Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
It’s why I need to put a pin on this before these feelings and desires Ethan has awakened in me get to be too much and lead me to do something stupid. Before I do something I might regret. As attractive as Ethan is and as much as my body cries out for him, I can’t give in to those base, carnal feelings. I just can’t. That’s not who I am. It’s going to be difficult because I find myself wanting to do things with Ethan I’ve never done with anybody before, so I need to be strong.
“Let’s do this,” I tell myself out loud.
I get out of the Beast, walk across the street to the small office building, and pull the door open. An electronic bell chimes as I step into the empty waiting room. A tall, attractive woman comes out of the back with a purse slung over her shoulder, a welcoming expression on her face.
“Sorry, hun, we’re closed for the day,” she says.
“Oh. Oh, no. I’m not here for an appointment. I … uh … I just hoped to have a minute with Dr. Collier. I need to speak with him.”
“Well, if you come in tomorrow—”
“It’s okay, Melinda,” Ethan says. “This is Maryanne Carter’s granddaughter, Elodie.”
“Oh, right. Of course,” the woman says. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Elodie.”
“Yeah, you too.”
“Goodnight, Dr. Collier,” Melinda says.
“Goodnight, Melinda.”
The woman gives me a nod and walks out of the office. Ethan is standing in the doorway that separates the lobby from the back of the office, his hands tucked into the pockets of his white lab coat. The man is simply breathtaking, and just being near him sends a jolt of electricity shooting straight through my heart. I silently remind myself of why I’m here and that I need to stand strong. To not let my desires sandbag me.
“Come on back,” Ethan says. “I’m just finishing up some paperwork.”
He holds the door open and leads me down the hall to his office, which looks about like I imagined it would. Like the man himself, it’s incredibly clean and well-organized. The shelves are all lined with books and personal knick-knacks, his diplomas hang neatly on the wall—everything has a place and everything’s in its place, and there isn’t a speck of dust to be seen. It’s so clean and orderly, it’s almost obsessive.
As I wander around the office looking at his things, Ethan drops into the chair behind his desk. It squeaks as he leans back and turns his eyes to me. As his warm brown eyes caress my body, an image of his mouth on mine, his hard cock pressed to my belly, flashes through my memory and a small shudder passes through me. I do my best to stuff it down. To ignore it. And to ignore the dampness spreading between my thighs.
“So, you said you had something you wanted to talk to me about?” he asks. “Is your grandmother okay?”
“Oh, yeah. She’s great,” I reply and clear my throat. “This isn’t about her.”
“Then what’s going on?”
“It’s about what happened between us the other day. The … the kiss.”
The corners of his mouth lift, and his eyes gleam with a sultry light that makes that slight tremble in my lady parts more pronounced, which is followed by a flood in my panties. Dammit.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it,” he growls.
I grit my teeth and close my eyes, trying to focus on the reason I’m standing here. Drawing in a deep breath, I silently count to five then let it out again.
“I haven’t either. And that’s the problem,” I say.
“It’s a problem?”
“It is. We can’t. it can’t happen again, Ethan,” I say. “I’m not going to be in Emerson forever. I’m just here to get Mam back on her feet and then I’ll be heading back to LA. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”
He purses his lips and looks down at his desk. He’s obviously disappointed. I can relate. Standing here in front of him, all I want is for him to kiss me again. But he and I don’t have a future together, and I just don’t think it’s a good idea. Ethan is silent for a moment before he raises his gaze to me, his chocolate brown eyes still smoldering.
“I understand,” he says. “And if that’s what you want, I respect that, Elodie. I’m sorry if I crossed a line—”
I shake my head. “You didn’t. At least, you didn’t cross any lines I didn’t want to cross myself. And it’s not like I didn’t enjoy it. I just … I’m not sure it’s a good idea since there will come a time when I'm going to leave.”
“I understand. And it’s okay. I’d never want to push you to do something you’re not comfortable or one hundred percent on board with doing,” he says.