Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77959 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Hey,” he says, studying me with a soft look in his eyes that makes me even more upset about this whole thing.
“Hi,” I grumble, gritting my teeth as he takes my bags from me without asking.
“Are you taking her out?” he questions, looking at Muffin.
“Yes.”
“Are you leaving town?” he asks, holding up my bag.
“No, I’m staying with Mac and Libby for a couple days.”
“We need to talk,” he murmurs, heading for his door, but I refuse to budge—unlike Muffin, who is attached to Levi’s side, willing to follow him anywhere.
“No talk necessary,” I say, quickly stomping toward him. With an annoyed tug, I pull my bag from his grasp. “I’m sorry about this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking, but believe me, I regret it and it will never happen again.” Okay, that was easier than I thought it would be.
“That’s too bad.” I hear the smile in his voice, and my eyes fly up to meet his. “I sure as fuck don’t regret what happened this morning, and I definitely want more of that, but, babe, seriously, we were two feet from my couch, where in my head I had already stripped us down. Neither of us had time for what I wanted to do to you, and you are not even close to ready to go there with me.”
“Ex . . . excuse me?” I stammer, staring at him with wide eyes.
“I like you, I like that you’re a little bit crazy and a whole lot blind, but until I know you understand exactly what’s happening between us, there is no way I’ll take you to my bed.” Blinking at him, I try to understand exactly what the hell he’s saying, but all I can focus on is the fact that he called me crazy and blind. “I’m not crazy or blind.”
“Gorgeous, you’re so fucking stuck in your own head, you can’t see straight.”
“I am not,” I growl, resting my hands on my hips as his eyes move over me and his lips twitch.
“I’m not going to argue with you about this.”
“Well, it’s not even true,” I huff, then step back when he takes a step toward me.
“Oh, it’s true, but that’s okay. I’m enjoying this game we’re playing,” he murmurs, taking another step closer.
“Game?” I breathe as he reaches out, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip.
“You’re cute when you get flustered, and I like that you don’t know how much you affect me and my self-control.” Okay, what the hell is going on?
“What are you doing?” I whisper, pressing my hands to his chest when his head lowers toward mine.
“Kissing you.”
“Why?”
“To prove a point.” His lips brush over mine, and I know instantly that I wasn’t in trouble before, but I’m in so much trouble now.
Chapter 6
JUST ADD THAT TO THE LIST
FAWN
“Hey, mamacita,” I greet my mom as soon as I open the door to my apartment. Throwing my arms around her, I hug her tightly while she rocks me back and forth. Pushing me away while holding my arms, she searches my face and smiles, then pulls me close again.
“I’ve missed you, honey,” she whispers, petting my head the way she always does.
“I missed you, too.” I breathe in her scent that hasn’t changed since I was little, taking comfort in its familiarity before she lets me go.
Hearing my dad clear his throat behind me, I turn to find him with his arms open wide. “Daddio.” I grin, his laughter deep as he tugs me into him.
“Kiddo,” he mutters, kissing the side of my head. “It’s been too long.”
“I know,” and it really has been too long. I haven’t seen my parents since school started back up, and I miss them both like crazy. Talking on the phone every couple of days is not even close to the same as seeing them in person. Letting Dad go after a few seconds, I step back, bumping into something, and look behind me to see two small suitcases side by side. My dad must have brought them inside when I was hugging my mom.
“Um . . .” I look between my parents, who haven’t changed much over the years. My mom still has the same short bob she’s always had, which fits her round pixielike face and small stature. And my dad is still intimidating looking, with wide shoulders, red hair, and a scruffy beard. “Do you still need to check in to your hotel room?” I ask, and my dad looks at my mom, who grins at me.
“We’re staying with you. Won’t that be fun?” she asks excitedly.
Um, what? Did she just say they were staying with me and the word fun in the same sentence? Yes, I love my mom and dad, and yes, I miss them, but I moved out of their house for a reason. The first one being that they do not understand the meaning of personal space or boundaries.