Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
"I knew Kaleo was up to something," he mutters, narrowing his eyes on the boy. "We've been keeping an eye on Miss James for a while now. His gang keeps showing up around here, causing trouble."
"You know January?" I practically snarl at him, not liking the way he talks about her like she's his to watch over.
He glances up at me and smiles, too slow to realize he's walking into a no-go zone. I don't give a fuck if he does have a badge, I'll rip his throat out if he tries anything with her. "Everyone around here knows Miss James," he says, emphasizing her name like I'm being disrespectful or some shit by calling her January. "She was my son's kindergarten teacher."
Shit. I forgot she's a teacher. Well, that's not true. I've refused to let myself think about her for so goddamn long that I blocked that shit out. But I know she teaches kindergarten. It's what she's wanted to do since she was barely out of grade school herself. She's so good with kids. She always wanted a bunch of her own.
It hasn't gone unnoticed that she still lives in her old house, alone.
What? So maybe I think about her more than I should. More than is good for me. Sue me.
"Kaleo won't be a problem for her much longer," I mutter to the officer as he hooks Trey up and pulls him to his feet.
"Good," he says, rubbing a hand over his crewcut hair. He pegs me with a considering stare. "You're the kid who used to live with Ma Lucia, aren't you?"
I think about telling him no but shrug instead.
He shoots me a speculative glance and then nods—whatever that means. He marches Trey down to the ambulance waiting on the curb and then helps him inside so the paramedics can deal with his nose.
I should probably feel bad for breaking it, but I didn't know he was just a fucking kid when I clocked him. And it's not like he didn't earn that shit trying to break into January's house to scare her. Who knows what the fuck he was planning to do with the knife he had in his pocket? He's lucky all he got was a broken nose and a few smacks. Just thinking about what might have happened has my blood boiling all over again.
"What's going on out here?"
I freeze as soon as I hear that dulcet voice. I don't even have to turn around to know it's her. She hasn't spoken a word to me since she told me to leave, but the cadence of her voice is ingrained in my memory, embedded so deeply that I don't think I'll ever forget it. I remember the exact resonance of her giggle and the sweet melody of her laugh. I know how that angelic voice turns sultry when she's begging me to fuck her…and how she growls and hisses like a little lioness when she's pissed off. I also know that her voice shakes when she's scared.
It's shaking now.
"Nothing. Go back inside, January," I say, planting my feet to keep myself from turning around to look at her. If I see her, if I look into those bright emerald eyes…it's going to tear me apart. All those still festering wounds are going to break wide open, and I'm not sure I'll be able to handle it this time. It's been so fucking long since she ripped my heart out, and I'm barely surviving as it is.
"Cade?" she gasps.
Fuck.
She's the only person who has ever called me Cade.
I never let anyone else use the nickname she gave me. It was just for her. Hearing her say it now is like a goddamn dare, taunting me to turn around and face her. And I want to do exactly that. I want to turn around and look my fill, ease the pain that's been riding me every single day since she kicked my ass to the curb, but I don't have that right anymore. I lost it when I destroyed her life.
Like the bastard I am, I turn around anyway.
She's still the prettiest little thing I've ever seen in my life; only she's more beautiful now than ever. She's short and curvy, those luscious tits pressing against her tank top so hard her nipples are visible. Her red shorts cover nothing. They're so goddamn short every inch of those thick thighs and tanned legs are on display. Her round belly drives me fucking wild. She’s so fucking thick and soft everywhere.
With one glimpse at her, I'm rock hard, my dick pressing against my zipper so insistently he's about to split the seams. Even after all these years, he still knows who he belongs to. January.
"Cade," she whispers this time, her bright green eyes roving all over my body. She hasn't changed at all. She's still a perfect little angel.