Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
The spotlight dimmed, allowing me to see the crowd of people standing from their seats and clapping. I smiled even brighter when Autumn, Drew’s wife, waved and did an excited little hop before giving me a double thumbs-up. Then something behind her caught my eye, and I lifted my gaze to see a man standing in the shadows off to the left.
His deep blue eyes were trained on me in an unblinking and unwavering stare. I suddenly felt naked and on fire as my thighs clenched. When his lips tipped up into a smirk, I wondered if he knew how I was reacting to him. He couldn’t tell, right?
Unable to hold his intense stare, I glanced at the rest of him. He had dark blond hair, cropped close to his head, a chiseled, square jaw, a patrician nose, and full, kissable lips.
As I looked lower, I stifled a gasp. Good grief. The guy was built like a freaking linebacker. From the way he filled out his jet-black suit, it was obvious he was all cut muscle. And damn, all those muscles were sexy as hell. My eyes might have lingered for a second too long at the juncture of his thighs because, despite the darkness, I was almost positive a bulge began to grow there. I suddenly pictured what he looked like underneath all those clothes, and my nipples hardened while dampness flooded between my legs. If I’d been wearing panties, they would have been soaked.
My cheeks heated, and my eyes flew back up to his face. He wasn’t smiling any longer. In fact, his gaze was no longer on my face, and he looked like he was about to murder someone. Confused at his sudden about-face, I frowned and followed his line of sight.
It was very likely my face was as red as my dress when I realized he could see the pebbled tips of my breasts poking through my tight sheath. As it was backless and practically side-less, it hadn’t been possible for me to wear a bra.
When he took a step forward, I backed up and said a quick thank you into the mic before running off the stage to my dressing room. I shut the door and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. I’d never reacted to a man like this. It was throwing me for a loop.
My heart rate had barely had a chance to level off when a sharp knock had me jumping a foot away with a yelp.
“Open the door, Addilyn.”
Oh. Em. Gee.
The low, raspy male voice sent shivers down my spine and another gush of wetness between my legs. What in the ever-loving crap was wrong with me? I was afraid to open the door. Afraid I might climb the guy—the one I’d never freaking met—like a tree.
“Addilyn.” His tone had an undercurrent of warning in it.
Maybe I should have been offended at his high-handed order, but instead, I found it incredibly hot. So, I sucked in a quick breath and swung the door open.
Mr. Tall, Blond, and Sexy stood on the other side, the scowl still in place. “Can I help you?” I was incredibly proud of the fact that my voice didn’t waver.
His eyes met mine, and he winked—then my ovaries exploded. “Absolutely, gorgeous.” He smiled, showing off a smile worthy of a toothpaste commercial with dimples that popped in each cheek. I kind of felt bad for every other man on the planet because they would always live in the shadow of the god standing in front of me. “But first, I need you to put on some clothes.”
I glanced down at my dress with a frown. “You don’t like my dress?”
He shook his head as he took a few steps into the room, causing me to back up or be plastered against his body. “That’s not a dress, baby.” His blue eyes narrowed, and he glared at my outfit. “That’s a fucking dish towel.” His long arms reached out and took hold of my shoulders, then he gently turned me around. “Now, get dressed so I can take you out and properly welcome you to the Lennox.”
“Y-you want to take me out?” I sputtered, looking at him over my shoulder. “I don’t even know your name!”
“It’s Knox Dawson. Hurry up so we can so celebrate your success.” Before I could respond, he gave me a little push toward the rack of hanging clothes on the opposite wall, then shocked the shit out of me when he gave my ass a little pat.
3
Knox
Addilyn took her sweet time picking something to change into. The first outfit she considered wasn’t much better than the scrap of clothing she’d worn during her performance. I muttered an oath under my breath, and her brown eyes held a hint of mirth when she turned to look over her shoulder at me. Her plump lips curved up in a small grin before she let the hanger drop and grabbed one with a wine-red outfit on it instead. This one had more material, which was a damn good thing since I was already sick and tired of seeing the lust in other men’s eyes as they looked at her. I understood their reactions since her brand of sexy packed one hell of a punch, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t beat the shit out of someone if they gave in to the temptation Addilyn presented and tried to do more than look.