Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
“A few incredible days, it sounds like.”
I smiled. “They were, but they also weren’t real. Who we are out here in the world is who we are. The version of us inside my house was a fantasy.” A really good fantasy but still just a fantasy.
“Only you can decide if it stays just a few days of fantasy or a potential lifetime of reality.”
“Yeah, because it’s totally up to me.” I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the box of ornaments and lights first and then the box of craft supplies so we could make our own tree decorations. The cold air suddenly sizzled and a hush fell over the crowd as if a celebrity was in our midst. Nope, not a celebrity. I refused to turn around because I knew who I would find and I knew it because I felt his presence and worse, I felt the weight of his gaze on me.
“Damn, he’s pretty.” Torey’s mouth hung open and that’s when my curiosity got the better of me. “You didn’t say his brother was Lancaster.”
I didn’t want to look into why her words filled me with relief so I looked at the two brothers, each gorgeous in their own way, as they walked in our direction. “His brother is Lancaster,” I offered blandly.
“Nix.” His voice was deep, slightly pained and his eyes, though filled with joy, seemed sad. “This is something else.” He motioned around the festival grounds with a wicked smile. “You undersold it.”
“There’s nothing like seeing it for yourself.” Our gazes locked and it was as if everyone else around us disappeared. It was as if no time had passed since we were holed up in my house, exploring each other physically and mentally.
“Well as awkward as this is, I think I’m going to go anywhere else but here.” Torey stood abruptly, breaking the mood. Her cheeks blushed furiously when she took another look at Lee’s brother, a gorgeous, rock & roll version of Lee. “I’m Torey and I’m a huge fan but I promise not to fan girl too hard if you want to get away from this unholy awkwardness.”
Mac’s face split into a magnificent grin and he held out his big hand. “Mac, nice to meet you Torey.” He slid Lee an amused gaze. “I’m getting secondhand awkward so I’m game.”
“Hey,” I called after Torey. “You’re my partner here.”
“Lee can take my place. You two have a lot to talk about.” She waved over her shoulder, not casting me a single look back, a wide smile on her face as she laughed at whatever Mac said to her.
“Traitor,” I mumbled under my breath.
“I can go if you don’t want me here,” he offered because he’s not a cold billionaire, but a very warm and very caring man.
“It’s not that,” I said, waving off his words. “I thought I’d have more time before I saw you again.”
“You’re not ready?”
I shook my head without meeting his gaze.
“Good because I’m not either, but here I am. I needed to see you again.”
I looked up at his admission. “You did. Why?”
“Because I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. I know all the reasons—the one reason,” he clarified, “that this might not work but there are so many others for why it might. It could.”
A loud whistle sounds and Wallace Jensen, Kyra’s husband, started the clock. “Happy decorating!”
We got to work or rather I got to work because it seemed as if Lee hadn’t decorated a tree in too many years to be of much use. “Untangle those lights, please.”
He grabbed the lights and got to work. “I like you Nix and I don’t like very many people, most days I’m not sure I like myself but I like you.”
“I think we’ve covered this. I like you and you like me. That doesn’t change the rest of it.”
“No,” he agreed. “It doesn’t but it also doesn’t mean that we should write off whatever this is. It’s hard to find people you like, harder still to find people you want to be around with and without your clothes on.”
I laughed, which drew interest from the team at the other end of our shared table. “Sorry.”
“Just agree that we can spend more time together.”
My heart leapt at his suggestion but the pragmatic side of me reared her logical head. “And just pretend the rest of it doesn’t exist?”
“No, just, I don’t know maybe we see if everything else is so good, so spectacular that this one little thing is just a blip.” He flashed that irresistible grin that was absolutely contagious.
“I’ll bet that smile gets you anything you want.”
He shrugged, mouth kicked up into a lopsided grin. “This might surprise you but I’m not known for smiling much. My bargaining skills get me what I want, most of the time.”