Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Every time,” I say without hesitation, smiling brightly. “Why complicate life when nuggets exist?”
He chuckles, the sound warm and rich, like he’s trying to wrap his mind around my questionable food choices. “You’re something else, Briar. I’ve never met a woman who’d admit to loving ‘nuggies’ with so much pride.”
I smile. “You’d be surprised, Orion. I’m not your average girl.”
Orion shakes his head in disbelief. “Well, if you say so. But I’m still buying something green for you at some point. I’ve got to keep you alive somehow.”
I dramatically roll my eyes. “Fine, you can sneak in a salad if it makes you feel better. But don’t you dare touch my nuggies.”
He holds up his hands in mock surrender, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Okay,” I say, giving in with a playful sigh. “I’ll compromise. We can do one of your meals tonight, and one of mine tomorrow. Then, at work, I’ll eat whatever they’ve got.” I hold out my hand, grinning as I tease, “Deal?”
Orion takes my hand in his, his grip firm yet warm. “Deal,” he says, sealing the agreement like we’ve just negotiated a high-stakes business contract instead of arguing about chicken nuggets versus salad.
We continue shopping, wandering through the aisles, me grabbing my comfort foods and Orion sneaking in some vegetables and actual meal ingredients whenever he thinks I’m not looking. Twenty minutes later, we’ve got everything we need, and we head back to his place with full bags.
The moment I step inside his house, I hear the familiar squawk of Jeb belting out, “Welcome to the Jungle!” His rendition of the song is both chaotic and charming.
“He sings too?” Orion asks, eyes wide with disbelief as Jeb’s warbling fills the house.
I chuckle, placing a bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. “Oh, Jeb does it all. He really should be performing at this point.”
Orion raises an eyebrow as he helps me unpack the bags. “So, why isn’t he? I mean, clearly, he’s got the talent.”
I shrug, laughing at the idea of Jeb headlining a show. “Stage fright. If you can believe it.”
Orion pauses, turning to look at me. “Stage fright?” He glances over at Jeb, who’s now making exaggerated parrot noises that sound suspiciously like laughter.
I nod, holding back my own laughter as I explain. “Yeah. He’s a diva when it’s just me around, but the moment there’s an audience? He clams up.”
Orion shakes his head as we continue unpacking. “So, your bird is an introverted rock star?”
“Exactly,” I say, grinning at how absurd it sounds. “He’s the real deal when no one’s watching.”
As we finish putting away the groceries, I catch Orion watching me with a soft smile on his face. “What?” I ask, feeling my cheeks warm under his gaze.
He shrugs, leaning against the counter. “You just… you’re full of surprises, Briar. I never know what to expect next.”
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “Stick around long enough, and I’ll introduce you to all my quirks. But be warned, there’s a lot.”
Orion smirks, that playful glint returning to his eyes. “Good thing I’m not scared of a challenge.”
I blink, and the air between us seems to shift, growing heavier, more charged. The playfulness fades, and suddenly we’re standing a little too close, his arm brushing mine, his presence overwhelming in the best possible way. My heart starts thumping so loudly I swear he can hear it.
For a second, I forget how to breathe as his dark eyes lock on mine, their usual teasing glint replaced with something deeper, something that makes my stomach do a somersault. The space between us feels smaller, the room quieter, and for a wild, insane moment, I think he’s going to kiss me.
But that would be silly, right? I mean, sure, we’ve been getting along well, and he’s got that whole charming-bodyguard thing going on, but a kiss? Here, in his kitchen, with Jeb still muttering, “Welcome to the jungle” from across the room? No way.
Right?
But then he leans in ever so slightly, and my pulse spikes. I feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, and I wonder if he’s feeling the same magnetic pull I am. It’s like the whole world narrows down to just us, his hand resting on the counter, mine gripping a half-unpacked box of cereal like it’s my lifeline.
“I—” I start, but my voice cracks, betraying the fact that I’m about five seconds away from totally melting into this moment.
His lips twitch into a small, knowing smile, and he reaches up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The light touch sends a shiver down my spine, and I wonder if he can tell just how badly I’m unraveling inside.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice lower, softer now. The kind of voice that feels like a secret.