Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“What are you doing here, Mitchell?”
The man’s brown eyes flicked between him with his arms outside the blanket to the woman tucked under it and then back up to him.
“She must be more of a basketball fan.” A teasing grin. “Can’t say I blame her.”
“Fuck you, man.” A beat of silence. “You good?”
The smile told him that no matter what came out of Mitchell’s mouth, it wasn’t good.
“Been better,” his best friend said before reaching behind him. In his hand was a thick envelope and he handed it over. “Didn’t mean to ruin your date but wanted to make sure I handed this to you.”
Only one person in the world could make his friend this morose. “The Viper at it again?”
“I’m heading out, but there’s a meeting about Inicio. I know you know that, as you’re part owner, but I had some ideas I’m putting together that I wanted to make sure got mentioned to the board.”
“I got you.” And he meant it. He would always have Mitchell’s back, just like he knew the man had his.
His lips thinned before he nodded and gave a partial smile. “Take good care of our girl. See you when I’m in town again.” He stepped back and turned around.
My girl. But he got it. Mitchell would protect her like he would Tully’s girl, Dawson, without hesitation, if it was ever needed. “Mitchell?”
His friend paused but didn’t face him again.
“Call us if you need anything.”
Linc hated how stiff his friend was. A perfunctory nod and he walked away.
“Should I be worried that I’ve been claimed by more than one guy?”
His own tension flowed off as he angled his head down to see the woman tucked against him, like she belonged nowhere else.
“Trust me, Freckles. You’ve not been claimed. Yet. When it happens, it will be by me. And only me.”
She trembled in his arms but didn’t pull away.
“I got you wet.” Her fingers brushed against the spot on his shirt.
He lowered his head to nip her ear. “I think that’s my line.”
A small mewl escaped. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”
“I’m fine with it. One of my favorite movies, my fiancée asleep in my arms. Perfect night for me.” Another nip of her ear. “Are you warm enough?”
“Getting warmer by the second,” she muttered.
Linc figured he wasn’t supposed to have heard that. His body responded and he didn’t say anything. Hell, he didn’t have to. His cock pushed against her. No way she didn’t feel that. Again, she didn’t pull away and he swore he heard a small growl escaping from her throat. God, hunger for this woman was getting harder and harder to ignore.
“Is he okay?” She sniffed. “Mitchell? Do you need to take me home and make sure he’s okay?”
He lowered his gaze to the thick packet by his leg that he’d been handed. “He will be.”
“I’m guessing The Viper is the soon-to-be ex-Mrs. Anderson?”
Resting his cheek against her hair, he inhaled the soft scent of her shampoo. Perhaps soft wasn’t the right word, it was sharp and crisp like biting into a cold Cortland. Or McIntosh. “That’s the one.”
“Bitch.”
Unbidden, a chuckle rumbled from his chest. “She is that.”
“You’re so comfortable and warm,” she mumbled, shifting closer.
Comfortable wasn’t a word he would have chosen. Hard. Aching. Flexing his fingers around the blanket and her arm, he kissed her head.
“Wanna stay all night?”
“Tempting but I have a child to get back to.”
“Camping out worked well for Tully and Dawson.”
“After a fashion.” She sat up, keeping the thick blanket around her. He could hardly see her anymore for the lights were almost completely out at the drive-in.
Not willing to let her go just yet, he pulled her closer to him, encouraging her to settle over his lap, placing her knees on either side of his hips. God, he wanted to do this again. Without clothing between them.
“Well, we’re already engaged.”
She snorted and damn it, even that he found adorable.
He tugged on the blanket’s edges, bringing her closer still. The press of her breasts against his chest was hard to ignore and he didn’t want to, but he did. Mostly. She rocked against him, sliding against the stiffness in his jeans.
“Emma.” Her name fell from his lips in a breathless sigh.
A bright light illuminated them both, making him squint, and he was pretty sure she did the same thing.
“What the fuck? Turn that off or get it out of our faces.”
“Sorry.” After a few moments of fumbling it shone toward the large screen the movie had been playing on. “That you, Linc?”
“Parker?”
“Yeah man, it’s me.”
Parker Hewes was an officer on the Rock Falls police force. He would have rather it been his father.
“What the fuck are you doing out here?”
“It was movie night.” He moved closer to the truck and Linc tightened his hold on Emma to keep her in place. “What are you doing here? The movie’s been over.”