Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
I gesture to the shop. “I’m going in.”
She opens her mouth, closes it, and then opens it again. “Why?”
It’s time to come clean. “Because it’s Valentine’s Day and I want to spend it with you.”
She blinks her eyes rapidly and takes a step back. Her hand goes up. “Cruz, look, you’re great, you really are…”
Her voice trails off, and I can feel the panic rise. “But?”
She nods. “But I can’t be around you… not yet. I need a few days to get myself together and—”
I put my hands on my hips. “Did last night mean nothing to you? Is that what you wanted, a one-night stand?”
She points to me. “That’s what you wanted.”
I grit my teeth. “When I agreed to this, I wanted to help you, and yes, I agreed to one night, but there’s no way you can believe that last night was just a one-night stand.”
She’s holding herself stiffly. “You’re right. To me, it was more. It was perfect in every way and made me want things I never thought I’d have, but it doesn’t change the fact that you have a list of reasons of why you and I are a bad idea.”
“You’re beautiful.”
She stutters. “So what, now you’re going to flatter me?”
I take a step toward her. “No, I’m going to tell you the reasons why I need you in my life.”
Her mouth falls in shock. “What?”
“You make me laugh.”
When it seems she’s listening, I continue, wanting her to hear me out. “You’re brave, kind, loyal.” I move toward her and put my hands at her waist. “I love the way you make those little whimpers when I press my tongue to your clit.” I kiss her forehead. “I love the way you hold me when you climax.” I kiss her cheek and then lean back and look at her face. “One night was not enough, Tara. I’m not sure forever will be.”
“Forever?” she croaks.
I nod. “Yeah, and I can tell that freaks you out, so why don’t we start with you agreeing to be my Valentine.”
She puts her hands up and touches my chest, and I want to bang my fist in the air, but instead I pull her flush against my body. She lands with an oomph. “You want to be my Valentine?”
I cup her face in my hand. “Oh yeah.”
Her hands slide up my chest, and she goes to her tiptoes and wraps her arms around my neck. “Okay.”
I pull back to see her face. “Okay?”
She nods with fear on her face. “Don’t hurt me, Cruz.”
I shake my head. “I promise I won’t.” I smile. “Now give me your mouth.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re the only one that can get away with telling me what to do.”
She leans in and presses her lips to mine, and I take full advantage. Only when I’ve ravaged her mouth and we’re both panting do I pull back. I tuck her head under my chin and hold on to her. “Uh, so we’re going to need to stand here for a minute.”
She presses her belly into my erect manhood, and she giggles. “Oh yeah, why?”
“Because you’re going to have a shop full of people seeing how aroused you make me.”
She turns her head to face the shop, and sure enough, there are people with their faces pressed against the window. My sister comes out of the shop. “Hey, you two going to kiss all night or you planning on helping?”
“Yeah, we’ll be right in,” I holler to her.
She waves and walks back in the shop. Tara is all smiles as she looks up at me. “I should really go in and help.”
I cup her face in both of my hands. “You’re mine, Tara Brooks.”
She nods. “Yeah, and after we close tonight, I’ll prove it to you.”
I groan as my cock expands even more. I kiss her, and when I break it off, I set her away from me. “Go on in. I’ll be right there.”
She glances down at my obvious erection. “You okay?”
I huff. “Yeah, I will be.”
She giggles and then skips inside. I watch through the front windows as Tara and my sister laugh. Seeing the smile on Tara’s face causes a flutter in my chest. I’m almost afraid to put a name on it because all of this is happening so fast, but when I think about my future, I know she’s going to be in it.
EPILOGUE
TARA
One Year Later
I’m practically vibrating with excitement as I watch the small independent bookstore fill up with people. Tonight kicks off Cruz’s book tour, and he scheduled it so the first signing would take place in Whiskey Run.
Everyone we know is crowded into the small store with even more people standing outside, waiting to get in.
I’m so proud of Cruz, and I’ve told him so at least a hundred times.