Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“For your toes.”
“Really, Brock. It’s fine.”
It’s not fine. She should have nothing but the best, and not just because she has to have dinner with her father, just because she’s Joey. “Do we have time?” I ask again.
I watch as she turns her wrist to look at her watch and shakes her head. “Not really. I need to shower and dry my hair, and I think I’m going to curl it. That takes time, and no way am I risking Daddy Dearest’s wrath for being late.”
I nod in understanding, but I make a mental note to get her a gift certificate to a pedicure. Grabbing her bags and ignoring her protest, I lead her back out to my car.
As soon as we’re on the road, my phone rings. “Hey, Mom,” I greet after hitting the answer button on the dash. “You’re on speaker.”
“Oh, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to call to check in.”
“Doing well,” I tell her.
“Good. Good. Well, call me later when you can talk. I want to hear how things are going with the new team.”
“I can do that. You doing okay?” I ask.
“I miss my son, but other than that, I’m great.” She laughs.
“All right, I’ll call you later.”
“Love you, Brock.”
“Love you too.”
“You’re close to your mom?” Joey asks.
“Yeah, we’re tight. She’s cool.”
“You’re lucky,” she says, glancing out the window.
I don’t know what to say to that, so I don’t say anything. Instead, I reach over and lace her fingers with mine. She lets me hold her hand all the way home.
I’m sitting on the bed in my room when I hear the shower turn on in hers. The house is quiet. I’m not sure where Caleb is. My guess is he’s catching a quick nap before we leave. I should be doing the same. We had a hard practice today, but I’m too keyed up. The small velvet box that contains the earrings is clutched in my fist as I think of how to give them to her. Sure, I could wait, but I don’t want to. I’m all about instant gratification, and call me crazy, because I admit it sounds that way, but I want to see them on her. I want to know that she’s wearing something I gave her when we walk into Sully’s tonight.
Getting her to accept this is a far reach and even further to get her to wear them tonight, but I have to try. That’s when an idea hits me. Reaching into the nightstand, I grab the small tablet of paper and a pen that I put there a few nights ago. Placing the earring box on the bed, I put pen to paper and begin to write.
Once upon a time, there was a princess named Joey. She had big brown eyes and dark brown hair. She was breathtaking. All the men in the land thought so, even Prince Brock. The prince craved her attention, but to no avail. One day he had an idea. He would give the princess jewels so she knew he was thinking about her always. It gave him extreme pleasure deciding on the perfect gift. He chose a pair of diamond stud earrings that he knew would look beautiful on her. He hoped she would accept his gift and wear the jewels. There was nothing in the world that would make him happier.
Princess Joey, these are for you.
Brock
I read over the letter three times before I finally decide it’s good enough. Hopefully, she will read my words and accept the earrings without complaint. Folding the letter in half, I scrawl her name on the outside of the paper, grab the box, and slip out of my room. I stand in the hallway listening for Caleb, but the house is silent except for the sound of the shower.
Blocking out the fact that Joey is once again naked and just mere feet away from me… again, I step into her room and place the note and the box on her nightstand next to her phone. Moving back, I stare at the bathroom door, and images of her naked body, wet with soap sliding over her curves, has me reaching into my pants and adjusting myself. This is a constant issue where she’s concerned, and I’m going to have to literally take matters into my own hands before we leave tonight. Otherwise, everyone is going to know how she affects me.
Not that I care about that. Not really. But I need to make sure we’re both on the same page. We’ve been dancing around this attraction that sparks between us. Then there’s the issue of her brother. Caleb and I have been best friends for years, and I owe it to him to tell him my plans. That is if Joey is on board with it. It’s my respect for him that will initiate the conversation, but I’m not asking for his permission. No, this thing between us, this electricity that shocks my system every time she’s near, is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It’s also not something I’m willing to lose or just toss away.