Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
I walk over to her and put my hands on her shoulders. “Sweetie, you gotta calm down. You’re so worked up.”
She takes a deep breath and nods her head. “You’re right, and I know you’re right. This whole thing has turned me inside out.”
“Do you still love him?” I blurt out.
She scrunches her nose up. “Who? Grant? No, and I don’t think I ever did.”
I cross my arms over my chest because if I keep touching her, I’m going to kiss her. “He isn’t happy, you know that, right? I saw the way he was looking at you at dinner. He wants you back.”
Her eyes widen. “He tried calling me last night, but I didn’t answer the phone and didn’t respond to his text. I would never go back to him.”
I survey her face, hoping what she’s saying is the truth. “Okay, so the plan is still on?”
She looks disappointed but nods her head. “Yeah, the plan is still on.” She looks at her phone. “And the rehearsal starts in thirty minutes. I need to get ready.”
With that, I walk to the bedroom door. “I’ll be ready. Meet you in the living room?”
She nods. “Yeah, I’ll meet you in the living room.”
I shut the door behind me and finally let out a big breath. The whole time I’m around her I’m holding back, and it’s getting old. A part of me is ready for the whole wedding show to begin so I can hold her and kiss her the way I want. People will be watching, and we have to act like a couple.
When it’s time to meet, I stand in the living room of the hotel, looking out the window while I wait for Tara. I do all the things I should be doing. I remind myself that she’s my sister’s best friend, she’s too young for me, and she’s off limits.
When I hear the door open, I think I’m prepared, but one glance at her lets me know that there’s nothing I can do to resist her. Tara is my kryptonite.
Speechless, I walk toward her, my mouth hanging open as I look her up and down. She’s wearing an off the shoulder dress that hugs every curve of her body. With a husky whisper, I tell her, “Fuck, you’re beautiful.”
She waves me off with a laugh. “Whatever, you don’t have to—”
I cut her off. “How can I not tell you? Evey man there tonight is going to be thinking the same thing.”
She practically preens, and I want to stay in this room with her and praise her all night, but that’s not what she needs right now. She needs to face her family with me by her side. No one is going to make her feel less than with me around.
She clears her throat and gestures to me. “You look handsome, Cruz.” She reaches for me, wrapping her hand around mine. “Thank you for doing this. I know it’s not something you wanted to do in your spare time—”
I cut her off again. “Honey, right now, I couldn’t think of another place I’d rather be than right here with you.”
She bites her lip and smiles at me as I thread my fingers through hers. “Come on, let’s do this.”
She doesn’t move, though. “I have a favor first. I mean, another one.” She laughs and rolls her eyes. “I feel like after this wedding you’re going to avoid me like I have the plague.”
Fuck, as if that’s possible. Already, I’m trying to figure out how to make this last longer. “Trust me, honey. The last thing I’m going to do is avoid you.”
She points at me. “You keep that up…”
Her voice trails off, and I want her to finish. “If I keep that up, what?”
Her cheeks turn red, but she juts her chin at me. “I’m just saying that you’re a little irresistible when you say things like that.”
I lean down closer to her. “Just a little irresistible?”
She laughs and shoves me away from her, but I don’t go far because I’m still holding her hand. “What’s the favor?”
She turns her back to me. “Can you zip me up?”
Her pale skin is on display from right above her ass all the way to her neck. My breath stutters, and I release my hold on her hand. “Sure, I can zip you up,”
I grab the zipper between my thumb and forefinger and slowly drag it up. I can’t resist touching her, and when I completely have her zipped up, I put my hand on her shoulder, pressing my thumb along her pulse. Her hair is up, and I press my lips to her neck.
She jolts and then her body trembles, and I smile as I kiss her again. When I lift my head, my eyes meet hers in the mirror. I should put some distance between us, but instead I move closer, pressing my front to her back. The evidence of my arousal presses against her back, and I do nothing to hide it.