Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 555(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
“Hey, man, need a favor,” he said.
“Whatever you need.”
“Eden and Tessa are coming in tonight.”
I ignored the spark that popped in my chest at the mention of Tessa’s name. I locked it down tight, where it belonged.
“School wrapped this last Friday, and they want to celebrate,” he continued. “Should be here in five, and I need to meet with Sage in the office for a few. Need you to keep an extra eye. Make sure none of these pricks decide to get friendly.”
His voice turned dark when he issued the last.
No one messed with his wife.
Eden was his world. She was the only woman on the planet who could take this broody motherfucker and turn him into a cheesy sap who melted whenever she came into the room.
“Not a problem. I’ll see to it they make it to your private booth.”
That didn’t mean every drop of my blood wouldn’t be boiling with the thought of Tessa coming through the door.
Tessa McDaniels was Eden’s best friend. She was this wild, untamed thing with a big, bleeding heart.
Kind to the core.
Someone I counted as a friend, and I sure as hell didn’t have many of those.
Problem was, somewhere along the line, she’d become the tormenter of my dreams.
“Thanks, man. Trust you to keep a close eye. I appreciate what you do.”
“Just doing my job.” I shrugged like it was simple.
Cut and dry.
Ignoring the truth that I used this job as an outlet. Better to pour my wrath out here than take it elsewhere.
Turning, I weaved back through the crush of bodies that roiled and thrashed. I broke out the other side and ducked into the employee hall that ran the far side of the club. At its end was the door to the employee lot where Eden would park.
Oz took up that post. He was a new bouncer who’d been hired on earlier this year. He was older than the rest of us by probably fifteen years. Rough around the edges, and he had this massive scar running the length of his face.
“Hey, man, boss’s wife is on her way. Going to step out to meet them,” I told him as I approached.
“Of course, sir.”
He opened the door for me to duck out.
That was the precise time Eden came bobbing through the other side.
She was dressed up for the night. Her blonde hair was curled in fat waves, and she had on a black cocktail dress that was modest compared to what most wore here.
Eden sent me a warm smile. “Hey, Milo. How are you tonight?”
“So far, so good.”
I did my best to keep my focus on Eden and not the girl who came ambling up the steps behind her.
Impossible.
Because Tessa was wrapped in that same shiny red dress that never failed to send my thoughts spiraling in a direction I couldn’t let them.
It was strapless and hugged every sharp curve of her body, landing just at the top of her thighs to show off her long, long legs.
She teetered on these sexy-as-fuck, strappy heels that made my stomach clutch.
Sight of her always twisted through me like a knife.
But she had a douche-dick boyfriend that I hated with every fiber of my being, not that I’d ever touch her if she were free, anyway. Still, the thought of her with him made my insides quake with the thirst for violence.
Dude was a grade-A prick.
“Milo!” Tessa nearly squealed when she saw me.
Eyes the color of the ocean lit.
Complex layers of teals and deep blues and speckles of green. Made me feel like if I went to any beach, I could find her there.
Her face was this angelic thing, her cheeks high and her nose tiny, her mouth nothing but a plump rosebud ripe for devouring.
Every inch of her face was dappled in freckles, promising the lush, red locks rolling down her back didn’t come from a bottle.
But it was the goodness that ran from her like a current that kicked me in the gut, evoking all the shit I couldn’t feel, but when I was in her space, I couldn’t stop the sense that I was standing in the light.
Then she went and threw herself around me. Her arms tightened around my neck, and she pressed her cheek to my heart that threatened to hemorrhage out, rocking us back and forth as she hugged me like she was relishing the moment, too.
Knew better than to let my thoughts go sliding in that direction. This urge to dip my dirty into the purity she embodied. Drink of the light that glowed from her.
My chest fisted as I leaned down so I could wrap my arms around her waist, careful as all fuck, doing my best to quell the urge to crush her against me and push my nose into that wild mass of hair and inhale.