Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85522 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I guess only time will tell.
“You ready to watch another movie?” I ask instead. Her entire demeanor seems to deflate as if she was holding out hope that I would be her prince charming and sweep her off her feet. I wish I could be that guy for her. Right now, I don’t know if I am. I have so many emotions running through me. Elation that this beautiful woman would even consider letting me be a part of her life. Fear that she wants it to be more. Worry that these feelings swarming me are just because of the chase, because she turned me down. That’s how this started. I don’t know what any of it means. I need some time to work it out.
What I do know is that I will never regret any amount of time that I get to spend with her.
“Sure,” she says, and gingerly climbs off me.
I miss her heat instantly. “Want some leftovers?” I ask.
“No, thanks. Help yourself.” She disappears down the hall, to I assume the bathroom.
Standing from the couch, I stretch, then reach down and adjust my cock. I’m a man who just had the body of a beautiful woman aligned with mine; I can’t be held accountable for my actions. I know she felt it, but she didn’t say a word.
Making my way to the kitchen, I open the cabinets until I find a bowl and make another big serving of her chicken casserole. This shit is amazing and I’m going to have to ask again how she made it. Grabbing two bottles of water, I head back to the living room. Emma is there, curled up in the corner of the couch with the blanket thrown over her legs.
Is that disappointment I feel? “Got you a water.” I hand her one of the bottles and take a seat on the opposite end of the couch. I fucking hate the distance that one cushion keeps between us, but it’s what she wants. Until I know what I want, what all this shit bouncing around in my head means, I owe her that.
“I’m glad to see that’s getting eaten.” She nods toward the heaped bowl in my hands.
“It’s so good. Can you send me the recipe? This is something I could make for myself and eat it for a few days.”
“Sure. I’ll text it to you.” She reaches for her phone, her fingers flying across the screen, and then my phone vibrates on the table. “Sent.”
“Thanks.” I toss her the remote. “Your turn to choose.”
She snags the remote from where it lands beside her on the couch and begins to scroll through the stations. “I really don’t care what we watch.” She settles on the Hallmark channel, and I can’t even find it in me to be irritated. Normally, I would be, but this… two chick flicks in one night, and no chance of getting laid, it’s nothing. I don’t care even the slightest because I’m with Emma. That’s gotta mean something, right?
Two hours later, I feel like I need to beat on my chest and fart or some shit just to prove my manhood. I’ll never admit it out loud, but the movie was good. PG, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I glance over at Emma to catch her yawning. Looking at the time, I see it’s after midnight, and even though I hate it, it’s time for me to go.
“Thanks for dinner.” I stand and gather my phone. I washed my dish during commercial breaks.
“You’re welcome. It was nice to have the company.” She smiles up at me.
I want to kiss her.
I can’t kiss her.
“Date number three in the books,” I say to get my mind off her full, kissable lips, and because I know it’s going to get her sparring with me. I love that side of her. The side that doesn’t let my bullshit slide.
She rolls those big green eyes, but a smile plays on her lips. “You’re something else, Number Eighteen.” She stands and walks with me to the door. “Drive safe.”
Unable to help myself, I wrap my arms around her in a hug, and I admit that I hold on a little longer than I should. Pulling back, I drop a quick kiss to her temple. “Always.” With that, I force my feet to carry me out the door and to my SUV. As soon as I start my car, the porch light goes off, and just like that, I’m back to being an outsider. Just a man who craves being able to share a small piece of her world with her. I don’t know exactly what this all means, but I know that one thing’s for sure.
I’m in trouble.
I’m in so much trouble.
Chapter 9
Emma
I spent all day yesterday shopping. My ankle is tender but feels much better. I couldn’t sit in my house a minute longer. Not when it’s surrounded by Landon. I can still smell him. Is that normal? I think not. I Febreezed my couch, but it didn’t work. Maybe it’s not in the fabric, and it’s just me. I remember his scent. I remember him. All of him. He was obviously turned on, and I get it—he’s a man, he had a woman laying on him. I don’t blame him. Well, in a way, I do. He wasn’t the only one worked up. However, neither one of us acted on that attraction that pulsed between us.