Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
“Is that why you both went into the Army? I know you guys signed up so young.” She doesn’t realize that seventeen isn’t young when you’ve lived the kind of life we did. We were men far before our years.
“We both figured anywhere had to be better. We served in different platoons for years until we were transferred into the same one.”
“And that’s when you saved my dad again.” The smile she gives me is bright. “You’re like his guardian angel. You left the military too, not long after he was injured. Is that why? Did you miss him?”
I hesitate, wondering if I should share this other piece of information with her. But she’s already heard a lot, and she hasn’t flinched. “I was medically discharged.”
She’s quiet again.
My lips curve into a wry smile. “Apparently, the military won’t hand an assault rifle to a man who doesn’t believe life is worth living.”
She visibly swallows. “Wow. Sorry, that’s probably not the right thing to say. I didn’t know.”
I shrug, feeling raw as I tell her, “I’m on meds now. My brain broke years ago, and I don’t know how to fix it. I keep popping pills and hoping I can stay out of that dark hole.”
She stops walking and puts a hand on my arm. Her blue gaze is bright with compassion. “You’re not broken.”
“I feel pretty broken,” I admit, looking away. I don’t like the way she’s looking at me. I don’t want to be the one she saves and looks after. I want to be her safe harbor, the one who is her steady rock.
“You still deserve love. You still deserve good things, and I really hope you find them,” she tells me softly with her cheeks going pink.
I crush her to my chest, knowing she’s wrong. I don’t deserve anything good. But I’ll take anything my curvy angel is willing to give me.
11
MACKENZIE
Ace’s shower is a tight squeeze. It wasn’t built for two people. But I kind of like that. I like the way our bodies are pressed up against each other. I like the steam and the heat and the intimacy of him running his hands over my body, tenderly caring for me. I like that when I step out of the shower, I smell like him.
“What are you smiling about?” He asks, drying my body on a towel. He pauses to press a soft kiss to my stomach. His beard tickles my sensitive skin.
“Just happy,” I tell him as I thread my fingers through his thick hair. I love touching him. I love everything about Ace.
He smiles. It’s a real one, and I think it’s the first one I’ve ever seen from him. “I'm happy too. You make me happy.”
His words give me a warm glow. Before I can suggest other ways to make each other happy, my phone rings from his bedroom. “That’s probably Ginger. I promised I’d call her tonight.”
He nods. “Have your call. I’m going to order some food anyway. Does Ernie’s work for you?”
“Sounds perfect.”
He drapes one of his big shirts around my shoulders. He carefully buttons each button, stopping to tweak my nose when he’s done. “Don’t take too long on that phone call. I still have plans for you tonight, sweetheart.”
He kisses me one last time before he leaves the bathroom.
I glance at the mirror and see my cheeks are flushed. I tingle all over from his sensual promises. I can't believe after so long of wanting him, that we finally have each other. Except I don’t know how long we’ll get to be together. If my dad tells Ace that we can't be together, will he walk away from everything we’ve shared?
The thought of tearing apart the two men I love most in the world hurts me. No, I'll find a way to break this gently to my dad. Maybe I'll tell him I'm seeing someone and wait a few weeks. Then I’ll slowly introduce the idea of Ace. Maybe that won't hurt him so much.
My phone rings again, and I answer Ginger’s call this time. “Girl, I have been dying for details!”
I chuckle. “Ace is amazing.”
“And...?” She prompts. “What’s the equipment like? You’ve got to give your girl some insight here. What’s he like in bed? Is he one of those sweet, tender guys or—?”
“Definitely not sweet and tender,” I tell her as I leave the bathroom and walk into Ace’s big bedroom with its dark furniture and masculine smell. I think again of the filthy things he said when he drove me to his cabin. “He’s commanding and dominant, almost like he knows my body better than I do. It’s such a turn-on.”
“But?” Ginger asks, sensing my hesitancy.
“I’m afraid that my dad is going to be so angry when he finds out. He’ll feel like I betrayed him.” I sink onto Ace’s bed and sit cross-legged. “Part of me wishes I could go back in time and do all of this differently. I wish I could give my dad some kind of warning to let him know what was about to happen.”