Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
He held out the coffee to her, which she took. Colt stared at her and she looked up at him.
“I’m talking to Warden today,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“I’m going to demand some conditions.”
“You are?”
“Yes.” He took a sip of his coffee and watched as she blew across the surface of her coffee. “You’ve got to come and live with me.”
Rosalie frowned. “These will be Warden’s conditions?”
“They’re mine, and since you’re my wife, I think it’s only fair that you and I come to an arrangement, as it affects you and me the most,” he said.
“Oh.”
“I get it, you don’t want to be here with me and I didn’t want to be there with you. Neither of us wanted this, but why not make the most of the shit we’ve got?” He sat down beside her. “You could be pregnant with my child.”
“I’m on my period, Colt. There is not going to be a baby.”
He put his coffee down on the drawer unit beside his bed and then reached out to grab her hands, after taking her cup from her as well. “Not right now, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be one.”
“Why are you doing this?” Rosalie asked.
“Because you’re my wife, and you’re not Daemon’s. You were raised by your mother, and I see that now. You’re nothing like him. You’re trying to protect those you love. I can relate. This club, my parents, I would do anything for them.” Even if it means getting a woman he had no feelings for to fall in love with him.
Getting Rosalie on his side was part of his plan. Daemon expected him to fall in love, but that was never going to happen. He wouldn’t be able to love anything even remotely related to Daemon.
“You want to make this work?” Rosalie asked.
“Why not? Don’t you think we have what it takes?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She sniffled. “I … I never wanted to get married.”
“Come on, every woman wants to get married.”
“It was my mother’s dream, not mine.” She shrugged. “She wanted me to find a man, fall in love, and have that happily ever after she never got.”
“You can’t feel guilty,” he said.
“It’s because of me that she is where she is,” Rosalie said.
“No, it’s not. Daemon’s the reason, not you.” He gripped the back of her neck and forced her to look at him. “Don’t carry that guilt. It is not yours.”
He looked at her lips and couldn’t deny how tempting they were.
She licked her lips, nibbling at the corner. “I need to get to work.”
“I’m going to need your answer,” Colt said.
She looked at him and he had to wait, wondering what she was thinking.
“Okay,” she said. “I … let’s see if we can make this work.”
****
“You’re going to be living with Colt?” Petal asked.
“Yes.”
“And you think this is a good idea?”
Rosalie sighed and stopped filling up the salt pots. The diner had been closed for one hour as Al had to go to one of his suppliers since the delivery driver had claimed no one was around to collect the order. They had watched the large truck come into the parking lot, turn around, and then pull immediately back out.
“No, it’s not a good idea.”
“But you’re intrigued by Colt?” Petal asked. “Are you falling for him?”
“No, I’m not falling for him. No, I don’t trust him. Believe me, I know that deep down, Colt is exactly like my father.”
Petal wrinkled her nose.
“Fine, he won’t necessarily go to the extreme lengths Daemon has gone to, but he has his own agenda. It doesn’t take a doctorate or some special powers to deduct that between my father and Colt, they’re using me as a pawn.” Rosalie shrugged. “I get that.”
“And you think Colt is being nice for what?” Petal asked.
“Simple, to make me fall in love with him.”
Petal started to laugh.
“I know it sounds stupid, believe me, I do, but he’s going to try and win me over. He’s going for the nice guy routine but nothing is going to change who I am.”
“You’re nothing like Daemon,” Petal said.
“I know that. He’s still my father and to guys like Colt, that’s never going to change.”
“What are you going to do then?” Petal asked.
“Whatever it takes to make sure my mother is safe. That’s all I want to do. All I have to do.” She rubbed at her temple, feeling the start of a migraine. Colt had dropped her off at work, but he’d not lingered. Food had been arriving as they made their way downstairs at the clubhouse.
Rosalie didn’t know what their agreement meant, but she already planned to head home and pack a suitcase. She wanted her mother moved, or someone with her at all times. Her mother had to be protected.
“You do realize it is not your responsibility.”
“You’ve seen my mom,” Rosalie said. “I know it’s not my responsibility but I’m all she’s got.”