Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“No, it has not. Add to that, the time zone change from LA to Nashville and the stress of holding your contract in the palm of my hands, and I think I really did need a puppy.”
He narrows his eyes on me, a warning that he’s not done pushing even before he observes, “Not many people get away with fighting with their boss and keeping their job.”
“Not many people bring their boss the money I do mine.”
He considers me a moment and then says, “Why don’t you go out on your own?”
“I’m frustrated with Tyler, Dash, not my job or the firm. Hawk Legal has resources I could never have on my own. They are the best of the best, and I want that for my clients, including you, Dash. I’m good at what I do, but collectively, the firm has someone who has experienced every situation that comes up and brings that knowledge to whoever needs it.” I change the subject. “I need to run to the store and buy supplies. You want to come?”
“I bought you supplies. I’ll go grab them from the car. I also arranged and paid for a full-time pet sitter for the first six months.”
I blink. “You did what?”
“She’s a puppy nanny. Allie says she’s amazing, but if you don’t like her, we’ll find someone else. She’s going to stop by in half an hour to meet you. She’ll even do general assistant work. The idea is that you don’t have an excuse for being alone. And you can go to work without worrying tomorrow.”
Alone is better than being a fake fiancée to my boss, I think. “I don’t know how I feel about the puppy bonding with her and not me.”
He laughs. “Already jealous?”
“Yes,” I say, an easy admission, especially since I’m not completely talking about the puppy and the nanny.
Soon, Tyler will have his own nanny, a fiancée for hire, eager to tend to all of his manly needs.
And there is no scenario where she will be me.
Chapter Two
Bella
Puppies equal love, happiness, and a sure way to be up all night and still wake up early.
While all these things prove true with my new puppy, I also credit Molly for allowing me zero bandwidth for all things Tyler. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but all my plans to wallow in my emotions and dissect them to pieces while in a hot tub while eating an entire pint of ice cream and while crying just don’t happen. I don’t even have time to dread a morning confrontation with my bastard boss.
Molly’s kisses and snuggles work wonders on my stress levels, more so than that ice cream I’d have regretted tomorrow. I settle into bed, exhausted to the point that I fret none and sleep some, in between the many puppy demands. A puppy really is like a newborn. At one point, staring into the darkness after settling the puppy in from her pee break, I do have one thought. My manwhore boss doesn’t deserve credit for my sleepless night. One thing my father taught me was self-respect must exist to expect it from a man.
I shut my eyes with this in mind, blessed darkness consuming me until it does not. Suddenly I’m back in the past.
I’m in my office, against my door, with Tyler touching me, really touching me, for the first time ever...
My hand goes to Tyler’s hand, which rests on my waist, in my mind trying to control what comes next but all it does is create another connection, me to him and him to me. But he’s also simply imitating what Josh did to me out on that patio—where he touched me, how he touched me. But there is no comparison. One is ice and one is heat. Tyler is the heat. “You are not Josh.”
“Why does that matter?” he challenges. “This is an exercise in control. Your control, Bella.”
My eyes meet his and I swear, I have that same sensation I had when he first touched me. I feel him in every part of me. “What are you doing, Tyler?” I whisper. “What are we doing?”
“Tell me no, Bella,” he demands, his voice low but no less commanding.
“No,” I say easily, but it’s not exactly the version of “no” he’s asking for. I’m not saying “no” to his touch. I’m saying “no” to saying “no” to Tyler. Because I can’t seem to will myself any more than him to remove his hand from my body.
Tyler rather obviously senses the real meaning behind my version of “no.”
I see that in the way he narrows his eyes on me and I feel it in the flex of his fingers on my waist. There is possessiveness in the warmth of his touch that I might be imagining, but I am so screwed because I really hope that I am not. As if confirming my suspicions, he says, “Define your version of no, Bella.”