Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Tired of what?” I ask impatiently as I wait for my phone to pop back to life.
“This,” he stresses the word. “The fucks are fun, but this hole inside of me afterward is like a crater. I feel like shit.”
I don’t say a word because I know my brother. He needs to get this off his chest.
“I met her on the app and thought, why not?” He huffs out a humorless laugh. “I brought her here. We had a few hours of fun, and then you heard what happened.”
When he glances up, I nod. “You told her it was a one time deal.”
“Yeah,” he acknowledges softly. “I’ve never met a woman I want another round with. I’m always clear about that before we hit the sheets, but when they want more…
“You bow out,” I finish his thought.
“Always,” he says. “It makes me feel like shit.”
“Looks like someone is finally growing up.” I toss him a wink. “Welcome to adulthood, Milo.”
My gaze drops to my phone’s screen when it finally lights up, showing all the texts and calls I’ve missed. Dread fills my body as I scroll through to find three text messages from Carrie telling me she was coming to this suite more than an hour ago.
“Was there a woman here?” I step toward Milo, but the phone charging cord offers enough resistance that I stop in place. “Tell me.”
“Yeah, Nia,” he says like I lost my mind. “Red hair, pissed as hell, sore all over.”
“Not her,” I bark at him. “Did anyone else come into the suite?”
He shrugs. “Not as far as I know, but I was busy, and Nia was loud. I’m talking her screaming was loud enough for folks in New Jersey to hear her.”
“Shit.” My voice cracks. “Goddamn it.”
“What’s going on?” He sprints to where I’m standing. “What’s wrong?”
“I think you broke the heart of the woman I love,” I accuse him.
“You love a woman?” His lips curve. “You just said you love a woman.”
“Carrie,” I say her name, reaching to grab hold of his shoulder. “I think there’s a chance she let herself in here when you were screwing Nia.”
His expression shifts instantly. “You think she thought it was you nailing her?”
“I need to go.” Panic drives my movements as I tear my phone from the charger.
“I’ll tell her it was me,” he offers. “I’ll do it under oath, Rook. Whatever you need me to do to make this right, I’m there.”
I don’t acknowledge any of that as I swing open the door to the suite and bolt into the corridor.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Rook
I stand outside the door to Declan and Abby’s apartment. I could use the key code to gain entry, but that’s not what Carrie needs from me. She’s already under the assumption that I fucked another woman.
The concept is so ludicrous to me that I almost laugh.
My phone was charged enough that I was able to get two text messages sent to her along with a call. That went straight to voicemail, so I rattled off a message about needing to talk to her immediately. I could hear the desperate plea in my voice. I didn’t give a shit.
I love her, and every second that passes without her knowing that is a second too long.
I knock on the apartment door and take a step back.
The sound of silence greets me, so I knock a second time. It’s louder and more forceful, and it speaks to my impatience.
An audible sigh of relief escapes me when I hear footsteps on the other side of the door.
I don’t have a speech ready. I haven’t rehearsed what I want to say to Carrie.
I’m going to speak from the heart and tell her what I’m feeling and that it was Milo in the hotel suite with Nia, not me.
I need Carrie to understand that there isn’t another woman on the face of this earth that I want to fuck.
I hear the lock turning before the door flies open.
I curse inwardly when I see Posey in front of me.
“Hey, boss,” she greets me. “Are you here to see the final masterpiece?”
“Where’s Carrie?” I blurt out as I brush past her.
“It’s nice to see you, Posey.” She giggles.
Looking around the main living area for any hint that Carrie is here, I shake my head and ask the question again. “Where is Carrie?”
“Not here,” she finally answers. “I’ve been here most of the day and haven’t seen her.”
Fuck.
I thread my fingers through my hair, tempted to pull it out from the roots. The physical pain of that may mask the roaring pain that has settled inside of me.
“I wish to hell I had Telford’s number,” I mumble.
“I have it,” she says. “Do you want it?”
My phone is barely hanging on at five percent battery, but I need to talk to her best friend, so I get her to call out the number for me.