Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26918 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“You’ll look amazing,” Max says, peering over the top of his sunglasses as if to get a better view. Then he winks. “Can’t wait to see you model it for me.”
I tingle a little under that gaze, especially the way he looks so masculine and sexy doing it, but that wasn’t what I was asking.
“But this one or the sixties jeans?”
“I like them both.”
“Ugh. Yes. But which one should I get?” I stamp my foot, then get frustrated when he starts to chuckle.
“Baby, get them both.”
I shake my head. “No, I only treat myself to one when I come to these things, otherwise I’d go home with everything.”
“Then go home with everything. I’ll build you a new wardrobe.”
I stare at him, trying to decide whether I like that idea or whether I’m annoyed that he won’t help me make a decision. I could get both. It wouldn’t break the bank. It’s just, this is my way of limiting how much I buy.
“You really think I should get both?”
“Get both, baby. And don’t think I didn’t notice you eyeing that skater dress, either.” He digs out his wallet, then takes a small pile of hundreds from inside and holds them out to me. “Get them all. Otherwise, I’ll come back and buy you the ones you left behind.”
“I can pay for my own things.”
“Sure. But I can pay for them too, and I want to. My treat.”
I bite into my bottom lip as I watch him, and feel the blush rise on my cheeks. “Really?”
“Really.”
I snatch the money before he can change his mind, then point at a stall we passed on the way in. “You should get some of those old games you were looking at.”
“No. This is your day.”
“And I’m going to be a moment grabbing these. Go take a look. Get what you want. What was that console you pointed out to me?”
He grins. “A Sega Genesis. I used to have one when I was a kid, that’s all. I don’t need it.”
“Of course you don’t need it. Do you think I need any of this? Go!”
Max laughs. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll be back in five minutes.”
I watch him go, then notice the stall holder grinning at me. We chat about old fashions as she grabs the jeans from the other end of the stall, and I find out she met her husband at one of these fairs. It feels so nice and normal to just talk about our lives together, like we share something beyond our love of vintage clothes: a love of men who like to indulge us.
When I’m done, I start for the stall where I saw the skater dress, but before I can even take a step, I hear a voice that makes me groan.
“Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” Brandon sneers as he saunters over to me. “Thought I might find you here, you little freak. You know Cyn broke up with me because of what you did, right?”
“What I did?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “What did I do? Was I selling drugs, Brandon? Did I bring those people to our house and put us all in danger?”
His eyes dart around, and sure, there are people looking our way at the mention of drugs, but I don’t care. I didn’t do anything wrong, he did.
“I could have handled it if you’d just let me,” he mutters. “I could have looked like a hero instead of that…weirdo teacher.”
I narrow my eyes. “Weirdo teacher? Do you mean Max? The man who saved all our lives, yours included?”
“What’s with that though? Why does he insist you call him Max when he’s a teacher? And what’s he doing jumping in like some sort of commando?”
I don’t even know why I’m arguing with him. All of this is his problem, not mine. “Get lost, Brandon. And leave Cyn alone, she doesn’t want to see you.”
I turn away from him and start for the stall, then whip around when I feel a hand on my shoulder, and to my surprise he jumps back.
“Touch me again, asshole, and…”
“And what? You ruined things for me and Cyn, I want you to fix them, you little bitch.”
I draw a sharp breath, barely able to believe what I’m hearing. But I’m not the only one.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the huge shape looming up, and don’t even manage to turn my head to see who’s coming before Brandon’s nose explodes in a shower of blood. He stumbles back, but before he can recover, Max’s hand goes to his throat, cutting off his airway, starting to lift. People scream, and I take a step back, but I’m not going to try to stop him. Brandon deserves everything he gets.
“Leave her alone,” Max says. “I should have fucking let those guys take you.”