Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“That’s a lot of food.” I laugh as I put my hands on his chest and place my chin on them.
“I need it.” He looks down at me. “After last night and this morning.” I kiss the middle of his chest. “What time do you have to leave?” His voice is soft.
“My plane is at ten,” I answer him, looking at the clock on the side table and seeing it’s just a bit after seven.
“I can’t even believe you’re here,” he says. “How?”
I laugh and sit up in bed, reaching over to grab the bottle of water I snatched from the desk when we got out of the shower. “I messaged Gabriella for help.” I take a gulp as he places two pillows behind his head, propping himself up with his arm bent under his head. The sheet barely covers his hip and his cock. I sit next to him, crossing my legs under me with one of my knees on his uncovered hip. “She said she had a spreadsheet your uncle Matthew makes every year when the season starts.”
He laughs. “It’s an Excel spreadsheet organized by month and then each month by date. No one really uses it.”
“Well, it’s a good thing he did that because I was able to find you right away.” His hand lies over my knee. “I then called my father, who got me a private plane.” His eyes open. “I didn’t like that you were angry, and according to Gabriella, you sucked so bad on the ice.”
I’m expecting him to be insulted by the comment, but he isn’t. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“So I finished work last night, rushed home, changed, grabbed my bag, and said I would be in this afternoon.” The tightness comes to my chest as if someone stands on top of me with one foot in the middle of my chest. I lean over to kiss his lips softly before throwing my leg over his hips and sinking down on his cock. Knowing there are other things to talk about, knowing the reality is that no matter how much I want this to work, it feels like it’s impossible. Yet, as soon as I see him, all I want to do is make it work. Neither of us says anything as we come again right before the room service arrives. I slide into the bathroom while the guy sets up and then walk out, wearing another one of his T-shirts that I took from his bag to Stone in his shorts, pouring me a cup of coffee.
“Here you go, gorgeous.” He leans forward, kissing me behind my ear.
“Thank you.” I smile up at him, taking a sip of the coffee. I have two more hours with him, and the last thing I want to think about is when we will see each other again.
I sit in the chair, facing him at the little table in the corner of his room. He pulls off the covers of the food and hands me a fork. “Just dig in,” he urges, stabbing a sausage with his fork and biting into it.
“When do you get back home?” I ask.
“This afternoon, we leave at noon.” He grabs a piece of bacon. “Then I have a game tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday.” The wheels in my head spin. “Then I’m off again for another three games on the road in Canada.”
“That sounds like a lot,” I tell him, and he shrugs.
“It’s the norm,” he explains, and even though I knew he traveled with his job, the reality of it is all coming to light.
“What about you?” he asks me, and I look down at the eggs in front of me, picking up a piece.
“I’m going to be swamped for the next two months,” I inform him and see the way his eyes darken over, “between new case files being handed to me and that huge case I’m prepping for trial.” I swallow down the eggs that feel like they’re going to get stuck in the middle of my throat. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to get away.” The words hit me hard. However, sitting here with him having coffee after having another one of the best nights I’ve had, even though I’m already exhausted for tomorrow, I’m not ready to give up on this yet. My heart speeds up to the point where I let out a little cough to get the rest of the words out. “Let me check again and see what I can fit on my end.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
stone
I watch her sit in front of me, playing with her food. “I’m going to be swamped for the next two months.” She looks up, and I try not to let her know how much this news bothers me, but I know I can’t hide it. My breathing comes in spurts. “Between new case files being handed to me and that huge case I’m prepping for trial.” She swallows, and I can tell she’s having a hard time with it. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to get away.” She inhales. “Let me check again and see what I can fit on my end.”