Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17473 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 87(@200wpm)___ 70(@250wpm)___ 58(@300wpm)
I shrug. “Well, probably because I feel like you being here with me is breaking some hearts right now.” I nudge my chin toward the women, and he turns and looks.
He’s ready to defend himself when he looks back at me. “I’m not dating any of those women, Gina.”
I search his eyes. “It’s nothing to me—”
He cuts me off as his hand cups my neck. “Don’t say that.”
I don’t understand what’s happening here, and before I can say anything else, another fast song picks up and the dance floor is flooded. We line dance, and even though he says he doesn’t dance, he’s a fast learner. By the time the song ends, my sides are hurting from laughing so hard. We walk to the edge of the dance floor. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
I get only a few steps away when his hand wraps around my wrist. “Do you want me to go with you?”
He looks all serious. “To the ladies’ room? No, I think I can handle it. I’ll be right back.”
He acts as if he doesn’t want to let me go. Images of that kiss from earlier fill my head. He tilts his head to the side. “What are you thinking about? Your cheeks are red.”
I pull my hand from his. “Nothing... I’ll be right back.”
I duck my head and walk away from him, fanning myself the whole way.
Chapter 6
Levi
For the first time in forever, I feel that I’m in a good place. I take a seat at our table and keep my eyes trained on the hallway that leads to the restrooms. I’m not thinking about anything or anyone except for Gina right now and how I’m going to convince her to spend more time with me.
“Hey, Levi.”
I don’t look at the woman. I’m harsher than normal, but for months now, I’ve turned her down, and she’s not taking the hint. “Hey, Tracy. I’m not interested.”
She still doesn’t get it. She moves into my line of sight, blocking me from the view of the hallway. “So I thought—”
She reaches out to touch me, and I jerk back. “Don’t. I’m not interested.”
I glare at her, and it’s then I see Gina over Tracy’s shoulder and instantly I see red. Gina is talking to my friend, Jerrod.
I stand up and make my way to them. As soon as I reach them, I pull Gina toward me, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, Jerrod, I see you’ve met Gina. She’s with me.”
Jerrod looks between the two of us. “Well, fuck me, Levi. Can you leave any for the rest of us?”
Gina jerks from me, staring up at me with her mouth hanging open. For just an instant, I see the hurt in her eyes, but it’s gone quickly. She looks at Jerrod. “It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”
“The hell we are,” I tell her.
She won’t look at me. Instead, she looks at Jerrod. “You want to dance?”
As soon as she says it, I know if I don’t get Jerrod away from her, I’m going to punch him in the throat. We’ve been friends for a lifetime, but that doesn’t matter right now.
I look at her, and it’s obvious she’s upset. I grab on to her waist and look at my friend. “First of all, you’re not dancing with her. Second of all, tell her the truth. Tell her what you meant.”
I swear if he fucks this up for me, I’ll never forgive him. He laughs. “I mean, women hit on him all the time. Probably because he has money and owns a mountain or some shit because we both know he’s not much to look at.”
Jerrod laughs at his own joke, but I don’t find it funny. Hell, I’ll never laugh again unless I fix this.
Jerrod’s smile drops, and he rolls his eyes. “Women ask him, but he hasn’t gone out in months... fuck dude, when is the last time you got laid? Anyway, he’s been spouting some shit about wanting to settle down. I don’t see the appeal of it...”
I step in front of him, positioning myself fully against Gina.
“I’m not a player. I’m not looking for some fuck or anything like that. I genuinely like you, and I want to get to know you.”
She’s looking everywhere but at me. “Can we go?”
Fuck! “Gina....”
She shakes her head. “Look, I believe you, but I mean, it doesn’t matter. We just met, and like I said earlier today, me and you don’t make sense.”
I start to argue, but she holds her hand up. “Look, the amount of women that are looking at you as if they’re about to stake their claim is a little overwhelming. Do you think we can get out of here?”
I wrap my hand around hers and pull her to the table I left. I grab both our jackets and head to the front of the bar. Before going outside, I help her put her coat on and then lead her to my truck. Everything was going perfectly, and now it’s all gone to hell. I take her outside, and with her hand in mine, I feel some better, but it’s not enough.