Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“What the fuck?” I feel my temper flaring as I storm into the pool house and push the door open with more force than necessary. It bangs against the wall behind me and then my anger dissipates as I see a young woman sitting on the small couch crying.
“I’m sorry!” she immediately apologizes and stands up while wiping away her tears. “I was just leaving.”
She’s got on a floral print dress that is cut so low in the front I can see a mountain of cleavage threatening the seams. Her hair is messy like she’s been running her fingers through it, and something about her is so familiar that I take a long moment just to take her in.
“Where’s Kyle?” I finally ask, and so help me god if he did something to this girl, I’ll kill him.
“I think he went back inside.” She looks around like she forgot she was in here crying and then grabs a purse from the floor.
In the process of getting her purse, all of its contents fall out, and I see her cell phone take a nosedive to the tile floor. I wince as it shatters the screen and the light that was on fades to black.
“Oh no,” she sobs, getting on her hands and knees to start scooping up the pieces.
“Wait, don’t do that.” I follow her down to the floor, but it’s too late and she’s already dragged her hand over the broken screen and cut her finger. “Shit, be careful.”
I take her hand in mine, and I’m surprised by the spark of heat that singes my fingers. I must have run my feet across the rug or something and shocked her. Her tears flow freely now as she begins to apologize once more.
“Hey, hey enough of that,” I say softly as all the anger I was feeling before morphs into concern. “It’s all right, don’t cry.” She looks up at me through her wet lashes, and her dark eyes are so big and full of worry. “I’ll take care of you.”
The words are out of my mouth, and I have no idea where they came from. But damn does it feel good when I see the corner of her mouth ever so slightly tug upward into a smile. At that moment, I realize that I might do anything to watch that happen over and over.
“Kiss,” she says, and my eyes travel right to her full, lush lips. Then my brain kicks in, and I hear the rest of what she’s saying. “It was just a stupid kiss. I don’t know why I couldn’t just do it.”
She’s talking mostly to herself now, but now my anger is back with a vengeance. “Did he hurt you?” Her eyes snap up to mine, and she shakes her head. “Come with me.”
Before I have time to think this through, I help her off the floor and grab the rest of her things. I find a clean towel in the bathroom, wrap her hand, and lead her into the main house.
“It’s just a scratch. I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s no trouble, I can just call my sister and—” She stops talking and then tears well in her eyes again. “I don’t know her number by heart.” Her shoulders sag in defeat, and I clench my jaw with frustrated anger.
“It’s all right. I told you I’m going to take care of you. What’s your name?”
“Nadia,” she answers and then sniffs.
“I’m Walsh, all right? I’ve got a first-aid kit in the kitchen, and I want to clean that up.”
“It’s really not that bad; I just wasn’t paying attention.”
When I lead her into the kitchen, I clear off one of the bar stools and grab the kit from under the sink. I’m going to strangle Kyle when I find him. I can’t believe he left her all alone out there. She was in tears!
“Hold still,” I say as I take her hand in mine. Once again, the static zips between us, and I try to remember if the rugs in the house usually cause so much electricity. “It’s going to sting a little.”
She hisses at the touch of the alcohol pad, and on instinct I bring her hand to my mouth and blow gently on the cut. Thankfully, it’s not deep, but even a little scratch like this should be treated.
“Let me bandage this up, and I’ll take you home, okay?” I say, and her cheeks turn pink before she nods.
“Just please don’t tell Kyle I was crying,” she says softly, and I pause with the Band-Aid as my eyes meet hers.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“Like I said, it was just a misunderstanding. I don’t want to get him in trouble. He told me his dad was out of town.”
“I was,” I say, not correcting her on calling me his dad. “But it’s a good thing I came back early.”