Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“The older ones, yes. And sometimes, the parents themselves bring them here. Other times, local parishes tell us about deaf children being mistreated or neglected in other orphanages and we negotiate for their release into our care.”
“So you bribe them.”
“Or blackmail them with bad publicity,” she said cheerfully.
His lips curved. “I approve.”
She laughed. “I thought you would.” She then realized she had been talking all the time and her cheeks turned red. Yikes! He must think she was such a self-centered chick. “I’m sorry for rambling,” she said, cringing.
Leandro was bemused by the apology. “You weren’t. I liked listening to you.” At her doubtful look, he rolled his eyes and said, “Do you have to doubt everything I say?”
“Only when you say something that’s too good to be true.”
“You’re too cynical.”
She quipped, “It’s because I want to be like you when I grow up.” His laugh made her stomach do somersaults, and Bobby knew she was blushing again. It was strange, the way Leandro didn’t seem to mind how snarky or outspoken she was...
Something might have shown on her face at the memories Bobby was suddenly trying not to remember because Leandro asked, “What is it?”
She shook her head quickly. “Nothing.”
“You became pale all of a sudden, mégaira. It must be something.”
“What does mégaira mean?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Shrew.”
A full second passed before she realized he wasn’t joking. “Jerk!” She laughingly crumpled a sheet of tissue into a ball and threw it at him.
He caught it handily with a smile...and threw it back at her. “But you are a shrew,” he said mildly.
She suddenly felt hot and tried not to think that it was because of the way Leandro was suddenly gazing at her. How did he do that? How could he just change the atmosphere from friendly bantering to one with sexual innuendo without anything being said? She wished she could cross her arms over her chest. She knew he was looking at her breasts, and she knew he knew she was getting excited over it. He had been the only one other than herself to see them bare, and his reaction that night had been, umm, gratifying. Like he was worshipping her because of it.
Bobby reached for her glass of wine. “If I’m such a shrew, why are you here?”
“Because you’re a hot shrew.”
She sputtered her wine. “Leandro!”
As she reached for her napkin and patted her lips dry, he said softly, “That’s the second time you’ve said my name.”
Bobby shrugged uncomfortably. “So?”
“You tell me.”
“It’s just a name.” She tried to sound snarky, but she ended up sounding so blasted feminine and weak. So not like the tough chick everyone thought she was.
His laugh was low, sexy, and mysterious. “You may deny it as much as you want, but I have a feeling I’m right in thinking you do not just call any man by his name.” When her eyes widened, Leandro knew he was spot on and he smiled in deep satisfaction. “That is good. You can only ever call me by my name, no one else.”
Bobby pursed her lips. She had learned her lesson. She was not going to get into an argument of that nature with him again. He’d only end up kissing her.
The pursed look on her face was beyond cute. It made Leandro want to kiss it off her lips and turn it into something else. His cock reacted at the thought and he shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. “Bobby,” he said huskily, leaning forward.
“Y-yes?” She couldn’t help leaning forward, too.
But before either of them could speak again, there was a knock on the door. “We need an extra pair of hands here! Two kids vomiting, green stuff all over the floor, and another has diarrhea, so there’s poop, too.”
The mood abruptly changed, and Leandro and Bobby immediately broke apart. Bobby jumped to her feet, unable to meet Leandro’s gaze. “I’m really sorry about this. But I need to go and—-” Hands settled on her shoulders, turning her around.
And then he kissed her.
She didn’t even think of struggling this time.
What was the point? It was obvious to anyone that she was crazy about Leandro Christopoulos. Her hands climbed up and twined themselves around his neck as she returned his kiss, her head dizzy with the scorching-hot feelings of passion that assaulted her senses. Her body was on fire as Leandro’s hands roamed while he was kissing her, and she inadvertently let out a gasp when she felt his hands moving up to cup her breasts.
His hands were large, but her breasts were just the tiniest bit larger, and the fact that he couldn’t completely cover them had Leandro so hard and aroused. He knew if he didn’t put a stop to this he would be fucking her then and there, and to hell with everyone waiting for her to take command.