Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“You got quiet,” she says in the elevator on our way up to my room. “I really am sorry that I shoved you like that. I panicked.”
“It was actually amusing.” I kiss her temple. When the elevator stops on our floor, I lead her down to my door. “I have plans for tonight.”
“No more food,” is her immediate, almost panicked response. “I can’t do it, Dylan. I’ll explode.”
“No.” I shut the door behind us and then kiss the tip of her nose. “No food. Not for a while anyway. But I do have something to show you.”
“Really? I’ve seen it, but I’m always happy to see it again.”
“You’re funny.”
That makes her snort. “Right. Funny-looking, maybe.”
Now that makes me pause. I push her against the wall and lean into her.
“That’s not funny, Maddie.”
“It’s just an expression.”
“I don’t like it.” I nibble those delicious lips that still taste like ice cream. “I don’t like it at all. You’re fucking gorgeous.”
“I mean, I love that you think so. But, realistically, I’m just a girl, Dylan.”
My girl, I think.
But I don’t say it.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” I insist and nibble my way down her jawline to her slim neck. “And if I have to work my ass off for the few days we have left here to make you believe it, well, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
“You’re sweet.”
I pull back and look her in the eyes. “No. I’m not being sweet. I’m being honest. Do you think I take the time to seduce just any woman I meet while on a business trip?”
“I don’t know.” She swallows hard. “I don’t mean that to be hurtful or rude. I really don’t know.”
“Well, I don’t. I told you before, it was different the minute I saw you. And I don’t know why. I just know what I felt. And I thank any of the gods who might be listening for dropping you into my life because, man, have you made it more fun.”
A slow smile spreads across her gorgeous face. “That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s true.” God, I can’t get enough of her. I can’t stop looking at her, running my hands over her, wanting to feel her close to me. “I’m so completely taken with you, I can’t think about much of anything else. You’re beautiful and funny and just a hell of a great girl to be with.”
“Wow.”
“I hate that anyone in your life ever made you feel otherwise. Even your family.”
“No one has tried to make me feel bad.” It’s a whisper, said as she stares at my lips. “I think they worry about me more than anything.”
“Maddie.”
She raises her gaze to mine. “Yes, Dylan?”
“Remember when I told you that I had something to show you?”
“I think so.”
I grin. “I still do, honey.”
“Okay.”
Chapter Seven
Maddie
“Holy shit, Dylan.”
He has my hand grasped in his tightly as he leads me up a short set of steps, through a door, and out onto the hotel’s roof.
All I can do is stare in wonder at the little lantern next to a futon covered in blankets that rests in the middle of the roof.
“Did the resort do this?” I ask as he leads me to it.
“I asked them to,” he replies with a grin and holds the blankets up for me to climb under.
“They’re electric.” I blink up at him in surprise. “Nice.”
“It’s fucking cold out here.” He laughs as he joins me, bringing me close to his side before reaching over and turning off the lantern. “The darker it is, the better to see the show.”
We both look up into a clear winter sky. The stars are ridiculous. “I’ve never seen stars like this.” My voice is a whisper.
“There’s hardly any light noise here,” he replies softly. “You can see everything. The stars, comets if they’re around, the Milky Way. And…look.”
He points to the horizon, which is just starting to turn green.
“They’ll build.” His voice is a promise as he takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles before linking our fingers together. “We just have to give it some time.”
“This is…romantic.”
“You sound surprised.”
He kisses the top of my head, and I feel it all the way to my toes. It’s always the same whenever he touches me. This sense of awareness washes over and through me, and it’s the warmest, safest feeling I’ve ever experienced.
“I guess I’m surprised,” I admit. “I didn’t think romance was usually part of a vacation fling.”
He sighs, and the next thing I know, he’s turned and framed my face in his hands.
“Let’s drop the label from now on, okay? There are no rules or expectations here. We’re enjoying each other, and I knew when we arrived that I wanted to lie under the aurora borealis with you. I don’t give a shit that we’re only here for a few more days.”