I told you I wouldn’t, did I not?” I nod my head. “And you do not believe me?” he asks, his eyes still on me. They’re steely, hard, unforgiving.
“You don’t give me much of anything, so I don’t know what to believe.”
“I’m not like this with any other women, Everly. None. I’ve done more for you, and sacrificed more for you, than any other person. Is what I’m giving you not enough?” He says it accusingly.
“For now, it is,” I reply, turning in my seat as the car comes to a stop. I’m afraid that soon, very soon, I will want things he cannot or will not give me. Then where will I stand?
We get out of the car at a house, it’s beautiful and has an old-world charm about it. He walks over to me, places his fingers in mine as we start to walk. The front door swings open and an old lady stands at the front. She looks to me then to Gunner. When her eyes land on him, something in her changes, and a soft smile comes over her face.
I pull at his arm and whisper, “Where are we?”
“My grandmother’s,” he answers so casually.
What the fuck?
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I sneer softly.
Choosing not to answer, he keeps on walking up the stairs. With her arms open, she engulfs him in them then pulls back to look at me.
“This is a first, Gunner. Who is this?” Her eyes, the same as Gunner’s, land on me. Hard.
“Everly… this is my grandmother, Nakita.”
Offering her my hand she takes it. Her grip is tight for someone older. “I look forward to getting to know you.” When she says it, I don’t believe her. Not at all. Dropping my hand, she turns to walk inside, and I look over at Gunner who’s watching me.
When I hear the door shut, and know it’s just us, I lean in close. “We’re meeting family? I thought we weren’t serious?” I ask, confused.
“She’s cooking and I’m hungry. She’s the best cook in town.” He says it as if it’s answer enough, then proceeds to walk toward the door his grandmother just came out of, dropping my hand. I stand there shocked. I mean, the smart thing to do would be to turn around and walk away, but I’m not very smart when it comes to him, and I’m coming to realize this. I always thought I was sensible. Did everything I was supposed to, within reason. But honestly, lately, I have no idea what’s gotten into me. So, I do the stupid thing and follow him into his grandmother’s house, where he’s standing holding the door open, with a smile in his eyes as if he knew I was going to come in regardless.