Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
There were moments when it felt so surreal I wanted to laugh. At the present moment, I didn’t feel the need to laugh. I felt the need to give my heart a slap, because it was beating a little too fast at the mere thought of seeing him.
I locked my vehicle and then headed for the entrance, marveling at the peaceful feel to the pocket of land. There was no noise other than for the sprinkling of the fountain, the light breeze sliding through the trees, and the clicking of my heels against the stone walkway.
Noticing a chauffeur sitting in the town car, I felt my brows lift in surprise. I gave him a brief wave, which he easily returned. Huh. Since it was highly unlikely that Dax would have a chauffeur sitting in a car outside his home, it seemed more probable that said chauffeur had driven someone here.
I pressed the doorbell and waited, my nerves a little too tetchy for there to be anything patient about that wait. He opened the door, his eyes fixed on mine, and my entire system—every cell, every hormone, every nerve-ending—quite simply went zing.
“Addison,” he ever so smoothly greeted. Backing up, he opened the door wider. “Come in.”
Clutching the strap of my purse unnecessarily tight, I walked inside, my body brushing his. Catching movement in my peripheral vision, I twisted my head slightly. It was a battle not to tense. I easily recognized the tall, dark, far too good-looking Sicilian male who stood there. Anyone in Redwater would.
Dax sidled closer to me. “This is a friend of mine, Rafael Cabello. Rafael, this is my fiancée, Addison.”
A corner of Rafael’s mouth tilted upward. “I’ve heard plenty about you.”
Given the guy ran a crime syndicate … “I can certainly say the same.” The rumors were plentiful.
“Thank you for the invitation to the wedding,” he said with a short, gracious nod. “I’ll be there.”
I’d emailed the invitations earlier today after booking the church and securing a venue—it was faster than dishing out physical invitations. When I’d seen Rafael’s name on Dax’s guest list, I’d almost fallen off my damn chair. I knew they were acquainted, but I hadn’t thought they were close friends. There’d been a few other names that had taken me by surprise.
I gave him a polite smile. “In that case, I’ll see you then.”
He and Dax exchanged goodbyes, and then the Sicilian male elegantly breezed out of the villa with an animal grace.
Once Dax closed the door, I said, “You have interesting friends.”
“So I’ve been told.” He tipped his chin, gesturing for me to follow him as he added, “Come.”
“Your place is bigger than I thought it’d be,” I said, trailing after him.
“I’ll give you a quick tour before we eat.”
The sound of our footfalls echoed along the marble flooring as he showed me around first the living area and then the dining room. Both were spacious and elegantly furnished, as was the room he said I could use as a home office if I wished.
The scent of various foods reached me before we entered the top-of-the-range kitchen. Three plates covered in stainless steel toppers waited on the small dining table there, and I guessed one of Oakengrove’s chefs had prepped the meal. Residents could order food to be delivered from a central kitchen, and most took advantages of the perk.
Next, Dax ushered me upstairs. There were four bedrooms in total, all en suite—one of which he used as an office. The largest was, of course, the master bedroom. Taking in the sight of his bed, I almost whistled. Now that was a bed. A big-ass one that could sleep at least four people. If those four people were snuggly sleepers, that was.
I doubted Dax was a nighttime cuddler. I, personally, was not. Nor did I move much in my sleep. I always picked my own side of any mattress, and I rarely left it—no matter how big the bed, no matter if I was alone in it or not.
The room boasted other features, such as a massive walk-in closet, a jacuzzi, and also a large balcony that overlooked a pretty garden, modern patio area, and sizeable swimming pool. Again, there was a feeling of seclusion due to the amount of trees—they apparently didn’t only border the front of the lot, but the whole of it.
As I again stared down at the bed, my belly did some pathetic fluttering as I imagined rolling around in it with him. But then my stomach dropped as it occurred to me that other females had no doubt done some rolling in it.
Dax stalked closer to me. “I bought it new when I moved here not so long ago. The only women who’ve been to the villa other than you are my mom and sister.”
I arched a brow. “In other words, you haven’t fucked anyone in this bed?”