Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Why do you keep squirrels in cages?” Maggie is down on her haunches, staring at the first squirrel I’ve caught in my trap.
She’s managed to slip past my alarms, though I’m certain I’ve caught her on video. I have too many cameras throughout the property to miss her.
“Is this another one of your weird hobbies?” She looks up at me with a quizzical expression.
“Gardening and horses are weird hobbies?” I lean against the barn and cross my arms.
“Yeah. I mean, you’re not an octogenarian, are you?”
I snort a laugh. “No, not as far as I know. But since we’re on elderly subjects, I’ve also tried my hand at crochet.”
She wrinkles her nose.
“I wasn’t any good at it.” I hold up my hands. “My fingers are too big.”
She licks her lips and gets to her feet, her gaze on my fingers. “That’s a fair assessment. What else do you get up to around here?” She steps closer, her eyes narrowing. “Seems like you’d need a lot of money to buy this big property and have all these nice things.”
Alfie trots up and rubs against her leg, his purr already rumbling through him. She gives him the required pets as he fawns all over her. He’s such a ham.
“Have you had breakfast?” I ask.
“No.” She meets my gaze. “You didn’t answer my question.”
I didn’t think I’d get that past her, but I don’t think we’re quite ready for that conversation. “Let’s talk over eggs and bacon.”
“What about the squirrel?” She points.
“He’ll be fine. Stuffed with peanut butter and Cheerios. I’ll drop him off elsewhere a little later. For now, though, I’d love to make you breakfast.”
“Okay. I’m a breakfast fan. Eggs aren’t perfectly spherical, so I respect them.” She chews her bottom lip for a second. “Yes, I’d like to go inside.” She stands again, and I take her hand, leading her to the house.
“You know, you could’ve spent the night.” I squeeze her warm fingers. “Then you wouldn’t have had to come all the way back this morning.”
“That’s presumptuous of you.” She stops, her grip growing tight as she glowers up at me. “Do you often invite women to spend the night?”
“No.”
She squeezes even harder. “Never?”
“Never.” I try not to smile at the way she’s attempting to crush my fingers in her sweet little grip. So goddamn cute with the way she gets all possessive–it’s almost unbearable.
“And you won’t. Ever.” She glances at the barn and then my garden. “I’d hate for all this pretty stuff to burn.”
“Burn?” I pull her toward the porch.
“Yes, I mean”—she clears her throat—“in like, you know, a lightning storm or a freak accident or something. Something unforeseeable that seems highly likely to happen if you were to invite another woman to spend the night.”
“Perfectly vague but also oddly specific.” I grin as I open the front door and guide her in, Alfie trailing behind her.
“I’m just talking about possible contingencies, that’s all.” She shrugs.
“Talk all you want.” I step toward her, backing her against the door. “I’m just glad you came back.” I kiss her, gently at first, lovingly. With her, I want everything all at once. She’s all I could think about all night long, and I’m desperate for more of her. But I know just how special she is. Spooking her is the last thing I want to do. I was afraid I may have pushed her too far too fast yesterday, but I couldn’t fucking help myself.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmur against her lips.
She grips the front of my shirt, fisting the fabric and pulling me down for a harder kiss, her mouth opening as I tongue her, seeking that electric connection that somehow exists between us. I’ve never felt anything like it before, and I don’t want to question it. I just want to let it roll through me, flooding me with sensation.
She moans as I grip her ass and lift her, pressing against her as she spreads her legs and wraps them around me. When I feel the heat between her thighs, I grunt, my cock straining against my jeans as I angle her head to the side, deepening our kiss. She tastes like everything I always wanted but never had. Fuck, I can’t get enough.
Her stomach growls.
I freeze.
She keeps kissing me, her hands in my hair. “Owen,” she murmurs.
Slowly, I lower her to the floor, her body sliding against mine as I feel every delicious curve. “You’re hungry.”
“Yeah, for that dick.” She slaps a hand over her mouth.
I laugh, overcome with amusement as she smiles behind her hand. She’s so unexpected. Every twist and turn only draws me closer to her.
“Come on, breakfast first. Then we can talk about the rest.” I take her hand and pull her to the kitchen, a smile still on my face–one that may be stuck there, thanks to her.