Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
My cock hardens at the dangerous taunt, ready to rise to the challenge.
“First of all, Hollis. I don’t wear panties. Actually, I don’t wear underwear at all, and if you don’t want me to prove it by bringing you over here to ride my cock, I suggest you watch what falls from that pretty mouth of yours.”
Shock flares in the depths of her emerald eyes, but there’s also no denying the flash of heat. It matches the one I have roaring in my veins.
“And secondly,” I continue, “I don’t hate you.”
She scoffs, clearly not believing me.
“It’s true,” I insist. “How can I hate you when I don’t even know you for christ’s sake?”
“Exactly, you don’t,” she snaps. “Yet, all you have done is made judgments about me from the moment we met. As if, I’m just some stupid American who doesn’t belong here.” The underlying hurt lacing those angry words is undeniable, and it makes me feel like shit.
“Look, I had a really shitty morning yesterday and wasn’t in the best mood. I should have handled it better.” It’s a shitty apology and I know it, but I’m a stubborn bastard.
A moment of silence settles between us, her gaze burning into the side of my face. “You weren’t exactly friendly when picking up Poppy either,” she reminds me, though with less heat in her tone.
“Yeah, well, that had less to do with you and more to do with the fact my baby sister was left stranded out in the cold over a fucking cheer practice.”
Just thinking about it sends fire burning through my gut.
“I guess I can understand that,” she says, voice soft and sweet now. “I was mad too. She deserved better. I’m sorry.”
She did and so does the girl next to me. Then tell her that, asshole…
“Where is Poppy tonight anyway?” she asks. “Did she finally convince you to let her stay home alone?” Amusement coats her tone.
“Not a fucking chance.”
She laughs at my response. A delicate sound so addicting I ache to hear it again.
Jesus. I’m seriously fucking losing it over this chick.
“She’s spending the night at a friend’s house,” I finally answer.
“That’s fun for her,” she muses, a wistful smile playing on her lips.
I nod. “It’s not something I usually allow, but I’ve gotten to know this family quite well, and since she’s still pissed at me over yesterday, I made the exception.”
She winces at the confession. “Still mad at ya, huh?”
Mad is a sheer understatement. Disappointed is more like it, and that hits harder for me.
“Did you end up finding a sitter for her?” she asks, carefully.
“Possibly,” I answer vaguely.
“What does that mean?”
Coming to a stop in front of her condo, I shift my truck into park and turn towards her. Even after being with her for most of the night, I still find myself struck by her beauty.
“I was going to see if she could hang out with Ellie at the flower shop until I finished work.”
“Oh.” That one word holds both surprise and disappointment. “Well, I don’t know Ellie very well, but I can’t see her having a problem with it.”
“I know she won’t. My friends always help me out when I need it, especially Ellie and Gunnar, but I don’t like to inconvenience them unless I have to.”
Her expression softens. “Poppy is hardly an inconvenience.”
The sincerity in those softly spoken words punches me in the chest and further confirms I’m making the right decision. “You’re right, she isn’t, and Poppy enjoys hanging out with Ellie. They get along well.”
She flashes me a half-hearted smile. “Ellie is great.”
“She is,” I agree. “But my sister would still rather hang out with you at the store.”
She straightens at my words, surprise and hope flickering in her expression. “Really?”
I nod.
“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?” she asks, rushing through her words. “Because if it is, my offer still stands. I’ll be here until at least the spring.”
It’s exactly what I was hoping she would say, yet I find myself hesitating and she senses it.
“Look, if you’re worried about me driving her, I can walk to pick her up.”
“It’s not that,” I tell her. Though, I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I want her driving Poppy around, but I feel that way with most people. It’s why I don’t let her take the bus.
“Then what is it?” she asks.
I’ll have to see you every day and resist the urge to kiss you, just like I am right now.
It’s a solid reason, but not the one I voice out loud. “I have a hard enough time accepting help from my friends. It’s even harder when it’s a stranger.”
Especially one I’ve been a dickhead to.
“Well, it’s not really a favor since Poppy would be helping me out at the store.”
I disagree with that logic but don’t bother saying that. “She can help you out, but I will also be compensating you for your time. I was paying the other sitter five hundred a month, but I can—”