Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Thanks.”
I study her as she twists off the cap and takes a small sip. “Something on your mind?”
“What?” Her brow furrows in confusion.
“You said you couldn’t sleep. I thought maybe something was bothering you, and you might want to talk about it.”
“Strange bed. Strange house.”
“Right.” I nod. “Did you have fun tonight?” I walk around the small island and make my way to the living room. I don’t ask her to follow me, but I know she is. I sit down on the couch and pat the cushion next to me, offering her a seat.
“I did. It was really nice. Everyone was welcoming and easy to talk to.”
“My brothers all hit the jackpot with their wives,” I agree.
“They’re all great,” she says, her eyes trailing over my bare stomach.
I flex just a little, and she licks her lips. I have to focus on not smiling. It’s always a good time having the attention of a beautiful woman. “Stel?” I ask after several long heartbeats of her biting on her bottom lip, staring at my abs.
She looks up. Even in the dim lighting, I can see the blush on her cheeks. “What happened to your shirt?”
My laugh has her shaking out of her stupor and slapping her hand over her mouth. She closes her eyes, and I’m tempted to grab her hand and let her trace my abs. I work hard for them; they may as well be enjoyed.
“I’m sorry,” she says. “You’re just… distracting. It’s been a long time for me.” She curses under her breath. “I should go back to bed.” She starts to move, but I’m faster, clamping my hand gently over her wrist, preventing her from doing so.
“How long?” I’m asking for trouble, and we both know it.
“Too long.”
“Come on, Stella. We’re friends, right? You can tell me.”
“The night Ada was conceived.”
I whistle. “Damn. I bet your pussy is mad at you.” I laugh.
“Maverick!” she scolds, but she’s laughing and relaxes back into the couch.
“What? You can’t tell me I’m wrong.”
“We shouldn’t be talking about this.”
“Why not? We’re friends. Pretend I’m one of the girls.”
Her eyes rake over my bare chest again. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“You can touch them.”
Her mouth falls open in shock. I expect her to refuse. Instead, her eyes regard me hungrily. Reaching out, I take her hand and pull it to my chest. She presses her palm flat against my abs, and a garbled sound falls from her lips.
I move my hand, letting her take the lead. I’m still frozen, and my abs are slightly flexed as she starts to explore.
“How many hours a week are you in the gym?”
“Not many, to be honest. I used to go three or four times a week, and I still do when I’m laid off, but in the summer months, this is all the day job.”
She nods but doesn’t give me her eyes. Well, that’s not true. Her eyes are on me, just not on my face. “Are there eight of them?”
I chuckle lightly. “Yeah, babe, there are eight.” She starts to move her hand, and I stop her. “Your hands are soft.”
“I moisturize,” she mutters, tugging on her hand, and I let her this time.
“You should get some sleep.” My cock is way too interested in Stella and her soft hands. I should most definitely put some distance between us.
“I’m not tired.”
Well, damn. “Movie?” I offer. Surely, she’ll crash once we get a movie started, right?
“Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you up.”
“Yeah, I’m not going to sleep anytime soon. Bug and I fell asleep early.”
“Why do you call her bug?”
“Does it bother you?”
“No. Not at all. I’m just curious.”
“She’s a little snuggle bug. She’s always resting her head on my shoulder.”
Her smile is soft.
She’s fucking gorgeous.
“I like that,” she says softly.
“Here.” I hand her the remote. “You pick.”
“Really?”
I shrug. “Sure, do your worst.” I watch her as she scrolls through the channels and lands on the Lifetime channel.
“Is this okay?”
“Fine by me. We grew up watching romance with my mom, and now my sisters-in-law and my cousin, Ramsey.”
“The Kincaid men keep their ladies happy.” She’s nodding thoughtfully.
“We do. That’s what you do when you love someone.”
“I wouldn’t know,” she mutters.
My chest grows tight at her words. I hate that she’s never known that kind of love. She’s too sweet and far too beautiful to have never experienced it. Not that I would know. I’ve never experienced it, either, but I’ve watched it happen. I grew up watching the way my dad loved my mom, and I’ve been lucky enough to witness seven of my eight brothers fall in love, and Ramsey too. I know what it’s supposed to look like. And one day, when I find it, I’ll grab hold of it with both hands and never let go.
Pulling the blanket off the back of the couch, I cover her with it. She smiles and settles back against the couch. We’re not even to the second commercial break when her head hits my shoulder. I wait for a good ten minutes before I adjust my position to lie down and move her with me. By some miracle, she doesn’t wake up. I know she had a few drinks, and she has to be tired. Babies wake up early, at least all the ones I’ve ever been around do, so I know it’s been a long day for her. She settles onto my chest, and I pull the cover over her.