Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
He’s been such a good guy from the second he sat down next to me. It’s making me wonder what’s so great about those bad boys the girls are always falling all over. Who is likely in the shitty band and always smells of cigarettes and their grandma's garage? Now that is scary.
“These paintings really help creep this place up,” I say as we pass one that is taller than I am. The image depicts a man's excessively white face, which perfectly complements his wig. “The eyes follow you.”
“Can’t say I blame him.”
I fake a gasp. “You’ll just let men eye me up and down?”
“Were you in that reception?” he asks, confusing me. “If I were to beat the shit out of every man checking you out, I’d be in jail fighting now and not be playing Scooby-Doo with you.”
“They were only staring because I clearly don’t fit and because of you.”
“Trust me. They were staring, and it had nothing to do with me.” His hand holding mine tightens. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. He was jealous. Damn. I don’t know what to do with that. I don’t think a one-night fling is someone you get jealous over.
“If we were in Scooby-Doo, I’d rather have a cat than a dog.” I switch the conversation over, not wanting my mind to wander too deep when thinking about Eros. This is only one night.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“Really? Aren't country boys into dogs?”
“Maybe country boys, I suppose.” He smirks at me. How does his smirk become more attractive with each passing moment? It’s not cocky either. It’s playful and sweet. Trusting.
“I have always wanted a cat.”
“They’re excellent company. They can work the farm too. No one keeps a barn better. They also get along well with the horses.”
“Really?”
“They’ll even ride them.” I laugh thinking about that.
“This way, if I’m recalling the outside correctly. This should go around and then down. The other side is too close to the pond for them to have chanced digging out a cellar or basement.”
I let Eros lead. It’s nice to have someone take charge, and I bet if I tugged on his hand so I could lead, he’d let me. A warm feeling floods through my body, and I know it’s not the few glasses of champagne I had. It’s this man.
We go down a set of stairs with a giant landing that leads to another set. “Have you been here before?” He moves as if he knows the place.
“I only got here today.”
“You know your way around.”
“How my mind works.” He was going to college when he was fifteen. I hated every second of school. I might have gone to college if I had had the money.
It wouldn't have been for art, though. I would have had to be more practical than that. That might be why I never pushed for it because oddly, it felt as though college could kill my dreams, and right now dreams are what I’m living off.
Eros stops, putting a finger to his lips. I nod, but I don’t hear anything. He tugs on my hand, pulling me closer to him before he starts moving again. I can't help but smile right now. I can’t recall the last time I had this much fun.
We head through an industrial-size kitchen and down another corridor. Eros pauses again before he steps back and points in another direction. With each step, my excitement builds.
Bingo, he mouths. How can he know what is behind that door? He opens it to reveal stairs, but you can only see down a few of them because the stone wall turns.
“Is that a stone spiral staircase to the basement?!” I whisper-yell because that is so freaking cool.
“Wish I could say I put it here just for you.” He tugs me into him, my body colliding with his. My hands go to his chest. Those striking blue eyes of his lock with mine.
I wet my bottom lip because I can’t help it. I’m pretty sure he’s about to kiss me. He starts to lean down as I rise on my tiptoes, my eyes falling closed.
“Shit,” Eros mutters. My eyes snap open as my feet lift off the ground. Eros has lifted me up. He steps through the doorway as I hear voices, letting the door fall closed behind us, shrouding us in darkness.
My heart races, and I'm uncertain if it's due to the near kiss, us almost getting our asses busted, or the eerie, haunted basement.
I wiggle in Eros’s hold. I think my feet are hanging a foot off the ground. I’m not sure why he doesn’t put me down. He lets out a small grunt, and I freeze. Did I hurt him? No way. He is three times my size. I don’t think I could if I tried.