Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“What?”
“Did they lay hands on you?”
She gawks at me. “Coleson, no. Apparently Elliot only wants to hit you.”
I ignore that. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
She hiccups, and then her eyes settle on the drink I made her. “Is that for me?”
I can’t help the grin that pulls at my lips. I bring the straw to her mouth, heat gathering in my gut as she wraps her sweet lips around it and takes a long sip. Her lips smack as she pulls away, and then she exhales. Her eyes are still flooded with tears, and when they spill over, my heart clenches in my chest. Before I can wipe them away, she does it, and I ask, “What happened?”
She shrugs. “My sisters are being difficult, and I just feel like shit. I don’t want them to be upset with me or think badly of you, but they are doing both. Everyone is blaming you, and I don’t like that. I am just as much a part of this as you are.”
God, I adore her strength and her protectiveness of me. “You don’t have to care what they think or even let them bother you. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I only care what you think.”
No clue when that happened, but saying it only makes it truer. I care what she thinks. Her eyes meet mine as the tears stream down her face. “But I care.”
“I know,” I whisper, my heart in my throat. Her tears are affecting me in ways I’ve never experienced, and I don’t get why. They hurt me, and they feel as if they’re my own tears, falling down my cheeks. Which is fucking weird and truly concerning, but I can worry about that later. “They’re upset because you’re too good for me.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” she stresses, her eyes holding mine. “And I am fully capable of making that assumption.”
“I know.”
She looks up at me again. “I’m sorry for today.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I should have told you that Dan was my grandfather, I thought you knew and that’s why you chose me. It helps that you’re married to your owner’s granddaughter.”
“I hadn’t even considered that, but it’s fine. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have asked you if I had known.”
“No?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, holding her gaze. When she gives me a watery smile, that changes.
I would choose her over and over.
No matter the circumstances.
Not wanting to think or voice that, I bring her straw to her lips once more, enjoying the way they take the straw before she sips the tea into her mouth. I don’t allow myself to do what I truly want, replace the straw with my cock. Instead, I tug her into my side and guide her toward her new home.
Before I say or do something I won’t be able to take back.
CHAPTER 20
Eliza
I fully expected Coleson’s space to be stereotypically male, but it’s not.
The walls are a whitewashed brick, and on one wall, a pair of French doors is centered between two huge windows that look onto a balcony with an incredible view of the mountains. To the side of one window is a room that I assume is the bathroom. It’s larger than I expected, and when I peek in, I see why. The walls are a charcoal gray with a single sink and a toilet that isn’t enclosed.
Fear burns deep in my soul, but I push it down. I’ll just make sure to lock the door. He won’t come in. I look away quickly and then notice that what takes up the most space in the room is the massive glassed-in shower with a bench to sit on.
I could ride Coleson as water poured down on us.
Not that I will.
But I could.
I push aside that thought and see a basket placed beside the toilet with all kinds of feminine products. How thoughtful. There is even a vase of roses by the sink. That’s super sweet. I move out into the living room, where he has a huge sectional and a massive TV hanging on the wall. The kitchen is small, with only an island to eat at, but it has all the best equipment.
Then there is the bed.
Where I’ll sleep next to Coleson.
The gray comforter on the king-size bed ties the space together. Loads of pillows are piled on top, and in front of the bed is a basket with a stack of throw blankets inside. Night tables sit on either side of the bed, but one is newer than the other. I can tell because it still has a tag on it. Surely he didn’t go out and buy it for me. But I have a feeling he did.
“If there is anything else I don’t have that you want, I’ll get it right away. Just make me a list,” he says from where he’s leaning on the kitchen island. I look over my shoulder at him. I bite my lip as I nod, still taking in the apartment. “If you don’t like something, we can change it too.”