Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 98(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“But, Mom, you were just saying—”
“Never mind what I was just saying, Katherine,” she snaps, getting up from her chair and practically tossing me out of mine as she lifts me to my feet. “Go on now. Your father and I will still be here when you two return.”
I glance over at my dad, putting on my best pouty face, hoping he’ll understand and do something about it, but he’s so wrapped up in his stocks and bonds conversation that he just gives me a happy nod and a smile as though we just shared some kind of father-daughter moment.
I look around at the expensive cabins, the perfectly landscaped grass, and the pricey boats drifting lazily in the sparkling blue waves and can’t help but think how many people would look at this place from the outside and imagine just how wonderful it would be to be lucky enough to stay here.
But would they sign up to trade places with me if they knew what my life entailed, I wonder?
“All right,” I sigh. “Let’s go, I guess.”
Malcom grins and stretches out his hand, which I don’t take. This doesn’t seem to upset him, however. How could one man be so oblivious to the fact that he’s so unwanted?
Or does he know but just not care? Maybe he just wants to marry into my family and then spend the rest of our lives cheating on me with whoever he feels like. I could see that being a plan for a guy like him.
I walk ahead of him up the shore past the boats, but he catches up quickly.
“Have you seen the boathouses here?” he asks, pointing to a large one on our right.
“I have not.”
“I was thinking of buying a boat here,” he replies. “Why don’t I show you?”
I really could not care less. The amount I know about boats could fit in two lines of a note on my phone, and unless my parents drag us back here again next summer, I can’t see myself being on one again. But Malcom already has the door open and is beckoning me inside, so I just paste on a smile and go on in.
But as soon as the door closes behind us, I realize that him bringing me in here has nothing to do with the boats.
I feel his hand on the small of my back first and then his other hand on my hip as he turns me around to face him.
“Malcom, stop—”
“I’m your future husband, Katherine,” he replies, his voice low and frightening. “You will obey me.”
He grips the hem of my shorts and pulls.
“Malcom, no!”
I brace myself against his chest and push as hard as I can. Somehow I manage to get away, but only for a moment. I put a few steps between us, but then he’s on me again. He snatches me by the hair and pulls me to him. I cry out in pain as terror flares in my chest.
“Hey! Let her go.”
Malcom freezes. I fall to my knees. When I look up, warmth floods through me when I see Christian standing in the other door, his arms crossed over his chest.
“Get out of here, townie!” Malcom shouts. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Christian takes several steps toward us and stops.
“I’m not going to tell you again. Let her go.”
To my surprise, Malcom does actually let go of me, which gives me a chance to scramble over to Christian. Doing my best not to cry, I throw my arms around his waist and hold on for dear life.
“Ah, I see what’s going on here…” Malcom says slowly, walking toward us. “You think you can steal my girl, eh?”
“She’s not your girl, Einstein. She never was.”
Malcom closes in on us, rage boiling in his eyes. I take shelter behind Christian.
“And I guess you think I’m going to lose her to you then?”
It all happens so fast.
My breath catches in my chest as Malcom swings at Christian.
Christian ducks, weaves to the side, and throws his own counterpunch at Malcom.
The sound it makes when Christian’s fist hits his face…it’s like a bat cracking into the trunk of a tree. Malcom lets out a groaning noise and goes down hard.
And then my hand is in Christian’s and I’m being led to the door.
“You son of a bitch,” Malcom mutters. I glance back over my shoulder to see him fishing his phone out of his pocket and dialing. “You’re going to jail for this.”
“Are you all right?” Christian asks me, my hand so safe and secure as he leads me outside.
I nod, collapsing against his chest. I breathe deep, inhaling his scent that is so incredibly comforting.
It’s for sure now. I’m absolutely in love.
“God, there’s nothing I want to do more right now than take you back to my cabin.”
“I want that so badly too,” I groan. “I’m so sorry I didn’t come to you last night. My mother—she just was watching me like a fricking prison guard!”