Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
When the door swung open, it was my turn to be knocked on my ass. Yeah, I was gonna eat crow for the shit I’d given the guys over being taken down by love in an instant. Apparently, my libido had been dormant, not gone, because it roared to life.
A girl—who didn’t look any older than Karina—stood on the porch holding skis and covered in a light dusting of snow. Her hair was the color of dark honey and pulled back in a tight ponytail with goggles perched on the top of her head. Her emerald-green eyes were rimmed with thick lashes, her nose pert, and her plush lips were perfect for being wrapped around my dick. She was tall, though still at least a half foot shorter than my six-foot three-inch height. I was also willing to bet that under her ski suit was a toned, athletic body.
Cash’s woman had nothing on mine. Not that I would say it out loud when he was standing next to me with a gun.
I was mesmerized by her bright smile, but it died the moment she spotted the weapons in our hands. I felt frustrated at the loss and determined to see it again.
“Who are you?” she screeched, dropping her equipment and rushing inside. “Where’s Karina? What have you done? I’m calling the police!”
I instantly came up with a million reasons to justify what I did next. It would be harder to convince Karina to leave with her friend causing a ruckus. Staying there would put her friend in danger too. We couldn’t have her causing problems by calling the authorities or anything like that.
But the truth was much simpler. She was mine, and I was taking her.
I stalked over and wrapped my hands around her waist before tossing her over my shoulder—careful not to hurt her. “I’ll take care of this,” I growled as I spun around and made my way back to the entrance.
“Put me down, you big thug!” my girl yelled at me, kicking her feet and banging on my back with her fists. “I’m not going with you! Put me down!”
I ignored her and continued outside, slamming the front door behind me.
She kept fighting me all the way to the rented SUV. From my research, I knew this was the car Karina’s mother had rented, but I’d hack in and change the reservation later.
When a fist connected with my kidney, I winced and lightly slapped my girl’s firm ass. She froze and gasped, then struggled even more. “Baby, stop,” I sighed. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
To my surprise, she calmed down when I spoke, although she didn’t stop protesting.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I assured her as I opened the back door and flipped the child lock before gently setting her on the seat. She sucked in a fast breath when I leaned over to buckle her seat belt, and I swallowed a smirk. I wasn’t the only one affected by the chemistry sizzling between us.
She tried to unbuckle, but I shut her door before she could get it unlatched. I slid into the driver’s seat, and she screamed in frustration when she realized she had no way out.
2
LORELEI
Glaring at the hot guy as he climbed into the front of the rental SUV, I screamed in frustration while I mentally kicked myself for holding back from asking Karina what was wrong before I hit the slopes. “You better take me right back into that cabin, or else you’ll be in a ton of trouble! Kidnapping is a felony, you know!”
His brown eyes held no fear when he glanced at me over his shoulder. “You’ve got it backward, firecracker. I’m getting you far away from the potential trouble while Cash keeps your friend safe.”
Tilting my head, I released the belt I’d unbuckled—only to find the childproof locks were engaged while he was rounding the front of the rented SUV. Treating me like a little kid was something I’d planned to rake him over the coals for, but now I had more important things to worry about. “What does Karina need protecting from?”
I was irritated that I had to ask him about what was happening with my best friend. I’d never been a napper, but between jet lag and the skiing lesson I’d taken yesterday, I had been exhausted enough to pass out for a couple of hours. When I woke up, the vibe in the cabin her dad had rented for our trip had done a complete one-eighty. Karina and I had been best friends long enough for me to know her mood without her having to say a word, but I’d still let her push me out the door to hit the slopes instead of staying to find out what had gone down while I was asleep.
Now I’d been carted off by a stranger and had no idea what was happening with my best friend. If I hadn’t been distracted by his hotness, I would’ve thought to make a mad dash toward the room I shared with Karina before he and his friend could stop me. Not that I would’ve stood much of a chance if he gave chase since he was a good half foot taller than me and had a muscular build that even his winter clothes couldn’t hide.