Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 435(@200wpm)___ 348(@250wpm)___ 290(@300wpm)
Well, fuck.
I clear my throat. “Ten years.”
“Listen, Legend. I raised my daughter to be a strong, independent woman. I know how stubborn she can be when she sets her mind to something. I’d never tell her who she can and can’t date. Mostly because she’d never listen. I like you, but if you hurt her—” He doesn’t need to finish. The unspoken words are clear.
“Never.” The conviction is my tone is strong. “I’d never hurt her. We’ve known each other a long time, and it just kind of progressed.”
“Don’t play with my little girl's heart, Legend Raines.”
“No, sir. I would never. If anything, she’ll be the one to play with mine.” The words ring true, because I can’t stop thinking about her since the words first came out of her mouth a week ago tomorrow.
I’m standing stock still, waiting for his reply. What I’m not expecting is for him to toss his head back in laughter. We’re talking deep belly-rolling laughter. “That’s my girl,” he says, clamping a hand on my shoulder and nodding.
“You broke him,” Monroe says to her dad. “Why does my boyfriend look so freaked out?”
“Just guy talk, sweetheart. You kids be safe. Monroe, we’ll be in international waters, but we upgraded our cell plans. We’ll call when we can.”
“Love you.”
With another round of hugs, we wave them off, and I help her into the passenger seat of my truck.
“That went well.” She smiles over at me when I slide behind the wheel.
“Yeah,” I agree. “So, where to?”
“Well, how about we just head back to your place to watch a movie? I did tell them I was staying with you.”
“My place it is.” I don’t hesitate, because this is what we signed up for.
Pretending.
Sleeping in the same bed.
Her taking my last name.
It’s all a part of the plan.
We’ve got this.
I think…
CHAPTER
EIGHT
Monroe
“I’ll get your door.” Legend’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts as we park in his driveway. The ride back to his place was quiet, nothing but the low hum of the radio and our own thoughts to keep us company.
A few seconds later, my door is pulled open, and Legend is offering me his hand to help me down. “Thanks.” I decide to accept his need to do this. Relationships are about compromise and picking your battles. Just as my mother reminded me. She made sure to tell me those exact words when she pulled me to the car to give me the shirt she picked up for me today while they were shopping.
She also warned me about his age and to not let him force me into anything I wasn’t ready for. I assured her Legend was a perfect gentleman, and he is. However, he has been the star of my fantasies a time or two. If I’m being honest, him more so than Lachlan and Maddox. It’s the lips that do it for me. They’re so damn plump and look so damn soft, and when he smiles—nope. Not going there. Not when I’m about to spend the night at his place.
What was I thinking? Sure, we’re going to have to get used to this, but talk about ripping off the Band-Aid. The words were out, and I couldn’t take them back. I could have called Emerson or even Forrest and stayed with either of them, and my parents wouldn’t have known the difference. However, this is our new normal. We might as well get used to it now. Besides, how bad can it be, sleeping next to Legend Raines every single night?
I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that it’s not going to be the worst thing I’ll ever have to do in my lifetime. In fact, it might just be one of the best. He’s sexy as hell and all mine, for a little while at least.
“Hungry? Thirsty?” he asks as he leads me into his house with his hand on the small of my back.
“I’m stuffed.”
“I’m gonna grab a beer. You sure you don’t want one?” he asks.
“No, thanks.”
“The remote’s on the table. Pick us a movie.” He moves to the kitchen and pulls open the refrigerator.
“What are you in the mood for?”
“I’m easy. You pick.”
“Come on now. I know you like your action films,” I remind him.
“Yeah, but my future wife loves her romantic comedies.” He takes a seat next to me on the couch. “Don’t try to deny it. You and Emerson have made us sit through enough of them for me to know you love them.”
“I wasn’t going to deny it.” I stick my tongue out at him, making him laugh.
Reaching for the remote, I scroll through our options and end up choosing Oceans 11. It’s one I know we’ve both seen before, but it’s worth another watch.
“Good choice.” Legend kicks his legs up on the coffee table and brings his beer to his lips.