Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 75240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
The stance showed off his muscles, and I had to admit, the man was jacked.
Then the word ‘race’ hit me, and my head snapped around to glare at Bowe, who had the decency to look abashed.
“Seven.”
***
“You’re fucking racing?” I asked. “Since when?” I had just put Elise down in her crib. She was worn out from her earlier excitement.
Bowe eyed me warily.
I was a little worked up, and not all of it had to do with Bowe.
However, he made a wonderful way for me to get some of the fear that was still coursing through my veins out, and I’d do what I could.
It was just my luck that he’d pick up on it, though.
“Did something else happen other than you finding out that I’m racing on Saturday?” he tested warily. “Because I was going to tell you. I only found out this afternoon.”
I frowned at that.
I couldn’t fault him for not telling me. I hadn’t answered any of his texts all day long.
I sighed and sat down heavily on the chair next to the table, dropping my head down into my hands.
“Troy was there to pick Jade up from the hospital today and he cornered me,” I muttered into my hands.
At first I hadn’t thought he’d heard what I’d said, but then a vicious curse had my eyes widening as I looked up.
“What?” I asked.
“You need to report this, or at least get a restraining order against him,” Bowe said. “Anything. If you don’t report these incidents when he continues stepping over that line, no one will take it seriously because they weren’t documented. You have to create a paper trail. And yes, note I said fucking when, because it’s not a matter of if, but when. He’s going to do something, and when he does, you’ll need all the ammunition you can get. You can’t be careless. You have a kid to think about.”
I blinked at the vehemence in his voice.
And then anger started to pour through my veins, intermingling with my fear, making my mouth run when I should’ve really shut up and agreed with him.
But noooo, not me.
I had a way of ruining every single situation I ever found myself in when it came to men.
I must subconsciously want to destroy what I have before I’ve ever even had it.
“I’m not fucking careless,” I snapped. “I’m exactly what I need to be. I give her a roof over her head.”
“Do you? Or did your daddy?” Bowe countered.
My mouth dropped open.
“Get out.”
He shook his head.
“No,” he yelled back. “I’m not getting out. I live here! You can’t just kick me out.”
“It’s my house, and I sure as fuck can kick you out if you’re being a douche bag!” I replied, walking up to him and pushing him.
He didn’t rock back at all, and it only deteriorated from there.
When I went to push him again, he grabbed my hands and pulled me in close, so close that my body was plastered against his.
His grip on my arms was tight, not painful, but I knew that they could turn that way if he wanted to.
Instincts that were honed from necessity had me struggling, and he let me go the moment I started to move.
“Did it ever occur to you that I am just worried about you and Elise?” he asked. “Because I am. Fucking terrified. This time with you both has been some of the happiest and best times of my life.” He laughed bitterly. “And you would think, since I’ve been off my job—which might I add was the only thing I’ve enjoyed in my life for a while now—that I would have hated the last few months. However, you and Elise have made it bearable. You’ve made me feel more than I have in the last five years. Is it so hard to fucking believe that I would care about what happens to you?”
Well…that just took the wind out of my sails.
“That was a douche thing to say,” he apologized. “And I’m sorry.”
I waved his apology away.
“That was pretty tame,” I admitted. “It could’ve been a lot worse.”
He chuckled darkly, and then moved until I was only inches from him.
But he didn’t touch me.
He allowed me to make that move, and move I did.
Throwing my arms around his neck, I pulled him down to me and squeezed.
“I also had a suggestion,” he hesitated, wrapping his arms around me so I couldn’t get away.
“Yes?” I pushed, not sure I liked how gentle his voice was.
“When I picked Elise up today from your mom’s, she made mention of wanting to do something at an outpatient clinic on the days she has off, but since she’s watching Elise, she can’t.” He looked down at me. “I think you should start Elise in daycare.”
When I went to protest, he brought his hand up and covered my mouth.