Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
How ironic that Jake is the first guy my father approved of. Like me, my dad was blind to Jake’s true nature, only seeing the front Jake perfected. The mature, intelligent guy with his shit together. Clean cut, no tattoos, well-dressed. Well-mannered. He shaves every day, doesn’t miss a day of work, and opens doors for women. He drives a nice car, owns his own home, and would make the ideal husband.
That’s all Dad sees.
And once I started dating Jake, all I saw was how my father began looking at me with warm pride in his eyes again. It had been a while since I’d felt good enough in his presence, since I’d felt worthy of his approval. I might not be on my way to becoming a lawyer, but at least I’d snagged one.
Jesus, I feel stupid. I swallow bitter laughter at what a joke this relationship turned out to be. I’ve had some shitty boyfriends in the past, but none of them treated me with such blatant disrespect—they just dumped me and moved on to someone willing to spread her legs.
They didn’t do it behind my back.
I wonder what my father would think of that. I already know I won’t tell him. The last thing I want is to stir up chaos at the firm. Doing so will only accomplish a shitty work environment.
“Let’s just call this a mistake and move on.”
Jake shakes his head, his jaw forming a stubborn line. “We have to work this out.”
“If you’re worried about your precious job, don’t be. I won’t tell my father what a douchebag you are.”
He winces at my harsh words. “I know I screwed up, but I care about you. As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t over.”
“As far as I’m concerned, it is.” Without giving him time to argue further, I slam the door and turn the lock. Of course, he doesn’t go away that easily. For the next fifteen minutes, he pounds on the door, pleading his case through the barricade keeping him outside.
Tiring of his bullshit, I threaten to call the cops, prompting him to at least leave my doorstep. It isn’t long after when my phone starts ringing, again and again as his too-handsome face flashes on the screen with that smug smile I used to find sexy. Growling under my breath, I switch it to silent.
I don’t have the nerves for this today, considering my…date tonight with Ashton. Thinking of it as a date doesn’t set right with me, but calling it a casual get together with a friend isn’t going to cut it, either. My stomach ties itself into knots as the day passes, bringing me closer to seven. I don’t think my apartment has ever been so clean. I’m sure Mandy will appreciate my lack of concentration.
I can’t eat. All I can do is think about tonight…and Ashton touching me. The thought of putting my mouth on him again makes my panties wet. It sends my heart into overdrive.
Jesus. My palms are sweating something fierce. But I don’t want to analyze the reasons why too closely. If I do, I might find something I don’t want to face.
Ashton is only a friend. Nothing more, and that’s the way it has to be.
So why am I doing this?
A vision of Blondie on her knees flashes through my mind, and that thought alone is what gets me out of my apartment and on my way to Ashton’s. Maybe I have no self-respect, but I want to be like her—sexy and confident enough to take charge.
I don’t want to spend my life as a spinster because I can’t get past my hang-ups. If Ashton can help me, then I have to take the risk. There has to be some reason I crawled under that table last night. On some subconscious level, I want him to lead me down this road.
By the time I’m standing on his doorstep, I’m shaking in my boots. Maybe not literally, but it sure feels like it. A curious vibration buzzes through my body, originating between my legs. I’ve been turned on before, but nothing and no one has ever gotten me so worked up as he managed to, which is insane. It’s like our history turned to dust, and the illusion of friendship was snuffed out in the process.
Not knowing what awaits me on the other side of that door makes me feel more alive, more turned on, than I ever have in my entire life, and instinctively, I know I made the right decision in coming here. Letting out a shaky breath, I raise my hand and knock.
And I realize as I do how ridiculous this is. I never knock on Ashton’s door—I always walk in. He and Mandy are my family, and we’ve had an open door policy for years. How can the idea of intimacy change everything in the blink of an eye?