Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Then I delivered a blow with my right elbow to his cheek and a second one to his gut. Both landed with satisfying thumps, and I quickly tried to scramble to my feet.
Unfortunately, that fucking dress was not made for easy movement. I hadn’t quite managed to stand up when Duke regained his strength and popped up. He was coming toward me with pure evil on his face when suddenly the door behind him flew open, and he was jerked backward and tossed to the ground like a marionette. Then he took a blow to the face that was much harder than the elbow I’d delivered—it landed with an explosive crack!
“Motherfucker!” Xander yelled, standing over Duke like an angry god. “I should fucking kill you for putting your hands on her!” He clutched the front of Duke’s white shirt—now splattered with blood from Duke’s nose—and hauled him up to his feet. “Fight back, asshole! Or do you only get rough with people smaller than you?”
“I’ll fucking—!” Duke sputtered, but I never got to hear what he was going to fucking do because Xander caught him in the solar plexus with two more sharp jabs. Duke fell to the floor and cowered, gasping for air, while Xander cocked his fist again.
“Xander, no! I’m okay,” I said, pulling up the hem of my dress and rushing over. “I’m okay!”
He immediately abandoned Duke and took me in his arms. “Are you sure? He didn’t hurt you?”
“He didn’t hurt me,” I said. “I promise, he didn’t. Did you see my bridge high, throw low?”
“No.” He looked at me with awe. “Did you use it?”
“It worked,” I said excitedly. “It really worked.”
Then I burst into tears.
Later, after I’d filed a police report, returned the jewels, ditched the dress, washed off my makeup, hugged my mother, and told her the story over a couple of very strong cocktails, I let Xander tuck me into bed and crawl in beside me.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said, pulling him close, laying my cheek on his chest. Would anything ever feel as good as lying naked with him? Feeling his warm, hard body against my skin? Hearing his heart beat so close to mine?
“I’m so sorry I left,” he said. “I knew something wasn’t right. When I think about what might have happened if I hadn’t gotten there, it fucking kills me.”
“Were you scared?”
“Hell yes, I was scared.”
“What? Big, bad Xander Buckley is admitting he gets scared?”
“I guess he is. Keep my secret.”
“Want to know one of mine?” I kissed his chest.
“I want to know all of yours.”
I picked up my head and looked down at him, my pulse pounding. “I’m in love with you.”
“I—”
I covered his lips with my hand before he could get another word out. “No, don’t say anything. I don’t need any words in return. I just wanted you to know how I feel and how grateful I am for you.”
He pushed my hand away. “When am I allowed to do the same thing?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“That’s nice of you.”
“I am country music’s sweetheart.”
Even in the dark, I sensed his smile. “Tell me again.”
“I love you.”
“I like the way it sounds when you say it. Sometimes I just want to sop your voice up with a biscuit and swallow it whole.”
My entire body tingled, right down to my toes. “I missed you so much today. I know we won’t always be able to be there for each other, even on the big days, but it really didn’t feel right without you there.”
“I will do my best to be there on the big days, I promise.”
“Me too,” I said. “I’m so happy we’re flying back together tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to, you know. The opening of my bar is not the same as a big performance. And I won’t have a ton of downtime over the weekend.”
“Hush. I’m coming, and that’s that.” I poked his chest twice. “You’re sure it’s okay with your dad if I stay with you?”
“Yes. It’s safer than a hotel. And I promise, I’m going to look for a house soon.”
“Get the bar up and running first. The house can come later.”
“I wish our flight tomorrow wasn’t so early,” he said, his hands beginning to stray beneath the covers. “We have to get up in like six hours. And I’m sure you’re tired. I want you to get some sleep.”
“I can sleep on the plane,” I told him, rolling onto my back and pulling him on top of me. “And I can nap when we get there. I can nap all day if I have to.”
He settled his hips between my thighs. “Does that mean I can keep you up a while longer?”
“I’d be very unsatisfied if you didn’t.”
“I can’t leave you unsatisfied, can I?” He lowered his mouth to my neck. To my shoulder. To my chest. “You might write a song about it. My reputation would be ruined.”