Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
If I wasn’t focused on finding what happened to my brother, I would be more persistent in getting her to recognize there is something between us.
Didn’t stop him from knocking on the door, maybe six inches below the word Tinsel.
He held his breath as the knob turned and seconds later he found himself staring down at a woman who would be starring in every single one of his fantasies for the rest of his life.
My wife. Mother of my future children. The woman I will be chasing around in my walker when we get to that age.
Curves. Deep brown skin. Hair up in a sexy, sloppy bun with a few tendrils hanging from her temples. But it was her eyes that snared him. He looked, blinked, and looked again.
No longer a pair of gorgeous pale brown eyes that stared back at him. Her left was a pale green and her right, medium brown.
He lost his ability to talk, only able to stare. Soft notes of honeysuckle and jasmine wafted from her to surround him in ropes of allure.
“Your eyes are stunning.”
Not his most incredible line that’s for sure.
She bit her plump lower lip, sighed, and muttered, “Fuck Me Santa.” The second the words were out of her mouth, she clamped it shut as her eyes widened.
He smiled, leaning closer, fingers gripping the top of the doorjamb as he did. Ryker didn’t miss the way her gaze heated as it flashed to his biceps. “He would love to.”
Arm porn. He loved it was a thing, flexed his muscles once more just because, he wanted to make sure she got a show.
She huffed. Fuck, even that was adorable. With a lift of her chin, she took a deep breath. “Something I can do for you?”
Lips quirking he barely managed to keep the need he had for this woman from leaking free. It wasn’t the time or the place for such a thing. They would have their time. He had no doubt about that, knew it better than he knew he was in Tennessee playing Santa for their Christmas in July celebration.
“Let me in.”
Her gaze cooled. Correction, it went downright arctic. “I don’t know you.”
He found her gaze once more and found him drowning. “So get to know me. I’m harmless.”
“Right, and I’m in Macau.”
“Say the word and I’ll make it so.”
A careless shrug. “No passport.”
“I can get you in anyway.” He gripped the frame tighter simply so he didn’t sink his fingers into her hair and tug her head back, exposing her lips and throat to him.
“Not interested in a life of servitude. Excuse me, Mr… umm… Mr. Ryker. Have a good night.”
He put his foot in the door before she could close it. The eyes watching him didn’t show fear, but they were cautious.
“I’m sorry, I think we got off on the wrong foot.” He took a deep breath and licked his lips. “I tend to act like a fool around a beautiful woman.”
“And yet, here we stand.”
Oh fuck no, that wasn’t going to fly. He stepped to her, pleased she didn’t shift back and more determined than ever to get her to understand her own beauty to him.
“Rayla, you are a fucking stunning woman and if you say otherwise, I’m going to kiss you until you see it my way.”
Her eyes widened and her lips moved but nothing came out. He stroked down her cheek with the backs of two fingers, reveling in the softness of her skin beneath his.
“Why do you wear contacts?” He swiped his thumb along her lower lip. “I love your eyes.”
She narrowed those incredible eyes and he smirked.
“Something to say?”
“Is there something I can do for you? I was getting ready to turn in.”
“I was walking by and wanted to see you again.”
“I assure you, Mr. Ryker, I have nothing that will benefit you so we don’t need to play this game. I’m not interested and you aren’t either. Let’s simply learn to work together and go our separate ways at the end of the month.”
“Lies.” He put his nose to hers, her subtle scent intermixed with hints of alochol. “I’m very interested in you and I think you are me as well, you simply don’t want to acknowledge it. That’s okay. I have a month to get you to see me in a different light.”
She stepped back from him and he had to stop himself from putting her back in touching distance.
“Good night, Mr. Ryker.”
Kissing the tips of his fingers, he ghosted them over her mouth. “Goodnight, Mrs. Ryker.”
“Not my name.”
He winked. “Not yet.”
Walking off with a jaunty tune on his lips he chuckled as the door shut behind him. She didn’t slam it, no, it was closed with a soft yet definite click.
Two goals now. Find his brother and get his woman.
Chapter 3
“What do you mean you’re not working today?” Rayla swirled her iced mint white chocolate drink.