Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Everything might come out and she’d come crashing down.
She couldn’t afford that. Her existence relied on her ability to repel things. To hide all those emotional scars.
“We getting out of the elevator, little darlin’?”
“What?” She looked around, surprise filling her as she realized that they’d reached the bottom and the doors had opened.
Shoot. It was pretty obvious that she’d completely zoned out.
She stepped outside, taking a deep breath. “I’ll just go sit in the car.”
“Don’t think so, darlin’.”
“I don’t feel like coffee.”
“Then we’ll go for ice cream. Or shopping. Or for lemonade. But you are coming to sit down and talk to me.”
“I don’t have to do what you say.”
He gave her a firm look, making her swallow heavily. For some reason, she found his stern side just as sexy as his funny side. “No, you don’t. Unless you’re in danger. Or your health is at risk.”
She raised her eyebrows. She’d debate that but it didn’t seem worth arguing over when she was winning.
“Right. Neither of which is applicable right now.”
“Hmm, I don’t know.” A glint entered his eyes and she braced herself from whatever he was about to say next. He reached out and she made herself stay still.
He wasn’t going to hurt her.
He wasn’t them.
Truth was . . . she was starting to like their small touches. It was so weird.
He put his hand over her forehead. “Yep, just as I thought. You’re far too hot. Doctor Hux prescribes ice cream. Stat.”
“I don’t eat ice cream.”
He gasped, staggering back in shock. “What?”
“I haven’t had ice cream since I was a child.”
“No ice cream. My God! This is an emergency. Get this woman an ice cream! Now!”
Her mouth dropped open at his theatrics. She stared at people walking around. There wasn’t a lot. But still . . . those that were there were staring over at them.
“Hux, you’re making a scene.”
“Because this is an emergency! Come on, we have to get you to the ice cream shop immediately.” Suddenly, he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder and then he took off at a fast walk.
Panic flooded her and she froze, her throat closing up.
It’s all right. This is Hux. He will not hurt you.
She let out the breath she was holding.
“Hux, let me down.” Her voice was croaky. Quiet.
“Nah. I don’t think so.”
Oh, he was infuriating. Irritation filled her, pushing away her fear.
“Put me down right now! Hux!” She wriggled around on his shoulder.
“Just stay still, little darlin’. We’re nearly there.” He gave her ass a small smack. She froze.
Was he insane? Anyone could’ve seen him do that. What if Jonathan found out?
Okay. She needed to chill a bit. No one knew Jonathan. There was no reason to think that this would get back to him.
“Hello. It’s all right. It’s just an ice cream emergency. She hasn’t had ice cream in years and she’s about to expire from lack of creamy goodness. No, no, it’s fine. I have it all under control.”
Oh. My. God.
Who was he talking to?
Was there seriously someone there?
“Glad to see you’re taking an ice cream emergency seriously,” said an amused female voice with an accent.
“Nothing worse than an ice cream emergency,” another woman said. She sounded British.
“Are you sure she’s okay over your shoulder?” a man asked. “She’s rather quiet. You didn’t kidnap her, did you, Hux?”
Great. Just freaking great. They had to be seen by someone he knew. And they were also getting a great view of her ass. Could she ask for anything more humiliating?
Suddenly a face appeared by hers. A gorgeous woman with dark hair smiled at her. “Hello, there. Are you all right? Are you feeling dizzy? You’re not going to vomit, are you?”
Well, she hadn’t been before. But now that this ridiculously gorgeous woman mentioned it.
Yep. She was about to vomit.
13
Suddenly, she was flying through the air once more. Thank goodness she’d worn slacks rather than a skirt. She’d only made that decision because she’d wanted to hide the swelling in her ankle.
As Hux set her down, her sore ankle gave way and she would have fallen if he hadn’t grabbed her and hauled her into his side.
“Are you all right? Do you feel dizzy?” a woman asked.
Chloe couldn’t focus in on her.
“She’s lacking some vital vitamins and minerals,” Hux said.
“Like what?” a man asked.
“Ice cream.”
“Hux, ice cream is not a vitamin or mineral,” the dark-haired woman told him.
“Well, it should be. Chloe, are you all right, little darlin’?” Hux turned her so she was facing him.
“I’m not your doll, you know,” she told him, taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly.
“Oh, I know. You’re way more fun. Although it would be fun to play dress-up, don’t you think?” He waggled his eyebrows. What was he going on about?
“Hux, I can’t tell if you seriously want to play dress-up or that’s a euphemism for something else,” the first woman said.