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)
The door didn’t close behind me, and I closed my eyes with a sigh. He’d come inside the flipping locker room.
“I am perfectly fine in here,” I told him.
He walked past me and then began looking around the place. In toilet and shower stalls. I stood there, trying not to watch him but it was hard. This whole protective thing he was doing had clearly messed with my head. I liked it, and I didn’t need to like anything about Storm Kingston. Not one damn thing.
When he seemed satisfied that we were alone, he walked over toward one of the hardwood benches and sat down, leaning back against the wall and propping his right ankle on his left knee, as if he was planning on staying awhile. If I was going to get back into my apartment, he had to go back to his Jeep.
“You are staying?” I asked, already knowing this answer.
“I am.”
Tired of being annoyed and just tired in general, I walked over and sat down on the other end of the bench, as far away from him as possible.
“You should sing more of your original stuff,” he said, turning his head to look down the bench at me.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t heard this before, but when he said it, I felt a jolt of pride. That wasn’t something I felt too often or ever. The elation that came with it was like a high I wished I could ride awhile.
“Shame you would rather use your body to make money when you’re so damn talented.”
And there it was. The end of the high. Why couldn’t he let that go? Leave it in my past, where I was trying to put it and close the door on it.
“We can’t all be honorable members of organized crime,” I replied sarcastically, giving him a hateful smile.
The amused gleam in his eye and upturned corners of his mouth made me momentarily forget that I hated him. It was really difficult to dislike a man who looked like that, and I was sure he knew it. Asshole.
“I don’t deceive anyone,” he said to me.
“No, you just kill them.”
The deep laugh that came from him made my stomach flutter. It was an intoxicating sound. One I wanted to hear more of.
“Only if they deserve it.”
I straightened and shifted my body toward him. “The men I’ve deceived didn’t deserve it? They were cheaters.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Only because you seduced them.”
This time, I laughed. “I absolutely did not. They always approached me first.”
Storm ran the pad of his thumb over his lower lip, and the movement distracted me. I felt my breathing hitch as I tried to tear my gaze off his stupid, beautiful face. It was hard, and I was failing.
“All it takes is one smile. One moment of your attention, and they’re seduced.”
Trying like hell to control my breathing as I lifted my gaze from his mouth to meet his eyes, I swallowed hard. Getting worked up over this man was a mistake. He’d say something cruel at any moment. He was disgusted by me.
“That sounds like a them problem,” I said, a little too breathy.
“Maybe, but you know the power you wield over a man. You use it to your advantage knowing you’re only in it for the money.”
My hands tightened in my lap, and I jerked my eyes off him and glared at the wall of lockers. “For someone who has never known what it’s like to be hungry, homeless, and desperate, you sure are judgmental.” I surprised myself by saying that. Admitting it. I never gave excuses for my behavior, yet here I was, doing it to this man because I didn’t like hearing the disapproval in his tone.
“You’re right. I don’t,” he agreed. “But again, with a talent like yours, you had another way to make money. Not everyone has that. You do.”
And it wasn’t enough! He had no idea how much money was required for staying on the run. Keeping Dovie safe. Making sure she had everything she needed while unable to give her any kind of education since I struggled to read a freaking menu at a restaurant. He had never raised a kid. Those were things I couldn’t say to him.
“I’m giving that a try now. I’ll let you know how it goes since you have such a strong opinion on the subject.” And it was going well, but only because of the thousands I’d put away that wealthy men had given me.
“You’re not currently looking for a new sugar daddy?” he asked, sounding slightly surprised.
I turned my head back to look at him. “Why? You offering?” I asked with a flirty smile I knew would piss him off.
His face was smug when he replied, “I’ve never had to pay for a hot fuck.”
Hearing him say fuck made me feel flushed.