Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Well, you know what they say about assuming.” Maybe I should have just accepted his apology, but that wasn’t me.
Dane didn’t look at me. His eyes fell closed, and I waited, watching, wondered what he was going to say. “Some things about you remind me of someone, and that’s…hard for me to deal with sometimes.”
Oh. Well, that sucked. “So, I remind you of some asshole?” Did that mean he thought I was an asshole?
“What? No, that’s not what I meant. I don’t think you’re an asshole.”
“Um, excuse me. Can I get you to say that again? Wait, let me pull out my phone first so I can record it.”
Dane chuckled, and it was a nice sound. He should do it more often.
“Asshole.” He playfully shoved me.
“But you just said I wasn’t one!”
It was as if he realized what he said—his eyes widened, and a laugh tumbled out of his mouth, deep and throaty. And yep, it went straight to my cock. Dane should definitely do that more often.
“Apparently, I’m a funny asshole.”
“No, just an asshole.”
“I knew this truce of ours wouldn’t last!” Damn it, I was actually having fun with him, and not in the way I should have. I was pretty sure he likely had a prick for an ex or something. It wasn’t cool that I reminded Dane of him, but maybe that was why he’d been so standoffish with me from the start. It was better knowing that than thinking it was because he hated me.
“Thank you,” he said softly.
“You already said that.”
“Shouldn’t you just appreciate that I’m saying it? Better twice than not at all.”
“True,” I agreed.
“So, you really don’t have a car? Not at all?”
I shook my head.
“If you ever need a ride to work or home or something, let me know.”
“Well, spank my ass and call me Nancy.”
Dane’s brows pulled together. “What the hell does that mean?”
“I don’t know. It sounded good. I guess it means I’m shocked.”
“Don’t get used to me being nice to you.”
I grinned. Our banter was pretty fucking awesome. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Are you going to stay in the car all day?” he asked.
“No.” Then I said truthfully, “I was hoping you’d come up with me.”
Hunger flared in his eyes, bright and intense. “Fuck,” Dane gritted out, then wrapped his hand around my neck and tugged me closer. His mouth slammed down on mine, and holy shit, holy motherfucking shit, why was he such a good kisser? His tongue swept my mouth like he was owning it. I went dizzy, and fuck, did I feel like a slut for him.
My hand went for his pants, and I began to work the button, but he pulled back, gasping. “I don’t…I don’t think this is such a good idea.”
“We’re young. We’re supposed to make stupid decisions.”
That made him frown, and yep, I was sure I’d said the wrong thing. Again. Open mouth, insert foot.
“I can’t. I try not to make dumb decisions anymore. One wrong choice can fuck everything up.”
He was right. Obviously, I knew that, but I didn’t see how getting each other off could be that bad.
I nodded. “Yeah, yeah okay.” Then on reflex leaned over and kissed his cheek. Dane sucked in a sharp breath.
Pushing open the door, I climbed out. “You have my number now. Feel free to use it.” Then I closed the door behind me and walked away, making sure to shake my ass as I went so my Captain Cranky Pants knew what he was missing.
18
Dane
I was still flushed when I got back home, and couldn’t help swiping my tongue over my lips, remembering that heated kiss. Jesse tasted like candy and unicorns and rainbows. Okay, not really—more like gooey melted cheese and tomato soup, but Christ, the guy was already getting his hooks in me. Why the hell did I have to go and kiss him? It was one thing to have my hand down his pants; that was purely physical. But kissing him just for the sake of kissing made my brain feel all fuzzy, and I needed to cut that shit out.
But he’d just called me on my obnoxious assumptions about him, and a small part of me was relieved I was wrong—and yet not, because he was chipping away at my reasons to hate him. Instead, he was sweet and sexy and irresistible, and I’d almost gotten out of the car and followed him inside before I got my wits about me again.
Bree came downstairs as I was mindlessly flipping through TV channels.
“I’m sorry if we interrupted something earlier,” she said with a wince.
“No, it’s okay. I’m glad you did, actually—never mind,” I said, flustered.
She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “You like him.”
“No. I mean…I don’t know.”
“Well, Hailey loves him. He’s so good with her.”
I resisted smiling at the image of the two of them at the table. “Yeah, that was why I felt comfortable leaving her with him.”