Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
But I’ve scoured the news a million times over and there’s nothing new. No one has reported anything about Home Shepherd or Meghan or even Vanessa.
Even Meghan has been weirdly quiet since her last video.
The smaller influencers hoping to ride her coattails by covering the scandal are also spinning their wheels, and new videos have slowed to a crawl the last couple days.
Awesome news, in theory.
In practice, it’s suspiciously quiet.
Best of all, the trip is today. This afternoon, we’ll be embarking on Shepherd’s yacht for a whale trip.
So I head out a little early, clean up, and then drive to his massive estate and wait for him to meet me at the door, bringing Molly along for the ride.
“Destiny.” My name sounds so reverent in his mouth it makes my breath catch.
So does the way he pulls me into his arms.
It’s barely been a week but he hugs me like it’s been a decade apart.
God, he’ll never not feel good.
It doesn’t matter that his face is dark and shadowed, handsome but haggard with a five o’clock shadow.
His gaze passes over my face, and I wonder if he sees my worry.
The fact that I don’t know what’s going on.
Automatically, I wrap my arms around his waist and press my nose against his neck. He smells like salt and cologne and iron discipline.
How can any man smell so familiar?
Except, I know him intimately.
We’ve explored too much of each other to ever forget.
I even know what’s behind his icy stares and permanent scowls and the rare smiles I cherish.
I know about his mobster uncle ruining his start to life, his traitor ex and her crazy lover.
I know the secrets that keep his heart bound in barbed wire twine.
And I think, maybe, I’ve gotten a glimpse of the real tenderness underneath the bleeding, hurt mess.
His grouchy mask is just that—a front for a hidden warmth and sweetness that makes me feel—
No.
Don’t even think it.
But I do.
After my own little tragedy growing up, after I’ve tried like hell to deny what’s been happening for weeks, it shouldn’t be such a painful surprise.
Shepherd’s arms feel so flipping good around me, proof that it’s deeper than just sparking desire or comfort.
It’s pure love, plain and simple.
And I don’t know what the hell to do with that at all.
The tension locked in my muscles slowly drains away.
“Hey,” I say, breathing the word against his skin.
I need to bite my tongue. Words I don’t dare say aloud want to escape.
We’re not there yet.
Not yet.
Not ever.
If I’ve truly, madly fallen for him, it’s not a love that can grow and thrive. It’s the kind I need to smother, no matter how many tears and emotional bruises it brings.
And I’m already breathing around a scratchy lump in my throat as I inhale him.
“Hey yourself. Sorry I’ve been so busy, but I think you’ll be very happy,” he says.
I’m not so sure.
Nothing compares to having him with me, grumping his way into my life and searing me with rough kisses.
I know it’s ridiculous and it trails me like a shadow in the summery afternoon sunlight splashing over us.
“It’s fine. I’m glad you made time for this,” I manage.
“Of course. Wouldn’t miss your sei whales for an extra inch on my dick.”
That makes me laugh, and for a second I look up into a playfulness in his eyes, breaking through the darkness.
But it only lasts a second, and then it’s gone again.
“Are you sure, though? I keep hearing there’s some big legal happenings going on...”
He sighs.
For a second, I think he’ll tell me what the hell’s been going on. But his blue eyes search my face, the ice in them melted in the midday heat.
He doesn’t speak.
Instead, he tips my chin up and his lips find mine.
He kisses me fiercely, greedily, like he can feel the same thread of our strange fate unraveling, just like I do.
His fingers brush my cheek.
Somehow, it feels like goodbye.
One final kiss made for engraving me in his memory.
I dig my fingers into his shirt, swallowing a whimper, trying to hold him closer, to keep him. But he breaks away, giving me a stiff smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
Molly whines next to me, pawing at my leg.
“Someone’s impatient. Shall we?” he says lightly, kneeling to scratch below her ears.
No.
Let’s stay here and talk about why you look so worried.
Let’s talk about why you’ve been ignoring me and keeping this legal thing under lock and key.
Let’s talk about how we ever walk away after everything we’ve shared.
But I force a nod, stifling so many questions.
“Now?” I whisper.
“We don’t want to lose the light. It takes a good two hours to get up there and last I heard, the whales are active today.”
“Okay. That makes sense.” I force a smile as Mol leans against my leg, staring up at me with questioning eyes.