Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
My gut twisting and my hands balling into fists catches me off-guard. What happens or could happen to her shouldn’t matter to me, but there is no denying that the thought of her being in harm’s way makes me see red. “I want you to take my number and use it if you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe.”
“That’s very kind but–”
“It’s not something that’s up for debate.” I cut her off, taking a step toward her. Her pupils dilate. “And I don’t have time to play cat and mouse, so I’ll make it clear here and now that I want you in my bed.”
“Wha – What?” she stutters, taking a step back away from me.
“I know you heard me.”
“I did.” She shakes her head. “I just–I just don’t know who just comes out and says something like that.”
“Someone who doesn’t like games.” I hold her gaze, then spin when I hear the door behind me start to open, and place her behind me.
“It’s just Leah,” she whispers, grabbing my arm as she steps around me. “Hey, you’re home early.”
“Some drunk puked all over me, so I had to leave early so I could come home and shower and wash my hair properly.” The woman who must be Leah answers without even looking in our direction, as she closes the door and kicks off her shoes. “I checked in on you this morning, but you weren’t in bed, and you didn’t—” Her words taper off when she lifts her head and her eyes land on where I’m standing behind Willow.
“Umm, this is Clay.” Willow says, peeking back at me, then she bites her lip before looking back at her friend. “He brought me home.”
“Clay, as in liquor-store-Clay?” Leah asks, sounding surprised.
“Yeah,” Willow confirms.
Leah looks at me. “Ugh, nice to meet you.”
“You too.” I jerk up my chin.
She focusses on her friend. “So, I take it last night went okay then?”
“Honestly, I can’t remember much after you left, and I had my second drink.”
“You can’t remember what happened?” she repeats on a horrified whisper.
“No.”
“Where did you sleep last night?”
“At Clay’s, he came across me when I was getting in someone’s car, and I don’t remember any of that either. All I know is I woke up in his bed.”
“Did you call the police?”
“Clay filled them in, and I called Carly. She said we drank a lot.”
“But you don’t remember drinking a lot.” Leah says, then shakes her head. “And getting wasted to the point of blacking out isn’t really your style.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to go to the hospital?”
“No.” Willow holds up both her hands. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t like this. Are you sure you’re okay, that nothing—”
“I know. I don’t like it either,” Willow cuts her off. “But I really am okay.”
“What did the police say?” she asks.
Willow looks at me for how to answer.
“They don’t have much to go on, the cameras at the bar were down.”
“I knew I shouldn’t have left you last night.” She starts toward her friend then stops in her tracks looking devastated. “I can’t even hug you—I smell like puke.”
“I’ll hug you after you shower.”
“Okay.” She lets out a breath then looks at me. “Thanks for looking out for her.” Her eyes go to Willow. “I’ll be out in a few, we’ll order something. I’m starving.”
“Sounds good,” Willow says softly.
We both watch her friend head across the room. Once she’s behind her door Willow walks to the front door and opens it up.
“Although I appreciate your earlier offer, I’m going to have to pass,” she says, turning to face me.
I cross my arms over my chest. “My earlier offer?”
“I’m not interested in the whole ‘me in your bed’ thing.”
Pink rushes up her cheeks making her look adorably fuckable. “You’re cute when you lie.”
“I’m not lying, I have no interest in being your bed buddy or your booty call.”
“What are you interested in being?” I let my arms fall to my sides and start walking toward her.
“Nothing,” she lies, avoiding eye contact.
“I told you I don’t like playing games.” I stop when we’re toe-to-toe and she shifts nervously.
“I’m not playing a game,” she whispers.
I grin.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because I’m starting to think this game might be fun.” I lift my hand and touch my fingers to the underside of her jaw, hearing her sharp intake of breath. “I’ll be in touch.”
“What?” she asks as I step out of the apartment.
“See you around, Mouse.”
“Clay,” she calls to my back then shouts, “I’m not playing a game.”
“I know,” I shout back over my shoulder then hear her make a frustrated sound right before the door slams.
Yeah, this might be fun.
Chapter 6
Willow
WITH MY FEET aching due to the heels I chose to wear today, I take a seat at my desk and start up my computer so that I can log out of the banking’s online system and shut down my desktop. Like most Mondays, the day was busy from the time the bank opened until I walked out the last client and locked the doors behind them just minutes ago.