Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23486 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23486 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Lawson smirks, and I elbow him in the stomach, but it’s like hitting a wall, and it doesn’t faze him in the least. “Don’t get jealous, babe. I’m all yours. I told you that last night.”
“You also told me you haven’t been seeing anyone else.” I try to elbow him again but harder this time.
“Don’t hurt yourself.” Lawson spins me around to face him. “Megan is a client. A pain-in-the-ass client who wanted me to dig up shit on her husband.”
“Oh.” I let out a small huff, and my shoulders sag. “Then why is she trying so hard to get a hold of you?” Somehow jealousy lingers, and I’m annoyed because I’ve never felt this before. I saw Nick with two women, and I never felt anything close to this.
“Because I dropped her as a client. She was the dirty one, not the husband.”
“She’s got a mean streak,” Ari adds. “She barged into my office this morning when I was talking to your fian—” Ari quickly corrects himself. “Talking to Nick. Surprise, they actually know each other as well. Small world.”
“Birds of a feather,” I mutter.
“Are you done being mad at me?” Lawson cups my chin to draw my eyes back to meet his. I love when he does that because he doesn’t let me hide.
“I’m sorry.” I relax in his hold and think about how he’s been so good to me and I went and believed the worst at the drop of a hat.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You’ve got reasons not to trust men, but I’m going to change that.” He leans down, and when he kisses me, my lips part for him. My brain might tell me that this is crazy, but my body doesn’t care.
“I’m still here,” Ari says loudly, and I jerk back. I was so lost in relief that I forgot about not being alone. Oh, god. I was making out with Lawson right in front of his brother.
So much for a good first impression.
Chapter Twelve
LAWSON
“Why don’t you go up to my room?” I tell Vanna as I ignore my brother. “You can take a shower, and I’ve got some clothes in the closet.”
“Okay,” she agrees before her eyes move over to Ari.
“It’s the second door on the right. I’ll be up to check on you in a little bit.”
I watch my brother carefully as Vanna goes up the stairs and disappears out of sight. Once she’s gone, he sighs and shakes his head.
“Law, what the fuck are you doing?”
Ignoring him, I go back out to the deck and grab the dishes from breakfast. He’s hot on my heels as I take them into the kitchen and turn on the faucet.
“I’m serious, you should have seen that guy. He was crazy—”
“You’re right about that,” I cut him off, and he presses his lips together in frustration.
“Listen to me. His family has a whole lot of reach, and if they want to find her, they will. Even if we don’t take him on as a client, any detective worth their name would be able to pull the security cameras around her apartment and see that she left with you.” He puts his palms down on the kitchen island in front of me, and I feel his stare as I rinse the dishes. “You can’t keep her locked up in this house forever. You know that, right?”
“I’m not planning on keeping her here forever.” I don’t look up as I rinse another dish.
“Good.”
“Just long enough to get her pregnant.” This time when I smile up at him, I see the color draining from his face.
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me.” I place the dishes on the rack beside the sink and grab the hand towel. “So if you could hurry up and leave, I’d appreciate it. I’d like to take care of that task within the hour.”
“Lawson, be honest with me. Have you lost your mind?”
“Probably.” I glance in the direction of my room and think about Vanna stripping down. “But if this is what it feels like, I’d rather not find it.”
“That’s it.” He digs in his pocket and pulls out his phone. “I’m texting Mack.”
I laugh, and Ari scowls at me. “What do you think he’s going to do besides high-five me?”
“He’s going to come here and help me drag your stupid ass out of this house and to the nearest hospital.” He comes around the island and points to the door. “You’ve kidnapped her. Now you’re telling me that you’re going to keep her here until you get her pregnant? Do you have any idea how crazy you sound?”
“Yes.”
There’s a silence between us as he blinks and tries to process my answer.
“Law, what are you doing?” His question is pleading, and I can see that he’s trying to understand but can’t wrap his head around it.