Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Jessy is dumb, and I don’t know what I ever saw in him. He laughs as if this is all one big joke and holds his hands up. “Yeah, sure thing, old timer. No problem.”
He walks down the steps, and Ace’s gaze returns to mine. I don’t know if I want to tell him off for making a scene or pounce on him and kiss him right here. I figure the best offense is a good defense. I jerk my hand off his chest. “You’re not my keeper, Ace. I don’t need you protecting me.”
He pushes his hat farther up on his head. “Tough shit, princess. If you think I’ll ever just stand by when someone is fucking with you, then you’re sorely mistaken.”
I’m a pro at hiding my reactions. As a nurse at the hospital, I have to keep my personal feelings and reactions in check, but somehow, Ace has always been able to read me, and that’s exactly why I can’t look him in the face right now. His possessiveness should piss me off, but it doesn’t. Instead, it causes a heat in my lower belly that I can’t exactly explain.
He opens his arms, and I know we’re still the center of attention, but stuff like that doesn’t bother him. “What? No hug? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
And just like that, Ace has me laughing. I never can stay mad at him, and he knows it. I laugh and shake my head before walking into his arms. Ace gives the best hugs. He squeezes me hard, his arms around my shoulders and mine around his waist. He rocks me slowly side to side and rests his chin on the top of my head. If I could stay like this forever, I would. The hug lasts so long that it starts to feel awkward. It’s almost like neither one of us wants to let go, but most likely, it’s just me. I pull back and look up at him. “That’s enough, cowboy, or else all your drooling fans are going to be heartbroken thinking you’re taken.”
He tilts his head, searching my eyes. I meant it as a joke, but it came out as something more. Can he hear the tinge of jealousy in my voice? Does he know that I wish it was me he wanted to be with?
He puts an arm around my shoulder. “Let them think whatever they want to. But there’s only one woman that I want, and I can’t have her.”
My eyes snap up to his, and he mumbles, “Fuck” like he just gave something away he shouldn’t have. Sometimes when he looks at me like he’s looking now, I wonder if there could ever be something between Ace and me. There’s always been a tension between us, but I’ve never been brave enough to ask him about it. Mostly because I remember that he’s my dad’s best friend. Plus, the fact that he could have any woman in here has me drawing away from him. I can’t compete with the skinny buckle bunnies. No, I’m better off getting my head out of the clouds and being content with the friendship I have with Ace.
Chapter 3
Ace
I hold my hand out for Lila, and I don’t move until she takes it. Call me a fool, but if she’s around, I’m going to touch her. To anyone else, it looks like a friendly hug or a friend helping another, but to me, for just a few minutes, I live in this make-believe world where Lila and I could actually make a go of this.
Until reality hits me, anyway.
When she finally puts her hand in mine, I lead her to the seats where her dad is sitting. I stop next to him, and Lila passes me to bend down and hug him. I tell myself I’m not going to look at her ass, but I shove my hat farther down my head and look anyway.
For as long as I can remember, Lila’s complained about her weight. She’s curvy as fuck, and just thinking about her body gives me a hard-on. Especially right now, with her ass up in the air. She straightens and walks past her dad to sit down on the other side of him, and I take my seat on his other side. It’s good he’s between us because obviously I need to have some distance from her. We barely sit down, and Reilly is looking between the two of us. “Everything okay?”
“Yep,” I mutter. I know he’s talking about the shit that went down with Jessy, but I don’t want to talk about it. I say one word and Reilly is going to know I’m jealous instead of just trying to be protective.
Reilly looks at his daughter. “That Jessy still calling you all the time? I told you I’d take care of it.”