Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Duke laughs. “They’re at college in Philadelphia right now. But yeah, maybe someday you’ll get to meet them.” His eyes meet mine as he says this, and a rush of heat travels down my arms.
“How come you’re not a twin?”
Duke shrugs. “Beats me.”
“Do twins run in your family?” I ask.
“Yeah. My grandmother was a twin.”
I glance at my watch. “Max, it’s getting late. Time for bed.”
She groans. “I haven’t shown Duke all of my pets yet.”
“I’ll come back another day,” he promises, bending down to match her height. He’s so damn tall he looks like a giant next to her. “When I pick you up for hockey practice. How does that sound?”
She throws her arms around his neck and squeals. “Yay! Thank you, Duke.”
Duke hugs her back. “You’re welcome, kiddo. Now, how about you get ready for bed? Hockey players need a lot of sleep.”
“They do?”
Duke nods and then taps her on the shoulder, slowly rising to his full height. He towers over me, his eyes intense when they flick toward me. I don’t want him to leave. I’m not ready for this night to end, even though I know what I’m doing is so wrong on so many levels.
“Will you stay for a little bit?” I ask him. “I have to get Max in bed, and then we can have that drink if you want.”
Duke tips his head. He says goodnight to Max, and then promises to wait for me in the living room before closing the door behind him.
“Mommy,” Max says as she changes out of her jersey and into her pajamas. “Why does Duke have to go home?”
“Because he wants to sleep in his bed.”
I sit at the edge of her mattress and turn off her lamp. The soft green glow from her nightlight fills the room.
“Duke works with Mommy. He can’t stay the night, okay?”
“Yes,” she sighs. “I know. But…”
“Duke will be back soon to teach you hockey. You’ll see him again.”
She smiles as I brush her hair out of her eyes. “You promise?”
“Yes,” I say, hoping Duke will keep his word. I press a kiss on her forehead, and she closes her eyes. “Goodnight, baby. Sweet dreams.”
“Night-night, Mommy,” she yawns.
Nerves bubble up inside my chest when I see Duke sprawled out on the couch in the living room. He’s watching sports highlights on ESPN with the sound so low I can barely hear the announcer. I slip past him and head into the kitchen. I keep a cold case of beer in the fridge for when Ted shows up to see Max.
Duke startles when I plop down on the couch next to him. But when our eyes meet, and I hand him a beer, a smile stretches across his lips.
“I had fun tonight,” he says, clinking his bottle against mine.
“Me, too. You made Max’s year. All of the signed stuff, and the game, and just you being here… It means a lot to me. To both of us. Thank you.”
He moves his beer into his left hand, taking a sip as he slides his right arm behind me on the couch. I suck in a deep breath, too aware of our closeness. His mouth is inches from mine. Duke’s lips part and I get the urge to reach out and touch them. I want to feel every inch of him. It’s been far too long since I’ve been with a man. Why do I want the one man I’m not allowed to have?
Duke inches closer, testing the waters to see if I’ll make him stop. I don’t want him to. Every nerve ending in my body is on fire, ready to explode if he doesn’t kiss me. I want this. No, I need this.
His lips lightly brush against mine. A groan rips from his mouth as if he’s in physical pain. My heart slams into my chest, beating so fast it feels like it’s about to escape. Duke is waiting for me to say yes, for me to give in to my every desire. He needs my approval. Because of our relationship, he’s grown to respect me.
So, I make a move and kiss him.
When our tongues collide, sparks shoot down my arms. My body feels like it’s on fire, suddenly awakened by the deep need inside me. I’ve put my own needs aside for a long time. And tonight, I need this. I need to feel close to someone. I get lost in Duke and his hands that roam over my arms. He’s careful not to take things too far. I can sense his hesitation. He doesn’t want to ruin this by assuming we can have more.
Reality finally sets in. What kind of doctor makes out with their patient? I peel my lips from Duke’s, out of breath, and unable to meet his gaze. What am I doing? I could lose my license for my lapse in judgment. There’s something about Duke, something I can’t resist. It’s not just his sex appeal. He has that in spades. It’s what’s hidden beneath the surface that interests me most. The more layers I peel back, the more I want to know the real Duke Baldwin.