Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
She’d already moved twice after he’d sent men who’d gotten out of prison before him to stop by and reiterate his warning. Lance meant business and she couldn’t risk having feelings for anyone. Because if her brother figured out she cared for someone, that she had a weakness, he’d hurt them in order to get to Raven. He’d done it once before.
And the last person she wanted hurt was Remy.
This whole night had probably been one big error in judgment and though she couldn’t bring herself to regret it, she couldn’t repeat it, either.
Her chest was heavy as she contemplated leaving before he woke up, but she was stronger than that. The least she could do was face him after such a spectacular night. Besides, she’d have to see him at work on Monday anyway, she thought and let out a sigh.
“I can hear you thinking,” Remy said, his voice deep and amused.
He wouldn’t be if he knew what she’d been considering. She pushed herself up and leaned against the pillows and headboard, pulling the sheet over her breasts.
“No need to hide, sweetheart. I’ve already seen… and tasted all of you.”
Her cheeks burned at the memory of him doing exactly that. “Listen, Remy. Last night was amazing but—”
“No buts. We had fun. Don’t overthink things. Okay?”
All she did was overthink, Raven thought.
She met his gaze and was struck hard by how sexy he looked with his extra morning scruff and mussed hair. The desire to run her fingers through the light sprinkling of hair on his chest was strong but she refrained.
She managed a nod. If he was going to take things so lightly, it made it easier for her to, as well. Though, with the way he was studying her through narrowed eyes, and knowing he had a shrewd personality, she wasn’t one hundred percent sure she believed his nonchalance.
But she’d go with it. “Good. I’m glad we agree.” She removed the sheet and slid out of the bed, not surprised when he grasped her wrist.
“There’s no reason to rush, is there? I can think of more fun things we can do this morning.”
The tenor in his deep voice rumbled through her in the sexiest way and it was so hard not to slide back beneath the sheets along with him.
“I would… but I can’t.” She knew she had to give him something akin to the truth. “My life is way more complicated than you know and it’s just better if I go,” she said, pushing herself to her feet, aware of her nudity.
“Okay.”
Okay? She spun around and wished she hadn’t. He sat back, arms crossed over his broad chest, completely masculine and sexy. And he watched her, a barely-there smirk on his handsome face.
“Change your mind?” he asked.
She shook her head and rushed to dress in her gown from last night before she did as he’d asked and joined him in bed.
Chapter Four
For Remy, the only thing harder than letting Raven leave without an argument was agreeing to keep things light and not serious between them. Because his mother raised him to be a gentleman—before he’d lost her, that is—he’d insisted on driving Raven home after she’d gotten dressed.
A detective at heart, he spent Sunday thinking about what made her tick. She kept to herself. Though she’d arrived at the wedding with Stevie, Raven normally kept her distance from people at work unless she was acting in her capacity as manager. Although she was friendly and polite, she was more solitary than not. Stevie was pushy, however, and she’d managed to become Raven’s friend. Or as much of one as Raven would allow.
The only person Raven seemed close to was her brother, Caleb. When he and his young son visited the restaurant, Raven’s face would light up, and she always took a break to spend time with them. That told Remy she didn’t isolate herself from her family but she did from outsiders. Remy being one of them, and he’d obviously gotten too close.
He was itching to use his contacts, dig into her background, and find out why she was so closed off, but he opted to respect her feelings instead. Which meant he had no choice but to accept that whatever her reasons, it wouldn’t be fair of him to push her for more than their one night.
The thought didn’t sit well with him and he’d spent a couple of hours at the gym near his apartment working out his frustration, along with his brother, Dex. A former football player for the Miami Thunder, Dex was also a connoisseur of women—in other words, a playboy—but he was smart, and he agreed with how Remy had chosen to handle the situation with Raven.
By the time Remy strode into the bar around eleven a.m. on Monday, he had himself under control and was ready to deal with Raven like his employee and nothing more. For now.