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)
Unfortunately, it also reminded her how out of his league she was.
His gaze lingered on her face before it dropped and roved over her body before returning to her eyes.
“Emma.”
Good God, he knows my name. Her legs quivered and for a brief moment she wished everything was different.
“Mr. Conner.”
One side of his mouth quirked up, showing her a dimple, and her ovaries imploded, just on principle.
“Linc, please. Mr. Conner is my father.” He wiped the back of his hand over his forehead, dragging her eyes to one of the tattoos on his biceps. The woven band of feathers was unique and she really wanted to take a closer look. “I don’t often have parents out here watching us warm up.”
“Really? I would think there would be a lot of moms watching you run shirtless.”
He grinned at her as he came closer.
Holy shit. I said that out loud.
Heat swamped her face, and she was pretty sure she was as red as a tomato.
“I’m so sorry,” she babbled. “That was unprofessional and inappropriate.” She held out her hand. “I’m Emma Henricksen and I could use a few moments of your time, Mr. Conner, if you don’t mind?”
He took her hand and she locked her knees at the shock that rocked through her with the simple contact. She should have used her left hand, propriety be damned, because that way she could have held onto the chain link with her right and not risked falling down, because her gelatin knees suddenly decided they no longer wished to support her.
“Emma. And we’ve been over this.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Linc.”
She gulped and he still held her gaze.
“Try it,” he encouraged.
What the heck was he telling her to try, because she was thinking something that only happened in dreams.
“Open up and say it.”
I want you? Wait, no, that wasn’t right. Take me? No, pretty sure that shouldn’t come out of my mouth.
“Linc.”
There. Got it.
Who knew sweat on a man could smell this good?
His lips twitched. “Emma.”
Goose bumps popped along her skin as she tugged on her hand. He released her, then walked to where a pile of towels and shirts were strewn about.
He drew on his shirt after wiping off the sweat, then moved to her side.
Lucky shirt.
“What is it that I can do for you, Emma?”
“Take that shirt back off.”
His black eyes gleamed and sparked with trouble.
“Pretty sure we would be starting rumors if I did that.” A wink. “Ask me later when we have no children around and I’ll be happy to.”
Yes, it was official. She couldn’t control her mouth. Shoot me now.
“What do you want to talk about?” Linc changed the subject.
She prayed she could do this without further embarrassing herself.
Chapter Two
Linc stared at the woman in front of him. Tully had said she’d gone to school with them but had been a few years behind them. He didn’t remember her. Emma currently rented an apartment to Dawson, Tully’s woman, so he knew of her, but didn’t know her.
More of a pity. He was completely intrigued by her and had been ever since he’d walked behind her and her friends that night at the bar. There was something about Emma that called to his protective side. A lot of things about this woman that called to his sexual side. It was a fucking shame she had to rely on a fake device to get off. He would love to help.
She was built like a woman should be—all curves and softness.
Linc realized she was talking and he’d lost track of the conversation because he’d been thinking about her and what treasures she was hiding beneath her clothing.
“One moment, please.”
He walked toward the field and the older kids, taking deep centering breaths, needing a moment. He got them set up for practice and watched as another adult walked out. With a nod to Marv, he returned to Emma, who was doing a bang-up job of staring directly at her daughter.
“Let’s go to my office and talk about this.” A shrug. “Sorry, I tend to get distracted out here.”
“That’s okay. I’m sure you have a thousand other things to do.”
He gripped her arm, halting her, completely serious for a moment. “The parents of the children who come to the center are important to me, Emma. And I need to know how I can best help, but I have to make sure I’m able to give you my full attention.” Sparks shot through his palm and careened up his arm before spreading out through the rest of his body.
That wasn’t part of the plan.
Linc noticed that as soon as they began walking, she sidled away from his touch. He bit back a low growl of irritation. Was he sweaty? Sure, but she’d not minded before. Maybe she just wanted to lust after him without anyone knowing she was. He wasn’t like Tully or Mitchell—All-American athletes with their looks. He had the athlete part down, for sure. But that’s where the similarity ended.