Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“This is so crazy,” I murmur, savoring his warmth.
“That’s becoming our catchphrase,” he says in a lightly teasing tone.
“It fits. I never thought we’d be going on a date together.”
“You’ve thought about it before?” he asks.
Crap. I didn’t mean to reveal that, but if we’re going to be together—and I so badly hope we are—I have to be honest.
“I had a crush on you when I was younger when you used to come by the house a lot. It was a silly childhood thing. After you left—after whatever happened between you and Mom…”
He tightens his grip on my hand. It feels like a reflex more than anything, as though he knows I’m hinting for more information and also that he can’t give it to me, not without Mom’s permission. All this intimacy, all this steam, and he may have done the same with my mom.
“I don’t care about a childhood crush,” he says fiercely. “All I care about is us, here, now.”
“Really? You don’t think it’s weird?”
“This whole thing is weird, but weird doesn’t necessarily mean bad. It means different, and if being a little different is the price we pay for being together, I’d pay it a thousand times.”
When he stops at a red light, I do something silly. Leaning across, I press my lips against his cheek. He turns and kisses me on the lips instead. We sink into it, all the texting steaminess breaking through into real life. He groans passionately. We could do this all day.
Then somebody beeps their horn behind us. The light has changed. We laugh together, sharing a look before he continues driving. Our laughter rises around us, and I know I’ll never forget this. It’s like a calm island in the midst of a storm, a chance for us to roleplay what being a genuine couple would feel like.
“That was silly,” I murmur. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m not complaining. Anyway, I doubt anybody is watching this red light just in case an inappropriate kiss happens.”
“True,” I say, knowing he’s right but hating the need for the paranoia. “Anyway, what was your good news?”
“Peter and I found Axel. We spoke to him. Well, to be blunt, we threatened him.”
“You put the fear of God in him,” I murmur, remembering what Jax said in a text.
“We did. He shouldn’t give you any more problems. Still, be careful. Keep settings the alarm. Call me if you notice anything suspicious. If he’s stupid enough to cause issues now, he’ll regret it.”
“What will you do?” I ask when his tone gets dark and destructive as if he’s capable of anything.
“We told him we’d kill him,” Jax says.
When I gasp, he glances at me.
“Don’t worry. Unless he does something drastic, I wouldn’t kill somebody in civilian life. I would do it, though, if he forced me to. If he hurt you, but if he starts hanging around outside your house again, I will tool the bastard up… badly.”
“It probably says something about me that I kind of like that,” I murmur.
He looks at me again, an implication in his eyes.
“Not like that,” I say. “It doesn’t…”
Turn me on, I was about to finish, but it’s easier to text than say things.
“Excite me in that way,” I go on. “It’s good to know you’re watching over us.”
“I’ll protect you, Zoey,” he says firmly.
In my mind, I add, And I always will.
CHAPTER 16
Jaxson
The sun has set by the time we reach the lakeside restaurant. It sits at the very edge of the water, surrounded by white fairy lights, a few customers sitting on the decking, and more inside.
Once we’ve climbed from the car, I place my hand on Zoey’s back, near her ass. She looks gorgeous today, her hair wild despite clearly having been brushed. It’s her natural wildness. She can’t help it.
She looks at me sharply, a frown on her lips. I get the message, removing my hand, hating that I have to do this. We walk into the restaurant.
“Can we get a table right at the lakeside?” I ask. “In the corner.”
“Sure,” the host tells us.
He leads us to the table I requested. It’s perfect. We sit alone at the edge of the decking, the closest customers four tables away from us. A glance around the decking tells me there’s nobody I know here. Once Zoey finishes looking around, I read the same message on her face.
“Your waitress will be with you shortly,” the host says, leaving us.
“What do you think?” I ask Zoey.
She looks around at the glistening lights, at the lake’s calm surface sparkling with the same light with added color from the moon and the stars.
“It’s amazing. I love it.”
“We’ll talk about your work soon,” I tell her.
She looks at the table, biting down.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I know we arranged this to review the notes, but I think I’d rather just enjoy the meal if that’s okay?”