Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 43827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Her obvious avoidance of me started to rub me the wrong way and there was a slight chance of me losing my shit, and letting everything hang out for all to see. If she thought this high school bullshit was gonna work with me then she really must think I’m no better than Joel; the fuck with that.
Her laugh rang out one time too many and I wondered if anyone but me noticed the false tinge to it. False or not, the idiot she was fawning all over didn’t seem to realize that she was putting on a show; the young fool was eating it all up; another green behind the ears clown who she could lead around by the balls. I didn’t even think about my next move, just went with my gut.
“Let’s dance, excuse us.” I dragged her away from the latest admirer none too gently and over to the emptiest corner. I didn’t care that there might be others watching; let them make of my actions what they will. My eyes met her father’s over her head and his nod of approval and lifted cognac snifter was enough to tell me that he didn’t have a problem with it. Of course he had no way of knowing that this was just the beginning of what I had in store for his little darling.
“Are you insane? That was very rude, Reggie was just telling me about his new horse.” I looked down at her beautiful face, for the first time allowing myself to appreciate it openly without fear of reprisals. “You were flirting.” I held her a little tighter to me as we swayed in place to the music. Damn she felt good, like she belonged there.
“I was not.” She tried pulling away but my hand around her back kept her in place, just where I wanted her. “Yeah you were and I don’t like that shit. My woman does not laugh and bat her damn lashes at other men, make this the last time.” Her mouth was open wide enough to catch flies and I could see her gearing up for one of her fits.
“Your woman? What in the blazes has gotten into you?” I could see confusion written all over her face, I wasn’t too far behind. I should’ve known that there was no way to do things the right way when dealing with her. I’d planned to sit down somewhere like two civilized people and talk this out, not just throw it out there like that, but it was too late to take it back.
“You heard what I said hellcat. Now is not the time or the place for this, but now you know, so if you do anything else to piss me off it’s your ass.” Her thorns came out and she got prickly. “Did grandpa give you some of his special blend? Because you’re not making any sense; and no one tells me what to do, I’ll flirt if I want to.” Shoulda known she was gonna be stubborn as hell too.
“You do and I’ll tan your ass later. If you misbehave in any way this evening I will kiss you in front of all these people and you’re not ready for that. Now be quiet and listen very carefully. After tonight I’m giving you exactly one month to publicly get over your farce of an engagement.” She stiffened up in my arms but a quiet little shake soon had her calming down again. “Behave.”
“As I was saying, publicly we’ll let everyone think you’re giving yourself time, but privately you’re going to get to know me, all of me.”
“What in the hell are you talking about Grant, have you lost your mind?” “Shut up and listen. It took me a while to figure out why you went off in my arms the way you did each time I turned to you.”
She tried giving me the lost at sea look, but it was too late, the pulse beating wildly in her throat told me all I needed to know. “From now on we’re not going to dance around each other you and I. It’s up to you what you want to tell your family and when, but make it quick because I don’t plan on sneaking around behind your daddy’s back.”
“And what makes you think that I’m interested?”
“I didn’t ask.” Yeah that stumped your ass didn’t it! “Just as well that you know from the get, I’m not one of these little boys that you’ve been playing around with all your life. I happen to be a real man who will not think twice about heating up your ass if it becomes necessary. I do not fear you or your daddy, best you remember that.”
If I didn’t know better I’d think that shit turned her on, the way her eyes went all glazed on me. I’ll have to test that theory later. Right now I eased up on the stranglehold I had on her waist and soothed it with a slight caress. Without looking I was sure that we were the center of attention, if only because everyone was watching her to see if she was really okay.