Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“And how’d that go over?” Dex rose from the bed and paced the cold ceramic tile floor.
“Not well. Why do you ask?”
He glanced up at the huge white ceiling fan circling overhead, thinking about the best way to reply. Dex was determined to make things with Samantha’s family easier for her.
He hated seeing her so worked up and upset, worrying about what the people she loved would say when they knew the whole story. “Because your sister loves you and knows you’re going to freak out. About a lot of things. And as your friend, I’m suggesting you… go easy on her.”
“You’ve known Samantha all of how long? And you’re telling me how to deal with my sister?”
Knowing his friend, Dex counted to five in his head until Ian replied.
“You’ve got a point.”
Dex knew he did. “I’ll get her to call you later.”
“I’d appreciate that. She’s been dodging my calls and texts.”
“Because you’re leaving her I told you so messages!” a female voice called out from Ian’s side of the call.
“Hush, baby. Behave, will you?” Ian asked.
Dex chuckled. “I take it that’s Riley?” he asked of Ian’s wife.
“There’s no one else I’d call baby,” Ian said in a gruffer voice than before.
“I should hope not,” Riley said.
And then Dex thought she whispered something that made him cringe at overhearing their sexual banter. He remembered the days after Ian had met his future spouse. One look and there’d been nobody else for a man who’d never been in a relationship. Had never wanted one. At least Dex wondered whether or not he was cut out for one. There were lonely times at night when he thought about the future and pondered the notion of a family of his own.
Ian cleared his throat. “Back to Samantha. I’m trusting you not to take advantage of my sister when she’s vulnerable.”
Despite expecting the words, they pissed Dex off anyway and he had to swallow back a fuck you retort. As if Ian didn’t know him well enough to have faith in him.
“Don’t worry, I know how to treat women, Ian.” He let his annoyance show in his clipped tone. “I’ll have Samantha call you,” he said again, and cut their connection, tossing his phone onto the unmade bed.
Twenty minutes later, he’d unpacked the few things he’d brought with him, showered, dressed in swim trunks, and headed downstairs to see Samantha and find out her plans for the day. And whether or not they included him.
He walked into the kitchen and stopped short. Samantha was already downstairs wearing a white bikini that, as he stared at her curves, took his breath way. She was his ideal woman, her breasts barely more than a handful, her waist indented enough for him to hold, and that ass.
He held back a groan and tore his gaze from her delectable ass cheeks peeking from the bikini bottoms. Instead, he watched her movements. With her hair pulled up in a messy bun and her earbuds in, she flitted around the room singing a Taylor Swift song with words like begging for forgiveness belted a little too loudly. Apparently, she was listening to a breakup song. Pausing at the toaster, she shimmied her hips as she pulled out her bagel.
Time to get her attention, he thought, and cleared his throat. She didn’t turn, indicating the volume was turned up loud.
“Samantha?” he called out loudly.
No reply. Just another shimmy while she slathered her bagel with cream cheese.
Before his dick decided to make an appearance, something that would not be happening on this trip or around Samantha at any point in time, he walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
She shrieked and spun around, those indigo eyes of hers wide with surprise. “You scared me!” She plucked her earbuds out and placed them on the granite countertop.
“Sorry. I called your name but you were busy.”
A flush rose to her cheeks. “I was listening to breakup music.”
He nodded somberly. “I caught that with some of the lyrics you were singing.”
Her blush deepened. “Well, I’m trying to work out my anger.” She picked up the bagel and took a bite, her frustration showing with each chew.
“I take it you didn’t have a good night’s sleep?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Every time I closed my eyes I saw that bastard’s face.” Tears filled her eyes and his stomach twisted uncomfortably. He hated seeing her this upset.
Evidently, she ate with passion when she was hurting because she took another angry bite of her bagel, leaving cream cheese on her mouth.
Reaching out, he swiped his finger across her bottom lip, capturing the remnants of her breakfast.
Her eyes darkened at his touch and the cock he needed to keep in his bathing shorts twitched, reminding Dex it wasn’t happy to be confined. Knowing he was making matters worse, he put his finger in his mouth and licked off the cream cheese.