Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“There’s nothing to make up,” Smitty huffed, deftly pushing Ella’s glass of milk aside before she knocked it off the table.
Nathan beamed. “But we could get donuts in the morning.”
“Or…we could get ice cream tonight,” Charlotte suggested with a grin.
All three kids shared a glance and chanted, “Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream.”
I chuckled. “You’re on.”
I dug into the pasta, aware of my dad’s scrutinous stare from across the table.
My father had always been a bit of a worrier, and he had finely tuned instincts regarding the slightest hint of conflict. I had no doubt that he knew something was up with me…and he’d be correct.
But I was keeping this secret.
Knock knock knock
I lowered the volume on the cop drama on my flat-screen, unsure if the sound was part of the unfolding heist.
Knock knock knock
I tossed the remote onto the coffee table and headed for the front door.
Ding dong
Ding dong
I glanced through the peephole and quickly unlatched the lock. I’d been fighting sleep on the sofa for an hour, but damn, I was wide awake now.
“What the—”
Trinsky dropped a duffel bag on the floor, crashed his mouth over mine, and kicked the door shut. We shouldn’t do this anymore. I shouldn’t want this. But I wrapped my arms around him and crumbled like a fucking cookie.
We bounced from wall to wall in the entry, sucking, licking, and biting in what was either a manic greeting or a fierce showdown. Trinsky finally pushed me against the door, his chest heaving as he eyed me warily.
“I missed you, you fucking vampire.” He pressed a hand to his neck and scowled. “Geez, I think I have a puncture wound.”
I matched his grumpy expression and opened my mouth to blast him. But I couldn’t remember if I was angry or sad or just very fucking tired, so I closed my eyes and…laughed.
“Sorry, I’m just…punchy and—what are you doing here? I heard you were coming early. Denny warned me and supposedly my agent left a message I never received, but—”
“They asked me this morning. I hopped the first flight out and after a full fucking day of travel, I got mauled by a feral coyote. Are you gonna invite me in or what?”
I studied him for a long moment.
Damn, Mason Trinsky was a delicious sight in his faded Levis and the snug-fitted tee I’d yanked from his waistband, exposing a hint of skin. His handsome face was sun-kissed, his lips were swollen, and his eyes were twinkly and mischievous…and oh-so kind.
I opened my arms wide.
He stepped into my embrace and enveloped me in a bear hug, his nose tucked into my neck. I swayed with him under the lantern chandelier, breathing in his scent as I raked my fingers through his short hair and swallowed around a ball of emotion I didn’t understand.
“I’m glad you’re here, asshole.”
He chuckled lightly and squeezed me a little tighter. “Me too, Jakey. Me too.”
19
TRINSKY
“Are you hungry?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I grabbed something in Burlington. I parked my rental in your driveway, but I don’t think anyone will notice with all the trees out there.”
Jake locked the door and turned off the foyer light, leading me into a great room that could have been something straight out of a fancy magazine. Sort of like my place in Denver but much more sophisticated. High-beamed ceilings and a wall of windows that probably featured a forest view made the space seem impossibly big. A soft gray sectional sofa floated in the middle on a geometric rug in front of an imposing stone fireplace. And there were fucking pillows everywhere.
I fingered the fringe on a light-blue one and shifted my gaze to the family-style kitchen. Again…huge and very state-of-the-art with shiny appliances and an island with enough real estate to be the envy of any Michelin-starred restaurant.
It was very me to tease him for the opulence, which was ridiculous coming from a guy who owned sweet homes in Colorado and California. But he looked so earnest, and I felt oddly…mushy being here with him. Don’t ask me to explain. It was just a strange feeling.
“Want something to drink? Are you thirsty? I have beer, wine, soda, water. I have hard stuff too, but—”
I tugged his wrist. “I’m not thirsty either. I’m tired and I just…wanted to see you. And be with you.”
Jake turned his palm up and wordlessly linked our fingers. “This way.”
His bedroom was palatial and had that same designer-decorated vibe as the rest of his house, with soft colors and luxurious fabrics. Seriously, the gray-and-white striped duvet resembled a cloud floating on his king-sized mattress.
“Nice place.” I shucked off my tee and pointed at the ceiling. “No mirror, though.”
He snorted and flung his shirt at me, then slipped his thumbs under the waistband of his sweats and lowered them to expose his perfect V. “My mom hired a professional designer for me. I paid for it, obviously, but Mom oversaw the whole production and there’s no way she’d approve of a sex mirror.”