Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
If he wants to keep it professional.
I am too much. Why am I mad he wants to keep things professional? I am a fucking professional! Ugh, but I don’t want to be a professional where he is concerned. I roll my eyes at my inner monologue and notice that Gavin is looking at me expectantly. I blink, and then I feel my face flush. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I was asking how long you’ve been in the dog business?”
I grin widely, hoping it’ll distract him from my daydreaming. “Sorry, my mind is all over the place—”
Before I can finish, though, a commotion beside us distracts me once more. Alex stands, embracing none other than Riggs McCoy. My whole body is set aflame at the sight of him. He is wearing some jeans and a light orange shirt that hugs his muscles in all the right ways. A black-and-orange Bears ballcap is on his head, hanging low over his eyes, but I can still see those dark depths. God, he is stunning.
I actually feel my lips part as I drink him in, hating that I’ve been mad at him for the last two days. He stands so confidently, giving my sister a side hug before shaking hands with Gavin. When his eyes land on me, my breath catches in my throat as those eyes move along my face to my neck and then to the rest of me. Does he like the little pink tennis dress I’m wearing? I watch him, hoping for the smallest confirmation, but he doesn’t give one. Instead, his eyes meet mine, but I do notice his jaw tightening.
I wonder why.
I plaster a huge smile on my face, hoping it hides how much he is affecting me as I say brightly, “Riggs, funny seeing you here.”
He nods. “Clara.” He pats Gavin on the back. “I didn’t realize you two were dating.”
Just as I say, “We’re not,” Gavin tells him, “This is our first date.”
Riggs nods slowly. “That’s nice,” he says as if it’s no concern to him, which it’s not, but damn it, I wish it were. I wish he’d get mad, demand no other guy touch me, and then take me home and spank me for my insolence.
Yup, I’ve been reading too many mafia romances.
“Coach, join us,” Alex says, pointing to the chair beside me. “It’s better than getting food and heading home, where it’ll be cold.”
My heart jumps into my throat, wanting to have him stay, but that isn’t my place. Plus, he doesn’t seem to want to stay. “I like eating at home.”
“Sure, but here, the food is warm, and we are good company,” Alex says proudly, rubbing Elliot’s belly.
“Are you now?” he asks. And is that a playful tone? I know that he and Alex are close, but does that mean that Riggs isn’t always so brooding?
“You know it,” Alex says, grinning, before he waves down our waitress. “Can you get him a glass of sweet tea? You need a menu, Coach?”
Riggs shakes his head as he lowers himself into the chair beside me. His knee brushes mine, and I take in a deep breath. Of course, he doesn’t even notice as he says, “No. I know what I want.”
I bet he does. I bet he eats the same thing and never tries anything else.
Unable to keep that in, I say, “Maybe try something new since you’re eating at the site?”
Riggs slowly moves his gaze to mine, the brown of his eyes darkening and leaving me breathless. “Are you implying that I only get one thing from here?”
I smile. “I am. Probably steak and potatoes.”
Alex scoffs as Gavin chuckles. I feel Elliot’s eyes on me, but I ignore her. Meanwhile, Riggs just gazes into my eyes. “And why steak and potatoes? Maybe I like the pasta from here.”
I shrug. “Maybe, but pasta isn’t good when you get it to go.”
He nods. “Which is why I planned on getting it.”
I press my lips together, feeling dumb for saying anything. I just wanted his attention, and, of course, I proved that I’m not worthy of it. When he stands, my eyes widen when he grasps Gavin’s shoulder. “Trade seats with me. It’s you two on a date, not her and me.”
Everyone at the table chuckles. Even I fake a laugh, but the embarrassment that’s flooding me makes me itch all over. I bite into my bottom lip as I reach for my beer, downing most of it as the conversation carries on around me. As I place my glass down, my fingers brush his as he grabs his drink. Our eyes meet for only a millisecond before he looks away at what Alex is saying. My shoulders sag, and I feel his hatred for me deep in my core.
Surely this will be enough to get me over my crush?