Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
A warm smile crossed my lips as the cold sadness started to melt away. Radiant happiness bloomed in my chest as I held our hope and victory in my hands. We’d done it.
“I could use a drink. What about you guys?” Kieran asked.
I took a deep breath and nodded, holding the folder against my chest as Kieran and Kit moved the bookshelf back into place.
“Why don’t we order a pizza and hang out in the living room like old times?” I suggested, figuring something familiar could help us relax after our discovery.
I didn’t know what to make of everything yet, but I knew it was something huge. Whoever those men were was an important piece to this puzzle, and I was determined to complete it. For my mom. For the crew. For the town.
For myself.
By the time the pizza was delivered and the guys returned with a six pack, I was ready to clear my mind and try to relax. Tomorrow, we would crack this thing wide open. We could put a stop to it all, and I could write the best story of my life.
Everything had paid off. All the pain from coming back. All the confusion regarding my budding feelings for the crew. Everything.
“To memories, new and old,” Kieran said as we all sat down on the fuzzy rug in front of the couch. We clinked our beers together before stealing a slice of pizza each from the box in between us.
Obviously, we were drinking juice or soda back in the day, but this still kind of felt like old times.
There was just one major thing that was different: the tension. My eyes kept catching theirs, and it wasn’t a casual look. It was a look of intention. To admire. To tease.
“I’m really glad we all got to see each other again,” I told them after finishing up my slice of pizza. My first beer was already gone, and I felt a gentle warmth buzzing beneath my skin.
“I was just thinking that,” Kieran commented with a cheeky grin that made my cheeks heat up. I missed that smile. “You were all the talk last night after you left our place.”
Kit chuckled a little and sipped on his beer instead of answering.
I cocked an eyebrow at them, feeling a surge of confidence. We were all having fun, so what the hell? A little flirting didn’t hurt anyone.
“Oh, really? I hope it was all good things,” I teased as I glanced between them, heat building in the atmosphere.
“Always,” Kit assured me as he moved the pizza box off to the side, eliminating any barriers between me and them.
“You can’t leave me hanging like that! What was said?” I pushed with a playful pout.
Kieran hummed under his breath just to taunt me before nudging Kit.
“I’m pretty sure Kit said something about how gorgeous you look,” he said.
Kit smirked and gave Kieran a light shove.
“Jerk,” he muttered before looking over at me. “But it’s true. You look beautiful, Zoe.”
Now, my face was on fire. Good thing I was hanging out with two firefighters. Hot firefighters.
“Well, you two are looking quite handsome yourselves,” I responded, riding that wave of confidence to get closer and closer to them. “I didn’t want to say anything in case that made things… weird.”
“We’re all grown up. It’s perfectly fine for people to compliment each other,” Kieran pointed out before moving closer to me, something sexy and devilish glinting in his eyes. His hand found my knee, his touch burning right through my tights. “Right?”
Oh, he was playing with fire. And I was going to play right along.
“Perfectly fine to touch each other too, right?” I asked as my hand rested on his before slowly gliding up his arm.
“Yes,” Kieran murmured, his voice dropping lower and quieter in a delicious whisper.
My eyes flickered over to Kit.
“And it’s perfectly fine to share too,” I said as I extended my hand out to him, beckoning him with my eyes.
Kit’s eyes darkened as he peered at my hand. After another sip of his beer, he set it to the side and grabbed my hand, pulling me forward instead.
I gasped as I stumbled onto my knees, being dragged onto his lap before my mind could even catch up. My nails dug into Kit’s shoulders as I straddled his waist, our eyes locking.
“Kit…” I couldn’t get another word out before he claimed my lips with his.
Kit gripped my thighs, squeezing my flesh through my tights and under my black skirt. He dragged his teeth across my bottom lip, all of his pent-up desire spilling over.
My heart hammered against my chest as I buried my fingers in his curly hair, my tongue brushing his as our kiss deepened. It wasn’t long before I felt the heat of Kieran’s body behind me, a shiver traveling up my spine.