Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Because she’s too young for me, but she’s beautiful and there is an attraction between us. Our attraction and her curiosity are a bad combination. She needs time to grow up and I need to come to terms with what I’ve agreed to.”
I thought my confession would shock Maxwell. I even expected him to rescind his offer when he discovered that there’s a part of me thinking of his daughter as a woman—when I have no right to. Hell, I don’t even understand it myself. How could I expect Maxwell to? He nods.
“Very well. We’ll hold off announcing it to her.”
“Then, I guess we have a deal.”
I reach out my hand as he takes it into his grasp. We shake on it, acknowledging our deal.
Fuck… I’m getting married.
CHAPTER 11
Emilia
One Year Later
“I can’t believe you won’t have a milkshake with me.”
“I’m supposed to watch over you, not drink milkshakes with you, Emilia.”
I roll my eyes when I look up at Vic over my straw. The guy really needs to learn how to let his hair down. Since his dark hair is kind of short, that’s a figure of speech. Still, he’s probably one of the coolest guys I’ve met, and he refuses to unwind and be a normal person around me.
“It’s a banana split milkshake, Vic. Do you have any idea how divine that is?”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to take your word for it,” he laughs, shaking his head. His eyes scan the area around us as we walk back to the SUV. He hadn’t wanted to stop at the small diner today. I didn’t want to go home yet. We were at a stalemate, and he let me win. If I’m honest, he usually does.
I take a deep breath enjoying the fresh air. It’s in the eighties today and the humidity is low. That’s a rarity in Florida this time of year. I love living here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’ve traveled a lot with my father. I’ve seen beautiful places and yet, they can’t compare to home.
“Were you really planning on walking on the beach in your socks and shoes?” I ask, looking at Vic like he’s insane.
“Only if you kept insisting you wanted to,” he responds.
“You realize you’re a spoilsport, don’t you, Vic?”
“You never fail to tell me that either, Emmie.” I smile. In the past year, Vic has become my constant companion. At first, it annoyed me. But now? Other than Zoe, he is like a best friend. “Emmie, get behind me,” he orders, his mood shifting in the blink of an eye.
“What?” I ask, looking around for the danger that I feel coming off Vic in waves.
“Behind me now, Emmie,” he growls, all but manhandling me and shoving me behind his big, hulking body.
“Vic—”
“Not now.”
Worry and stress fill me. For Vic to be acting like this, something has to have him on edge. I walk closely behind him, not wanting to distract his attention. I’m so close that when he comes to an abrupt stop, I plow into his solid body with a cry.
“Shit,” Vic curses. “Are you okay, Emmie?”
“Yeah. Are you okay, Emmie?”
I recoil back with the introduction of that other voice. I know it instantly. I haven’t heard it in a year, but I know it.
Nikolai Petrova.
“Sorry, Mr. Petrova, I didn’t realize it was you,” Vic says, but there’s silence hanging heavy in the air after that. Niko doesn’t bother to respond.
I step around Vic to look at the man that I’ve alternately missed and hated for the past year. He hasn’t changed. I don’t know why, but I expected changes. He’s still devastatingly completely GQ model delicious. His face is still cold, and he has on sunglasses as he stands there in his dark blue suit, but I’m sure his eyes are still just as dark. Niko also still towers over me. I tingle as I step closer toward him. My skin suddenly feeling alive in a way that it hasn’t since the night of my sixteenth birthday party and his lips brushed against my cheek.
That was the night I became infatuated with the man.
It was the night that I apparently lost all my brain cells.
I moisten my lips as I stare at him. I’ve spent a lot of time over the last year wondering where he had disappeared to. Now, I find myself wishing he would go away again. I don’t know what I feel when it comes to Niko. I just know it’s confusing.
“What are you doing here?”
“You’re late getting home from school.”
I frown. “My father didn’t have anything planned that I’m aware of. I also don’t have a set time to be home—as long as I’m there for supper or call and say I won’t make it. My father’s only requirement is that I keep Vic with me. All of which I’m doing, by the way.”