Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Brody walked around the desk and reached for me. He pulled me up and drew me into his arms. “It’s okay, Sutton.”
I pushed him away. “It’s not okay, Brody! My crazy ex-husband is back in town. He stole my money, and when my father finds out… I don’t even want to think about what he’ll do. He doesn’t need this type of stress.”
“We’ll get it fixed. We’ve got the marriage certificate. As soon as you say the word, we can get married.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. But what would happen after? Would Brody want to consummate the marriage? How would things work? Where would he live? Oh God—what if he moved in with me? How in the hell would I be able to resist him, living under the same roof?
“Where will you live?” I blurted out.
The corner of his mouth twitched with a hidden smile. “I’m assuming I’ll move in with you. The idea is to make Jack think he no longer stands a chance, right?”
“You want to move in with me? How in the hell am I going to explain that to my parents?”
“We can tell them whatever you want to tell them. The truth, a lie, or a combination of both.”
“And? What do you expect from me?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Sex-wise. I mean, if we get married, would you expect me to have sex with you? Isn’t that what all guys want?”
Jerking his head back, Brody stared at me for what felt like an eternity. His eyes fell to my mouth, and I could feel the instant pull between us. The sexual tension that had been building for months—and that we’d both been ignoring—seemed to catch fire. The idea of being with Brody again sent heat right to my core. My breathing sped up, and I had to work on making it steady.
He sighed, finally breaking the silence. “If you think I’m going to force you to sleep with me simply because of a marriage certificate, then you don’t know me at all, Sutton. I’m not doing this to fuck you. I’m doing it because I care about you, and I want to help you.”
I raised my brows. “Will you still be sleeping with other women then?”
“What?” he asked in a shocked voice. “Did you seriously fucking ask me that?”
There was a light knock on the door, and we both turned to see Palmer standing in the doorway of my office with a confused look on her face. “Um…I knocked, but it sounded like you were arguing so I don’t think you heard me. Am I interrupting something?”
Brody said, “Yes,” at the same time I answered, “No, not at all.”
He tilted his head, gave me an incredulous look, then stormed around my desk and started to head out of the office.
Palmer watched him with wide eyes. “I don’t know how to say this but…Jack is here.”
Brody stopped and turned around. “He’s here? In the store?”
Palmer nodded. “I told him he has to leave, but he said he has a right to be here.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Brody said.
I stepped forward. “No! Brody, don’t. You’ll only make things worse.”
“Then call the cops, Sutton. You have a restraining order against him.”
“What?” Palmer gasped. “What did he do?”
“Palmer, not right now, okay?” I said as I made my way around both of them. “I’ll take care of this.”
“Jesus Christ,” Brody said as he turned away from me in anger.
Palmer looked over at me. “Wow. He’s pissed.”
“If you don’t mind sticking around for a bit, Palmer…”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“Give me a minute alone with Jack. If he doesn’t leave, will you come out? The last thing I need is for Brody to get involved.”
She nodded and quietly listened as I called the police to inform them of the violation. Then I drew in a deep breath and headed toward the front of the store. Jack stood there with a smug look on his face.
“How dare you show your face here,” I snapped.
He smirked. “It’s half my store, Sutton. And by my calculation, I have a good four minutes before the police show up.”
“Give me back my money, Jack.”
“Oh yes, the money. My lawyer wasn’t too happy with me. I’ll tell you what, I’ll redeposit the money if you give me one night with you.”
A feeling of sickness rolled through my entire body, and it took everything I had not to gag at the idea of being with Jack again. “No.”
“So you’d rather lose the boutique then?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not asking you to fuck me, Sutton. Let’s just go out to dinner and talk about my share of the store.”
I pulled my shoulders back so I stood taller. “Go fuck yourself, Jack.”
His brows pulled down some. “Did your little boyfriend cover the bills for you? Is that why you’re so confident all of a sudden?”