Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Good book?”
“So good.” She smiles. “It was a little sad at first since the main guy and girl in the story have both recently lost people they care about, but now they’re on a road trip together, and it’s sweet to see them each finding happiness.”
“Good.” I reach down without thinking and cover her foot with my hand before I pull it back like it’s on fire. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She clears her throat. “I’m kind of invading your space.” She pulls her legs up closer to her chest.
“You’re good.” I focus on the TV when I hear people begin to cheer. The distraction of my team getting a touchdown helps take some of my focus off her, and soon, I’m able to relax.
When I look over at her as the game comes to an end, I find that she’s fallen asleep, so I pick her up and carry her inside. I don’t know if it’s the wine she drank or just how exhausted she is from today, but she doesn’t even twitch as I carry her through the house and tuck her into the bed in my guest room.
After shutting down everything and locking up the house, I go right to the shower in my bathroom and get myself off, all while thinking about doing unspeakable things to her.
I’m in so much fucking trouble.
CHAPTER 9
Olivia
You are not a child. You are a strong, independent woman, capable of sleeping in a house alone. You do not need a man to protect you.
My internal dialogue does nothing to help ease the fear riding up the back of my spine as I brush my teeth and get ready for bed. I wish I could say I feel better knowing there are motion lights around the house and that I’ve double-checked that all the windows and doors are locked. But I don’t feel better.
That fear I felt when I woke up to that window breaking sits heavy in the pit of my stomach, and it seems to come back every night right about the time I’m getting ready for bed. Last night, I couldn’t handle it, which is why I took my pillow and book with me and went next door. Tonight, I promised myself I wouldn’t do the same thing, so I stayed up a little later, hoping that by the time I got ready for bed, I’d be too tired to think about it.
No such luck.
After I finish brushing my teeth, I dry my face and make sure the bathroom door that attaches to the office is locked, and then I shut off the light and go to my bed. Sitting on the edge of it, I stare at the door I already locked and try to talk myself out of going next door as I put lotion on my hands.
Last night, Bax didn’t seem bothered in the least when I showed up at his house. Nor when I wandered into his kitchen this morning, where he was sitting at the island with a cup of coffee while working on his computer. Still, I can’t keep invading his space. It’s not fair to him, even if I do just really like being around him and not only because he makes me feel safe.
I jump out of my thoughts when the doorbell rings, and my heart starts to race. It’s after nine, so there is no way it could be a delivery person, and I’m not expecting anyone. When knocking starts, I’m half tempted to go hide in the closet, but when I hear my name called, the fear in my stomach warms to something else.
Going to my bedroom door, I unlock it and hurry down the dark hallway to the living room. When I reach the front door, I swing it open and take Bax in, at a loss for what to say or do because throwing myself against him seems absurd.
“Hey.” He tucks his hands into the front pockets of his shorts, stretching the thick thermal shirt he’s wearing across his broad shoulders. “I just realized that when I told you this morning that you could call me if you needed anything, I never gave you my cell number.”
“Oh, yeah.” I lean down to pet Gemma, who bounces at my feet to get my attention, then stand and back out of the doorway. “Do you want to come in? I’ll grab my phone.”
“Yeah.” He steps inside and closes the door while I head for the hall and quickly go to my room. When I get back to the living room a few seconds later, he’s right where I left him.
“You can just type it in, and I’ll call you.” I unlock my cell and pass it to him. As he types, I watch his thick fingers move across the device and study his facial expression. He has the same serious look on his face that he did last night while watching the football game. The same look he had this morning when he told me to sit, and he made me some of the most delicious pancakes I’ve ever eaten.