Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“I’m looking for a bouquet for my daughter-in-law,” a voice called as Mere readjusted her skirt and top, then started to brush past me.
“I can help you with that. Just one second,” she called when my arm went around her belly, yanking her back against my chest.
Leaning down, I let my lips tease the shell of her ear.
“You’re gonna think of me each time you take a step and feel the air rush up under your skirt,” I told her, smirking when I felt a shiver move through her. “Text me after work,” I said, nipping her earlobe, then letting her go abruptly.
I liked it too much that she swayed for a second before she regained her composure and rushed forward into the shop, apologizing to the customer who had no idea she was walking around the store while the proprietor was getting thoroughly fucked in the back room.
I let myself out the back room feeling better than I had since I’d left her after the first time we fucked.
I went about my day, feeling lighter, anticipating what we might do later after she got off work.
I’d never really been in the position to court a woman. But I was suddenly full of ideas of things we could do. Even in the off-season. Places we could go before we ended up back at either of our places, fucking until we didn’t have any more energy, then, this time, falling asleep together.
I didn’t think for a minute that she wouldn’t text or call.
Until five rolled into six, then six into seven.
And nothing.
I checked my phone for what felt like the fucking hundredth time.
Then I texted her first.
And called.
Again, nothing.
My stomach tensed as I tried to fight the urge to fly across town, to go to her apartment, to see what the fuck was going on.
I’d never felt such a strong fucking urge to be near someone before. It was almost overpowering.
The only thing that kept my feet planted in the living room of my house was the thought of my sister.
Of random men she didn’t invite showing up at her door.
That power imbalance.
The threat it could represent.
The way it was overstepping a boundary that might have been placed.
Exhaling hard, I reached for my phone, bringing up the conversation, then shooting off a text to her.
I won’t keep bothering you. If you don’t respond to this, I will leave you alone.
I would stand by that.
I wasn’t going to chase her down.
I wasn’t going to force my way into her life.
I was going to stay away.
Even if it felt like something was crushing my chest at the very idea.
Maybe it was time to go back to the city. See my people. Get my fucking head on straight.
When there was still no text by the morning, I told Gav we were going to head out.
Or so I thought.
Until a frantic fucking Vega tracked me down.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Mere
It had been a really long time since I cried myself to sleep.
Part of that was because, up until recently, I’d been really happy with my life.
I had a great roommate.
I loved my job.
Everything was just how I liked it.
Things were good.
Then Cesare Costa blew into town.
And everything fell apart.
Suddenly, I wasn’t safe at work anymore. Strange men were threatening me and that roommate that I loved so much.
And I couldn’t have the one thing I hadn’t known I needed until I had it.
Him.
The worst freaking part of it all was that he wanted me too.
God, he’d been so clear. He didn’t make me wonder and worry. He’d made his intentions and interest so apparent.
It was what every woman dreamed of. A gorgeous, successful, interesting, sexy man who wanted you, and never let you doubt how they felt.
And I couldn’t have him.
I thought I’d somewhat managed to come to terms with things after he left the night after we’d had sex.
Well, to be fair, I just buried the feelings under endless cleaning and organizing tasks. My fingertips ached. My skin was overly sensitive from the chemicals eating away at layers of skin. I’d even tackled Vega’s laundry pile when I ran out of other tasks to do.
But then he’d shown up out of the blue.
Things had gotten carried away too quickly for me to react, to push him away before things could progress again, reminding me of what I was missing out on.
I’d barely been able to get through helping that customer who’d come in when Cesare was still inside of me without tearing up.
When she was gone, I went back into the bathroom, letting some of the tears out because I knew that if I didn’t do it while in private, they would pour out at an inconvenient and public time instead.
Then I splashed water on my face.
And scrubbed the walls of the shop. The windows. The floors.
I kept myself so busy that I couldn’t spare a moment to think about him again until I was in my car, driving home.