Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
She may be a tough nut to crack, but underneath it, she's as sweet as they come.
"Can I ask a question?" I ask, backing out of our spot.
"You will anyway."
I shoot her a look, which only makes her smile.
"Ask your question, Zion."
"How the fuck did you get wrapped up with Lyle Taggert?"
"When Olive first blew up, he approached me to help manage social media for some of his clients." She grimaces, that furrow reappearing between her brows. "I wouldn't have said yes had I known what he was about then."
And I'm guessing she kept working with him after she found out what he was all about to help protect the people signed with him. She's the type to fall on the sword to keep others from tripping over it.
"Why does he think you owe him?"
"Because in his pea-brain, someone like me couldn't possibly gain a following without him." She rolls her eyes. "He's convinced himself that I'm using his connections to get ahead. It's not true. I've never used a single one of his connections and I wouldn't! The only reason people know my name is because of Olive and Madden."
I highly doubt that's true. People know her name because she's fucking beautiful and they see the same thing I do. Only an idiot looks at her and misses the fact that she's some kind of extraordinary.
"He's been after you for the last year?"
"Pretty much." She sighs heavily. "He was nicer about it at first, but the more I tell him no, the more unhinged he's become."
"Unhinged how?"
The way she rubs her wrist makes my blood boil. "He put his fucking hands on you?"
"He grabbed me the day he followed me home," she whispers. "I was trying to go inside, but he wasn't finished making accusations. I thought he was going to break my hand."
Oh, that motherfucker's days are numbered. He's lucky I didn't know that shit today, or I would have broken both of his fucking arms as a reminder not to touch what isn't is. The only way pricks like him learn to keep their hands to themselves is through painful lessons.
If I get my hands on him, his lesson will be real fucking painful.
"Did you two ever date?" I ask, just to make sure I don't need to kill him for that too.
The way she recoils from the question is answer enough. She's never dated him or even considered it.
"Did you and Bianca date?" she demands.
"Jealous?"
"Hardly."
She's a beautiful little liar, but a liar, nonetheless. She's jealous as hell, thinking I dated her friend. I opt to shut that shit down now. I'm not interested in playing that game.
"I've never dated Bianca, angel baby," I say quietly, navigating back roads heading toward her place. "Matter of fact, I've never been on a date at all."
"Never? As in never ever?"
"Never," I confirm.
She's silent for a minute, processing. "That doesn't mean you didn't sleep with her."
"The thought is eating you alive, isn't it?"
Her nose wrinkles as she glances away from me. "No."
I chuckle quietly. She's the worst liar I've ever met. "I've never fucked her, Makenzie. Maybe in your world, every man you meet jumps into and out of bed with every woman he comes across. I don't. Bianca worked photoshoots for some of our clients. That's the only reason I know her." I pause for a minute, giving that time to sink in. "I've never fucked around, angel baby."
"Me either," she whispers after a moment, turning back to face me. "My mom does enough of it for the both of us."
"Your mom sleeps around?"
"You could say that." She snorts indelicately. "It's more like her entire world revolves around men and existing for them. In her opinion, if we're not their ideal partner, we're defective."
Shit. That explains a whole hell of a lot. Unfortunately, none of it's good. Makenzie isn't stubborn and headstrong by choice. It's a necessity, one drilled into her from the time she was a little girl by a mother who tried to grind her spirit out of her.
"You weren't put on this earth to serve any man, angel baby," I growl, turning a hot look on her. "One of the sexiest things about you is your spirit and the fact that you've been giving me hell all fucking day. You think that's a turn-off? You're wrong. To a man like me, it's goddamn Kryptonite."
Those bright eyes lock on mine, wide and startled.
I hold her gaze for a long moment, letting her know I mean every word. She wasn't made to serve, but I was damn sure put on this earth to worship at her feet. And I fully intend to be the only disciple she ever needs.
Chapter Six
Kenzie
"You've been working all evening, angel baby. It's time for bed."
"I'm almost finished," I mutter, my hands flying across the keys as I caption the last of Olive's posts for next week. I finished mine earlier. I have two other clients who still need content sorted for next week, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow.