Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
He doesn’t.
A sob escapes me, the last of my breath released, and then it happens. I suck in water. There’s no way to avoid it. The panic turns into full-on terror. I’m going to die. Spencer Park hates me so much he’s going to drown me in his pool.
Everything turns black as I struggle for my life.
Then, he lets go of the lounger, hooks an arm around my waist, and then shoves up from the bottom of the pool. He brings us to the top where I choke for air. Water surges out of my throat and I gag. Tears of relief roll down my cheeks.
That was so close.
I choke out more water and am helpless to escape Spencer’s hold. His lips find the shell of my ear.
“I rescued you, leech. Now you owe me.”
“Fuck you,” I rasp out, finally finding the strength to pull away from him. “I hate you.”
He laughs as I awkwardly scramble out of the pool. I’m no longer interested in niceties or speaking to anyone. I yank up my towel, wrap it around me, and rush into the house, the need to escape Spencer overwhelming me. The door slams behind me, letting everyone know just how I feel about the whole near-drowning episode.
I bypass my room and burst into Hugo’s, not realizing I’ve done so until I see him. He’s bent over, a towel wrapped snugly around his waist, pulling a pair of boxers from his dresser when his head snaps my way.
I will not cry. I will not cry. I will not cry.
Something about my wrecked appearance and expression has him tensing. He strides over to me, concern etched on his handsome face. His hands grip my shoulders through my towel and he peers down at me.
“What’s wrong, Love?”
I bite hard on my lip, so I don’t burst into tears, instead leaning forward so he’ll hold me to him. His hands slide from my shoulders to my back, drawing me to him in a comforting embrace.
“I accidentally got a lungful of water,” I choke out, voice raspy from coughing. “It scared me.”
I’m not sure why I don’t just tell him it was Spencer. Maybe because it makes me feel weak. Like I’m no match for Spencer and need his dad to save me from him.
I don’t.
I can handle Spencer myself.
And he’ll pay for trying to drown me, joke or not.
“You’re safe now,” Hugo croons, stroking his fingers up and down my back. “See? I’ve got you, Love.”
I nuzzle against his hard, bare chest, inhaling his manly scent. Our proximity is entirely too close for how nearly naked we are, but I don’t even care. His dick is half-hard behind his towel, pressing into my stomach. It’d be so easy to drop my towel and then tug his away. To push him toward the bed, straddle his powerful body, and beg for more.
So easy.
Hugo clears his throat and then extricates himself from me. “Why don’t you get dressed? I’ll make you something hot to drink to warm you up.”
Nothing he offers me to drink will ever heat me up the way his body pressed against mine does. Nothing.
But, because I’m trying to be a good girl, I nod obediently at him.
“Thanks for the, uh, hug. I do feel better now,” I admit, voice shaking. “It just scared me more than anything.”
And now that the fear has dissipated, I’m feeling the anger once again.
Spencer can try and intimidate me into leaving all he wants, but I’m not going anywhere. Especially since I know he wants me gone so desperately he’d try to nearly drown me.
I’m here for the long run.
I refuse to let Spencer Park run me off ever again.
Spencer
Aubrey is different. A whole new animal than I’m used to. A mysterious, mirrored fragment of the girl she once was with sharp edges that now has the potential to make me bleed.
Sure, I freaked her out for a minute when I’d held her under the water. It’s not like I’d actually drown her. Dad would kill me. But I wanted to knock her off her lounger where she sat so regally—a queen in my kingdom.
And I’d won.
Sent her running into the house to sob into her pillow. Like old times.
That lasted a few hours, and then by dinner, she was back to invading my home unapologetically, laughing at all Dad’s corny jokes and acting as if I were invisible.
Fuck. That.
Apparently, she’s tougher than I gave her credit for. That LA life of hers hardened her until she’s barely recognizable. She’s still the girl who tried to ruin my life and I’m going to enjoy every second of paying her back.
I wait until it’s past midnight before even attempting my next move. Long after the house has gone silent and the light from her bedroom doesn’t peek through the cracks. When I turn the knob, it opens easily, inviting me into her space.