Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26723 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
7
JEREMY
Eventually, she relaxed and unbuckled her seat belt. “Wait for me, baby,” I told her as I opened my door and exited the car. I stalked around the hood of the car and helped her out. Then she silently walked to the back door, unlocked it, and led me up a set of stairs to another locked door.
Good girl. It wasn’t nearly enough security to protect my woman, but I was proud of her for taking the precautions she could. I assumed I had Corbin to thank for that.
Once inside, McKenna hung her purse on a hook by the door, then murmured, “Just give me a few minutes,” before she kicked off her shoes and padded toward a curtained area, probably separating the studio into the living space and bedroom.
She reemerged a minute later, holding some clothing, and opened another door to reveal a bathroom.
“Don’t try to shower,” I grunted, giving her a hard look. “We’ll be late if I have to replace what you washed off.”
McKenna’s face flushed, and she watched me hesitantly, clearly unsure if I was serious. Evidently, she realized I meant what I said because she muttered, “I’m engaged to a Neanderthal,” as she disappeared into the bathroom.
I laughed and wandered around the room, admiring her art and bright decorating style. My place was mostly white and black, with some blue here and there. I looked forward to McKenna making it a home rather than just my house in Malibu.
When she returned, she wore a pink sundress, her hair was in a simple braid that hung over her shoulder, and she was wearing a little bit of makeup. Her jewelry was colorful and fun, just like her personality.
I swallowed hard—fighting the urge to bend her over the couch—and rasped, “You have no idea how damn gorgeous you are, do you?”
Pink dusted her cheeks, and she smiled. “Thank you.”
She picked up a pair of yellow sandals from the rug next to the door and slipped them on, then put her purse on her shoulder. “Ready.”
I glanced at my watch and whistled. “Less than ten minutes. I’m impressed.”
McKenna laughed, and my chest warmed at the musical sound—my second favorite, after her screaming my name while she climaxed.
The drive to her grandfather’s didn’t take too long. With my convertible top down, I had a clear view of the house when I parked in the driveway.
It suddenly looked very different to me. Meeting McKenna had altered my perspective, and I no longer saw just another house and business investment—it was a home. Perhaps she wouldn’t be decorating my place after all. I could easily see us raising our family here, growing old together, and passing it down to the next generation.
“McKenna!”
The sound of a male voice calling my woman’s name broke through my thoughts, and my attention whipped to the front door. A young man, not much older than McKenna, stood on the front porch in green scrubs, smiling widely at her.
“Hey, Mick,” she responded with a sweet smile and a wave.
I tamped down the jealousy surging to the surface so I didn’t look like an obsessed lunatic. “Mick?” I queried in a neutral tone I was extremely proud of.
“He’s one of my grandpa’s physical therapists,” she explained, glancing up at me with a puzzled expression.
Perhaps I didn’t hide it as well as I thought.
The corners of my lips lifted, and I placed a possessive hand on her lower back as we headed toward the door.
“How did he do today?” McKenna asked when we were a few feet from the kid…who was about to lose some of his pearly whites if he didn’t stop looking at my girl with barely veiled want.
“He’s doing great. He’ll be off the walker in a couple of days and shouldn’t need us much longer.”
Thank fuck. If this little shit wasn’t gone quickly, I doubted he’d leave with all his bones intact. But since this wasn’t his last day, I was going to make it really fucking clear that McKenna was off-limits.
“That’s great news,” I said as I moved to stand at her back and slipped an arm around her waist before raising her left hand and kissing the ring on her finger. “I know my fiancée has been very worried about him. Right, baby?”
“Um, yeah.” McKenna looked up at me with an odd expression, and I gave her a fast kiss.
“Fiancée?” Mick asked, looking between McKenna and me, clearly confused.
“Oh sorry,” I said insincerely. “I’m Jeremy. McKenna’s fiancé.”
“I, uh, didn’t realize you were engaged.”
“Yup,” I replied, cutting off anything McKenna might have said. “Well, nice meeting you, but we have plans with Corbin.”
Without waiting for another second, I ushered her into the house and slammed the door shut behind us.
McKenna rounded on me, her mouth open, and her eyes widened in shock. “Did you really just do that?”