Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Where are they now?”
“Vegas. Well, all of my family lives there—my mom and dad along with my brothers and a few cousins.”
“You came to Tennessee alone?”
“Yeah, they didn’t want me to keep my baby,” she whispers, placing her hands over her stomach protectively. “I hate her dad, but she’s half of me and innocent. I know it may sound crazy, but when I found out I was pregnant, I knew—regardless of how she was made—I loved her more than anything else in this world. And I’ll never let anyone take her from me.”
“You keep saying she. Are you having a girl?”
“Yeah.” She smiles then reaches out and grabs my hand, pulling it to her stomach. Letting her lead the way, I watch her hand press down on mine and feel movement under her shirt as the baby moves around. Looking up at her, I feel my face go soft as I watch a beautiful smile spread across hers and her eyes light with excitement. Without thinking, I use my free hand to push a piece of hair behind her ear. Her sharp intake of breath has me leaning close enough to feel her exhale against my mouth.
“I really want to kiss you, Aubrey,” I whisper, and her eyes close briefly before she leans forward, resting her lips against mine. I kiss her softly then pull away, sliding my hand behind her neck to drag her head forward so I can touch my mouth to her forehead.
“That was nice.”
I shift back to look down at her. “Only nice?”
Her blue eyes fill with humor as she smiles up at me. “Better than nice.”
“How much better?” I rub the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip, amazed by how soft it is.
She tilts her head to the side and taps her finger against her chin like she’s thinking hard about my question before she answers. “I think it was the best first kiss I’ve ever had.”
I like her answer, but I want more. “I think I should kiss you again, just so you’re sure. You know… so you have something to compare it to.”
“You do?” she asks with a smile. I nod, and she whispers against my lips, “Okay.”
I softly brush my lips against hers. “What do you think now?”
It takes a moment for her lashes to flutter open and for her to focus on me. “I don’t know. I think you should kiss me again.”
“I like the way you think.” I nibble her bottom lip then soothe it with my tongue.
“Oh, that’s nice,” she says then giggles when her stomach moves between us.
I lean back and rest my hand on her belly. “Does she always move so much?”
“Yeah,” she replies softly, and I look up at her. “Especially when she knows it’s time for me to go to sleep.” She scoots back on the couch. “I really should go.”
Fuck, I don’t want her to, but I know she’s right. “I’ll walk you downstairs.”
“It’s not a big deal. I can make it on my own.” She slides her feet into her flip-flops.
“I’ll walk you,” I repeat, standing, and she eyes me for a moment before nodding once. I open the door for her to step out ahead of me then take her hand and walk her downstairs, leaving her at Shelly’s door with one more kiss and fucking hating that she’s not going to sleep where I can keep an eye on her.
Chapter 3
AUBREY
I STAND BACK to look at Stella, making sure the makeup I’m doing on her looks flawless. It took me a few months to get used to being backstage at a strip club. But now I don’t even think about the girls who are mostly naked, primping in the mirrors, chatting about what’s going on in their lives and which big spenders are in the crowd as they get ready for their turn on stage.
“Aubrey’s gone and gotten herself a boyfriend!” Shelly announces as she walks in wearing nothing but sheer panties and glitter, and all the girls stop talking.
My cheeks flood with heat as they all turn and stare at me while Shelly plops down on her chair, swiveling around to fix her makeup before she goes out to work the floor. “Shelly!” I hiss.
She meets my eyes in the mirror and lifts her brows. “What?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“I call bullshit.” She twirls back around and points her mascara in my direction while she taps her foot clad in five-inch clear heels. “A guy came out and worked on the doors of your car on Tuesday afternoon while you were here doing the books for Johnny. When I spoke to him about the bill, he said it was already taken care of. Who else would’ve paid for something like that except a boyfriend?”
I tap my chest and argue, “Me. I could’ve paid to have my own car repaired.”