Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
“You wouldn’t be taking advantage...” I start.
He shakes his head and pulls away from me, huffing in frustration. “Yes, I would. I’m older than you. You’re on the run, scared, unsure... you’re the very definition of vulnerable right now. If I let myself... fuck... it would definitely be taking advantage.”
I grit my teeth together. It was stupid of me to think he would really want me anyway. I mean if he did, would he really be fighting it this hard? “Fine.”
He blinks. “Fine?”
I nod, turning to the bags on my bed. “Yes, fine. I understand what you’re saying. Thank you for this stuff. I promise to pay you back.”
He moves to the side of the bed, and his gaze is on my face. “You don’t have to pay me back.”
I nod, removing tags. “Yes, I do.”
He clears his throat. “I actually thought about that. I don’t want you to get a job right now. I’d like you to stay close to the ranch until we stop your... uh the man that is after you.”
My mouth drops. “Do you know how long that could be? I can’t just sponge off you...”
He doesn’t let me finish. “You’re not sponging off me. I promised to keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
I stop with the tag pulling and look up at him. “And what do I do? Just hang out here and do nothing? I can’t do that, Tank. I wasn’t made that way.”
“It won’t be forever. Give me a week, and we’ll have this taken care of. Then we can talk about you working.”
I should argue with him and tell him he can’t tell me what to do, but I’m too caught up in the fact that he thinks he can take care of this in a week. In a week, I could be gone from here and probably never see him again. I could be back in Nashville living the life I had before I met him. Darn it, that life doesn’t seem like much now. Lost in my own misery, I nod. “Fine. Whatever you want me to do. While I’m here, I’ll clean, cook, and do anything else that needs done. Maybe they need my help over at the clubhouse.”
He shakes his head and crosses his arms over his big chest. “They don’t.”
I try not to let his gruff tone get to me. “Fine.”
He stands next to me and watches me, and when I refuse to look at him, he gives up, walking out the door.
I let out a deep breath when he leaves. I’m being a pain in the ass, I know I am. I shouldn’t be bucking him at every turn, but he makes me feel things I’ve never felt in my life. He’s possessive and protective, two things I haven’t felt in forever. Don’t get me wrong; my parents were all right growing up, but they did their own thing. It was never about me. Even now, I haven’t thought about calling them one time because a part of me knows that they don’t want to be bothered. Plus, they’re somewhere in the Caribbean right now, living their own lives.
I gather up all the clothes and walk out of the bedroom. I go to the laundry room and dump the armful in the washing machine before adding detergent and softener.
As soon as it starts, I go in search of Tank. He’s standing in the living room, and I go to sit down on the couch. I barely sit down when he announces, “I’m going to bed.”
I nod. Yep, since I slept all day, I sort of forget that it’s the middle of the night, and he should probably sleep. “Okay, thanks again, Tank. For everything.”
He nods and strides out of the room, but as soon as he leaves, he comes back. “Don’t try and leave, Ava. Can you promise me that you’re not going to just leave in the middle of the night?”
His face is drawn, and he looks worn out. “I promise. Good night, Tank.”
He searches my face as if he’s trying to figure out if I’m sincere or not. I smile at him, and the lopsided grin he gives me makes my heart swoon. “Night, honey.”
He turns to go, and I have to stop myself from following him.
Chapter 9
Tank
The truth is, I’m exhausted. I was up half the night, listening to every creak in the house. I know she promised me she wouldn’t leave, but I still had my doubts.
When she told me she wanted me to take her virginity, I wasn’t lying. It took everything in me not to follow her into the house, bend her over the couch, and take her right then. Fuck, I’d give anything to make her mine. But she’s vulnerable, and right now, there’s no way she can be sure about what she wants.