Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Kian Abrams made me choose between him and secrecy.
As soon as he walked away, I shoved that sash into my pocket and watched the man I loved strut across the stage proudly owning who he was. Moments later, when my last name was called, I awkwardly walked in behind him, unable to look at the devastated expression on his beautiful face.
That was the end of us.
We never talked about it again. No more kisses. No more intimacy. Our friendship faded to nothing. Both of our hearts were broken and it was my fault. While he went on to party with our friends, celebrating the future, I went home and cried for three days straight.
As if he knows I’m thinking of that night, Kian’s hazel eyes lock onto mine. At almost thirty, he’s sexier than ever before. In high school he was innocent and young, just learning who he was. Now, he’s confident and proud. It only makes him that much more beautiful.
I try to convey to him with my eyes that maybe we could try again. In secret, at first, but maybe I’d have the balls to come out this time. But his gaze has moved on, not at all interested in my silent, fragile promises.
“Yummy,” Cato mutters under his breath. “So much yummy.”
I follow their stares to the idiot who’s decided to finally grace us with his presence. Dante Kincaid. New York dickhead.
And…fucking hot.
Lovely.
I grind my teeth, trying not to be affected by the man strolling into the conference room as though he doesn’t have a worry in the world. His dark brown hair is styled into a sleek, sophisticated way that doesn’t seem to have been phased by the harsh winds. The coat he wears looks expensive. Out of place in our cozy Chamber of Commerce. As though he needs to hop the next flight out of here so he can get to a meeting in Manhattan by dinner.
His kind doesn’t fit in well around here.
Too polished. Too fucking fancy.
He nods in greeting as he peels off his leather gloves and shoves them into his pockets. “Sorry for my tardiness. A little old woman needed an escort to her beauty appointment.”
The dark, deep timbre of his voice has my icy blood running hot, flooding straight to my dick. Like Cato and Kian, I shamelessly drink in this man. His jawline is sharp and sprinkled in a shadow of dark hair that has me craving to run my fingertip along it.
What the hell?
That irritated thought is squashed once I remember he’s the man wreaking havoc in our town. He’s disrespectful of our time and an outsider. Sure, he’s fucking hot, but that doesn’t matter. Especially not to me.
I clear my throat and pin him with a hard glare. “Take a seat. We have a full agenda to get through.”
His eyes finally land on mine. Hazel. Just like Kian’s. Well, same color. Kian’s are soft and dreamy whereas this guy’s are sharp and villainous. The scrutinizing way he rakes his stare over me makes me feel as though he’s inspecting my surface for cracks. Like he’s going to slither his way inside and find all of my dark secrets.
“You must be Sheriff Bell,” he says, his full lips quirking up on one side in a maddeningly beautiful way. “Dante Kincaid. Pleased to meet you, sir.”
Cato sighs like this asshole hangs the moon.
Gritting my teeth, I stand and offer my hand. “Call me Jax.”
The second his hand slides into mine, I’m jolted by the cold shock of him. I know he’s just come from outside, but I’m blaming it on the fact he’s secretly a vampire come to suck the life out of our town. Definitely a villain. His grip is tight for a fancy businessman from New York. I shake his hand hard, reminding him I’m the head man in this town, not some lovesick boy like Cato ready to worship at his feet. When I’ve had enough of the pissing match we’re in, I jerk my hand back and take my seat.
It’s difficult not to let my stare roam over Dante as he sheds his coat and settles into the chair beside me. He’s around my height and we’re evenly built, which is surprising. My body has remained fit through years of outdoor activity and good genes. This city boy has biceps that stretch the material of his suit in an enticing way. And the corded muscles in his neck are strong, popping each time he moves. It makes me wonder what else on his suited body is hard and powerful.
My dick twitches in my jeans and I stifle a groan, motioning for Cato to go over the meeting agenda outline. I’m an idiot to lust over the enemy. And in front of Kian no less. The guy’s probably straight as an arrow. Hell, maybe Brie will have her little fantasy fulfilled and marry herself the good-looking city boy, popping out lots of beautiful babies.