Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 811(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
“You will go back with me,” I say, with enough venom in my voice to make her eyes narrow.
I relish that, too. This is a side of her not many people get to see. She may have replaced her scowl with a polite smile. But deep down, Lyla James is an angry little concoction stewed by a witch in a cauldron that’s waiting to tip over.
“I’ll hate you for it,” she says, eyes still narrowed.
I shrug. “I don’t really care.”
That shuts her mouth. She’s watching me closely now. She didn’t expect that. How could she? The man she fell in love with would have thrown himself at her feet by now, begging her to return to him, but I’m not that man anymore. I don’t beg. I demand. And this is what I’m demanding from her. Whether she wants to do it the easy way or the hard way is up to her. Either way, she’s doing it, but I’ll play her little game a little longer and see if she decides to come willingly.
“Okay. I’ll do it,” she says. “One million dollars.”
“Two for a year,” I say.
“I don’t even know if I can get through this week,” she mutters.
My fists clench at my sides. I know that comment has nothing to do with me. She was fucking ecstatic when she saw me. Shocked but ecstatic. And the way she kissed me? There’s no way she doesn’t still want me. This is about Fairview. I know that unless I tell her my entire plan, I won’t be able to convince her that no harm will come to either of us, but I can’t disclose that yet.
“I need a few days,” she says after a moment.
“I’ll give you one.”
“You’ll give me two if you want me to go through with this.” She pins me with one of her no-bullshit stares and fucking A, it still does things to me.
“Why two?”
“I need to coach tomorrow.” She looks down as she says it, and I can tell it means a lot to her. “I can’t miss it. They’ll. . .” She takes a breath. “They’re young. They’ll be disappointed.”
I could take this from her. I could force her to leave anyway, fucking tie her up and put a sock in her mouth, and drive, but I won’t. I want to watch who she is and what she does here. Maybe by the time I leave here, I won’t feel like throttling her and burning anything that stands between us. Highly unlikely, but maybe.
“We’ll leave after,” I say.
She shakes her head. “I work all day. I’m refereeing little kids at eleven and training teenagers in the afternoon.”
“I thought you were taking a week off,” I say. Her brows rise like she can’t believe I know all of this. I cock my head. Come on, Lyla James.
“I’m on break from the sports center for a week,” she explains. “I use the same facility, but this is separate from that.”
Huh. That wasn’t clear in the paperwork, but I guess it makes sense if it’s all under the same company. Maybe that’s why she’s making decent money.
“Two days,” I say.
“Two days,” she repeats.
I give a nod and try not to let my mouth break out in a shit-eating grin. I knew she’d do it. If there’s one thing she doesn’t need, it’s more guilt on her plate. Then again, she may be doing it because of the money, and that thought pisses me off. It shouldn’t, but it does.
“I’m going to breakfast with Wade at nine-thirty,” she says after a moment.
My jaw tenses. I can’t fucking believe she’s actually going. I remain calm and remind myself that in a few days, we’ll be married and I won’t have to worry about that little gnat, but it doesn’t make me want to squash him any less.
“You can come if you want,” she says quietly, biting her lip as she looks at the floor.
Only because I know her, I know that she means that. If it were anyone else, I’d think they’re just trying to be nice, but Lyla James would rather stay quiet than say something she doesn’t mean. I think about it. Do I want to have breakfast with that asshole? No. Do I want her to go alone? Also no. I can’t promise that I’ll be able to sit through it without fucking him up, though. I don’t know if I can get as far as coffee before I pound his face in. I decide not to risk it.
“I’ll think about it,” I say, finally.
“When will we be back?” she asks, looking at me again.
“You’ll be back in time to start your residency.”
“Okay,” she breathes, searching my eyes. She looks at me for too long and I brace myself for whatever will come out of her mouth next. “Where will you be when I come back?”