Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“Can we . . .” I smile at my work friends all watching us. “Excuse us for a moment.” I grab Henley’s hand and pull him into my laundry room and shut the door behind us. “What the fuck are you doing?” I whisper angrily.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he whispers right back. “If you think you can use me as a scapegoat to dodge your loser friend, you can think again,” he growls. “I have never been so infuriated.”
“Keep your voice down,” I whisper. “The girls made up the story, not me.”
“Bullshit,” he spits. “You lied to him about having a boyfriend, and I will not stand for it.”
“So go home,” I spit. “I didn’t ask you to come here.”
“And I didn’t ask to be a victim of your lies. Tell me the truth or else.”
“Or else what?” I fume.
“Or else I’ll fuck you on the table in front of your guests.”
“What?” I explode. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
Although . . .
He grabs me by my two arms. “You’re a liar.”
“Don’t touch me.” I struggle to get out of his grip. “You sleazebag.”
“Coming from you, that’s laughable.”
“How dare you.”
“Oh, I dare, all right. I’m going out there to tell everyone what you’re really like. Fucking me while you were engaged to another man. You couldn’t lie straight in bed.”
“Don’t.” I panic as I grab his two hands in mine. “You can’t,” I beg. “I know I lied to Warren, and he’ll be upset. Please don’t hurt his feelings to get back at me.”
He narrows his eyes.
“Please.” I put my hands in a praying gesture. “Just pretend to like me for ten minutes, and then you can go home and never speak to me again.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“What does that mean?” I whisper.
Without another word he storms out. My heart is thumping hard in my chest. I can’t believe this. Why the hell would Warren go over to his house?
This is the worst. I look like an even bigger loser now. What must he think of me?
“Who wants a drink?” I hear Henley ask everyone in a super-sweet voice.
“I’ll have one.”
“Me too,” I hear them all chime in.
Oh no . . .
He’s up to something. I just know it.
I go to the bathroom and splash water on my face and shake my hands around to try and calm myself down.
It’s ten minutes. Realistically, how pear shaped can things go in ten minutes? I’ll play along, and then he’ll go home. And next week I’ll pretend to break up with him. Problem solved.
I stare at my reflection while I prepare myself for battle; my heart is hammering in my chest. I tentatively walk back out to the living area to see Henley sitting in the living room with everyone.
He’s on the couch, legs wide with his dominant stance, a glass of champagne in his hand.
He looks up and smiles warmly. “Puppy, come sit with us.” He taps the couch beside him.
Puppy?
“What did you just call her?” Leonie asks, wide eyed.
“That’s my sexy-times name for her.” Henley’s eyes twinkle with mischief, and he rubs the couch beside him. “Sorry, I should save that for private, shouldn’t I, sweetheart?”
What the fuck is happening right now?
I drop to sit beside him, and he puts his arm around me. He slides his fingers up over my shoulders and skims my neck.
I stare straight ahead as I consider swallowing my tongue.
“I would die if my boyfriend called me puppy.” Leonie twists her lips as she tries to keep a straight face.
Not funny, Leonie.
“Well.” Henley sips his champagne. “She likes being called puppy, don’t you, baby?” He holds up his hand as if to whisper. “You know, with her doggy kink and all.”
What the . . .
Everyone’s eyes widen, and I take his glass of champagne off him and take a gulp.
“Now, now, sweetie.” He snatches the glass back from me. “Don’t want to choke yourself on that leash tonight when you go potty out back.”
Leonie coughs as she tries not to laugh.
I see Chloe disappear into the kitchen to snicker in private.
Help!
“So, how did you two meet?” Warren asks as he looks between us.
“She was”—Henley raises his eyebrows—“sleeping with my father, after she broke up with my brother.” He continues with a straight face. “I guess I just didn’t want to miss out on the action.” He slides his fingers up the back of my neck and grabs a handful of my hair.
What the fuck?
“Ha ha. You’re so funny.” I untangle his fingers from my hair and swat his hand away. “Not exactly.” I fake a laugh. “The truth is . . .” I look over at him as I try to think of something to say. “Henley’s never had a girlfriend, and I felt sorry for him.”
Everyone in the room stares at us in silence, unsure what to say.