Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
I hand it to him without looking at what has been written since I shut off notifications, then I watch as his finger slides over the screen, and his eyes narrow as he reads the texts that were sent.
“What does he mean by you owe him one?” he asks, lifting his chin and locking his eyes with mine.
“What?”
“The last text from him says you owe him one.”
I take the phone from him and see that the last message is just those four short words and a smiley face. “I have no idea.” I hand the phone back to him, then go to the freezer and pull out the tub of wildberry-lavender ice cream I have on the shelf and grab a spoon from the drawer. What I really need is a shot of alcohol to help ease my nerves, but with having to wake up early for school tomorrow, I know ice cream is the wiser choice. While he types away on his phone as he’s glancing at mine, I take a seat at the island and dig my spoon into the tub, taking out a scoop, then popping it into my mouth.
When I’m digging in for another scoop, I look over his way when I feel him watching me, and heat spreads up my neck to the tips of my ears. “Sorry, I should have asked if you wanted some,” I say, and he drops his cell phone to the counter, then steps in my direction and cups the side of my head.
Anticipation curls in my belly as his face lowers toward mine, then my eyes slide closed at the first brush of his lips. Before his tongue slips between my lips, I reach out to grab his bicep to hold myself upright, already off-kilter, and a mewl climbs up the back of my throat when he ends the kiss before it’s really even begun. As my eyes open, I watch him grab my wrist and bring the spoon to his mouth, eating the bite I forgot all about.
“That tastes good, but you taste better.” He wipes the edge of my mouth with his thumb before he sucks it into his mouth, and my stomach drops as my thighs tighten together to ease the steady throb that’s only gotten worse since the first time he kissed me. I rub my lips together, not sure how to respond, but I don’t need to. Without another word, he goes back to whatever he’s doing with his phone and mine, like he was not at all affected by that kiss.
Then again, he’s probably kissed a million women, and to him it’s not a big deal to kiss someone and say things like that. My stomach churns at the thought, and I put the lid on the ice cream and take it to the freezer, then drop my spoon in the dishwasher.
“All right,” he says after a minute, focusing on me while he tucks his phone into his back pocket. “I sent screenshots of the texts you’ve gotten along with the number to Noah, so now we wait and see what he says.”
“Do you think he’ll be able to find anything out?” I ask him from across the island that’s between us.
“No idea, but it’s worth a shot, having him check into it.”
“True.” I walk around the opposite side of the counter when he starts to come toward me.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” I keep moving as he follows me.
“You’re a horrible liar.”
“I’m not lying.” I frown at him, and the side of his mouth kicks up.
“So why are you suddenly set on keeping this between us?” He pats the top of the island.
“I’m not.” I push in my stool, and he leans into the counter across from me.
“Liar.”
“I’m—” I start to tell him that I’m not lying, but instead, I jolt when suddenly there’s a loud thud, and the sound of glass breaking comes from down the hall at the front of the house.
“Stay here.” He points at me, and my heart pounds as he storms around the corner out of sight. Of course I don’t listen to his order. I jog behind him to find out what happened, then run into his back at the doorway to my office. “I thought I told you to stay put.”
“You did, but you’re not my boss.” I flip on the light switch and then squeeze my eyes closed when I spot Blue in the corner of the room, looking far too innocent, with the glass vase I had filled with faux flowers and glass beads now shattered and covering the hardwood floors.
“You have a cat?”
“I have two.” I start to move around him to get my cat, but before I can, his arms go around my waist, and he lifts me off my feet. “What are you doing?” I squeak as he turns and carries me down the hall, hanging half over his arms like I’m a ragdoll.