Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“Whoa, buddy!” She pushes against me, the haze from a moment ago disappearing and her fiery attitude clicking into place. “Major Lucas Powers, you better back that bus up right now. Harley may deal with that caveman crap. But you will not bulldoze over me.”
I fight the grin at her use of my formal name. For a millisecond, I’m taken back to growing up. “It’s not bulldozing, it’s stating.”
“There’s a difference?”
I cup her ass and hitch her up, giving her no choice but to wrap her legs around my waist. “This is me, Jewls. I’m fucking crazy about everything that makes you who you are. And I’m going to tell you that every chance I get. You call it a sweet side, that’s fine. I’m also a red-blooded, possessive man who’s wasted too much fucking time and is moving forward. You call it caveman crap, that’s fine, too. But all of this is me, and you’ll get used to it.”
“We just started seeing each other!” she screeches.
“Our story started a while ago, and you know it.”
It’s plain to see she wants to argue, but her eyes turn thoughtful and she lays her forehead against mine. “I don’t want to disappoint your mom. And it would be a shame to miss a party with Sam and Drake.”
“The red-blooded man in me comes with a possessive and jealous side. Try not to give me a reason to pound on my brothers.”
She seems to think about this, twisting her lip through her teeth and staring over my shoulder. “I guess I can finagle a few days off and take a road trip.”
“One more favor.”
Her gaze returns to mine. “You’re starting to sound greedy.”
“You don’t know the half of it, but this shouldn’t be too hard. I want you wearing those shoes you pranced your ass through my station in last week.”
“You noticed my shoes?”
“Babe, impossible not to notice.”
Her eyes gleam in the light. “That can be arranged.”
I place her on the counter, sliding my hands into her hair, loosening the tie so if falls down in messy waves. “We have twenty minutes until breakfast is ready.”
“What should we do?”
“Make up for lost time.”
“I like that idea,” I hear right before my mouth covers hers.
8
Major
“Head’s up, here comes another one.”
I follow Talon’s gaze to the security monitor to see a car rounding the driveway. One car drives on to Ace’s entrance.
“Shit, that’s Shayla,” Ace hisses, “and fuck, that’s Robbie’s SUV behind her.”
“What’s he doing here?”
“My guess is dropping his wife with the women, which means trouble.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Trouble, how?”
“Shayla is a fashion stylist. Ember is a fashion designer. You figure it out.”
Shit is right. She may have scoffed at my invite to Chicago, but as soon as breakfast was over, Jewls went into action. She messaged her boss and got permission for a few days off. Then she called my mom, and they gabbed for half an hour before I ended it.
I should have known something was off when she insisted on cleaning the kitchen while I dressed. Somehow, in the ten minutes she was alone, she planned an afternoon with Harley to prepare for the weekend of festivities.
Jewls didn’t even argue when I announced we are staying here for the rest of the weekend. I sat on her bed half-watching the basketball game, half-watching her fill a suitcase with whatever shit a woman needs to plan for a weekend away.
When I mentioned jeans were fine, she shot me an evil glare that may intimidate some. It hit straight to my dick. It took all I had to not tackle her, but my self-control snapped when she strutted from her closet wearing tight as fuck jeans, a crop top, and those fuck-me heels.
Unlike the day at the station, this time I could show her exactly what I thought of her teasing. Fifteen minutes later, I had her ass in my truck, wearing flip-flops and those damn shoes packed in her suitcase.
Once we got here, she disappeared with Harley. In the last two hours, we’ve watched others trickle in. The first to arrive was Rowan, going directly to the side entrance. Rich and Amanda, Harley’s parents, arrived next. Amanda said her quick ‘hellos’ before disappearing into the back. Rich made himself at home with us, watching the games with the attitude of years of experience with this.
Now with Shayla, Ember, and Robbie showing, things don’t look to be winding down.
Ace gets the door, Ember waltzing in with garment bags folded over her arms. She gives Ace a quick kiss on the cheek, waves to us, and rushes back to the bedroom. Robbie comes in carrying a case of beer and juts his chin in greeting as he makes his way to the kitchen.
“Anyone need one?” he calls out.
“Yes,” we all say in unison, the stock of bottles on the table growing.