Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
But damn if she wasn’t fucking tough as hell too. That must have come with the other bad shit inside her.
“I have to get home. I can’t stay here.” Her first words.
I turned to look at the door.
“You need to be looked after. Is there someone at home who can keep an eye on you? Help you?”
She said nothing.
“Then, you need to stay here. I have plenty of rooms.”
“NO!” she replied, sounding panicked. “I have to go home.”
“Well now—” Maeme started, then stopped abruptly.
“I have someone who can stay with me. He’s a friend. I’ll call him. I just need to go home.” She walked out the door, then stopped, grabbing the frame to steady herself.
I started to move and go to her, but stopped myself. If she wanted to be fucking stubborn, then she could see just how much she needed help. I was sure she had a miles-long contact list of men she could call to come help her. The thought soured my mouth.
“If that’s really what you want to do, then I won’t force you to stay,” Maeme said, but the worry in her face was clear. She didn’t want Briar to leave.
“It’s what I want,” she said, moving again. She only took three steps before she swayed on her feet.
This time, I moved because there was no doorframe for her to grab on to. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pulled her against my side. I expected her to fight me, but she laid her head on me and let out a deep sigh. When her legs started to give out, I knew she wasn’t going to be able to stand, even with my help. Bending, I scooped her up in my arms and turned back to a very concerned Maeme.
“I’ve got her. I’ll take her home and make sure she has someone there to take care of her.”
“I’m fine. I can walk,” Briar argued but barely moved.
“Yeah, sure looks like it,” I replied, then headed for the stairs.
“I need to follow up on it in a week,” Drew called out.
“She’ll be here,” I told him. Even if I had to go to her fucking apartment and get her myself.
“I’m fine,” she muttered, but her eyes were closed.
I tore my gaze off her face. Dangerous. Lethal. Even with those eyes of hers closed, she could make a man stupid. I’d love to say it was her cheekbones or the thick lashes, but it was the mouth. The lips. Jesus H. Christ, the things I wanted to do with that mouth.
Not happening. NEVER happening.
“Dov waiting on me,” she slurred.
“She’s on some strong pain meds,” Drew informed me.
No shit. I’d figured that out. And what the hell kinda name was Dov? Was he some poor sap that didn’t have the money for her to date, but she kept around as a friend? She probably used him for things she needed done. Like fixing her car or changing her light bulbs.
“I need to get to Dov,” she said, fighting to open her eyes.
“I’m getting to him as fast as I fucking can,” I said, glaring straight ahead as I headed through the house and then out to the Escalade.
Jerking the car door open, I bumped her shoulder, and a small cry came from her.
“Sorry,” I told her, then laid her down in the back seat more carefully. I didn’t like her, but I hadn’t meant to hurt her either. I wasn’t a mean bastard.
Her face scrunched up as if in pain, but then it eased. “I like how you smell,” she said sleepily.
Shut up, Briar.
“I want some to spray on my sheets.”
I closed the door and took a deep breath. She was smoking hot and telling me she wanted her sheets to smell like me. I could not like her, but still want to fuck her. I wouldn’t do it, but I could jerk one off later, thinking about her in the shower. Or better yet, go fuck someone else and get her out of my head.
Stalking over to the driver’s side, I opened the door and climbed inside.
“You don’t like me,” she said so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her.
“I don’t,” I agreed.
“ ’Cause I date rich men?”
I backed up and then headed out of the driveway before responding, “You fuck rich, married men, then use it against them for a buyout to get money from them. It’s fucking disgusting.”
She didn’t respond, and I thought she’d finally fallen asleep. I tried to think about Jameson in the cellars under the Shephard property. What we needed to get from him and how we’d handle him. But images of Briar, naked in my bed with her head buried in my sheets, smelling them, were taunting me. I’d never seen her naked, but I already knew she’d be exquisite.
“You don’t know me,” she said, breaking the silence.