Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“You got quiet,” he says and gestures for me to follow him out onto the deck in the backyard so he can put the burgers on the grill that’s already fired up.
I watch him put the patties over the fire and close the lid, and then he turns his attention over to me.
“Talk to me, sweetheart.”
“I was just thinking that what I said to you this morning isn’t wrong. I really shouldn’t be doing…anything with a student’s dad.”
He narrows his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge, and I salivate.
“Could you get fired?” he asks.
“No, there’s nothing explicitly written in my contract.”
His body relaxes with my answer, and he reaches out to take my hand, links his fingers with mine, and brings it up to his lips, where he presses a kiss to my knuckles.
“Then we’re not doing anything wrong,” he says. “This is a small town, Dani. People have relationships all the time. And it’s not like I’m fucking you on your desk, although when I saw you in that black pencil skirt last week, that quickly became my number-one fantasy.”
Stunned, my mouth opens and closes, but no sound comes out. Finally, I squeak, “What?”
“You heard me. In case I haven’t made myself crystal clear, I think you’re gorgeous, and I plan to spend a lot more time with you. If you think that I can stay away from you now that you’re back in Bitterroot Valley, and we’re both single, and we have this chemistry between us, you’re crazy. We’re not hurting anyone.”
Did I fall and hit my head? Am I in a coma? Is this an alternate reality?
“Breathe, kitten.”
I pull in a breath. “You’re not kidding.”
“I’m dead fucking serious.” He reaches up with his free hand and tucks my hair behind my ear, then he skims those magical knuckles down my cheek. “The timing was never right before. You were too young for me, and then when you weren’t, you were gone. The time is right now, and I’m not stupid enough to walk away from you. However, if this isn’t what you want, I need you to spell it out for me so I don’t waste any more of your time.”
I frown. “You would do that? You’d walk away if I told you to?”
“It would fucking suck, but yeah, I would. Because you deserve everything good in this life, and that includes being with someone that you choose to be with.”
Holy. Swoon.
“So, no more friend zone.”
“I fucking hate the goddamn friend zone.”
His dark eyes are on mine, taking in every expression on my face, in that serious way he’s always had that makes my toes curl.
“I’m not going to tell you that I don’t want to see more of you.”
He blows out a breath, as if he’s immensely relieved.
“Just no big displays of affection at my job, okay?”
“I can do that.” He nods and releases me long enough to flip the patties. “You know, I still haven’t kissed you.”
“You just kissed my hand.”
“I haven’t nibbled on those plump lips or tasted your mouth. I haven’t gripped your hair while I kiss the hell out of you. I haven’t heard the noises you make or felt you shiver in my hands.”
Cue the wet panties.
Bridger is a dirty talker. Holy crap, who knew? Not me. I might have fought harder back in the day if I had.
Who am I kidding? No, I wouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have known what to do with him, and my shyness would have gotten the best of me.
I’m not feeling shy now.
He slips cheese on the patties and closes the lid, then looks my way. He’s not touching me at all, but his words are imprinted on my skin, and I have goose bumps all over my body.
“Keep looking at me like that, sweetheart, and I’ll forget that my daughter is ten yards away and wide awake.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you want me.” It’s such a simple statement, but holds so much weight. He runs his tongue over his lower lip and then swears under his breath as he pulls the patties off the grill and turns it off. “Come on, trouble, let’s go eat.” Trouble. If anyone is trouble here it’s this sexy-as-heck man in front of me.
“In case I haven’t made myself crystal clear, I think you’re gorgeous, and I plan to spend a lot more time with you. The timing was never right before. You were too young for me, and then when you weren’t, you were gone. The time is right now, and I’m not stupid enough to walk away from you.”
From what my friends suggested, other guys flirted with me during college, but I never took them seriously. Too much baggage to believe them, and when I did participate in flirting, and tried to date or have a relationship, it was sorely lacking. But this is Bridger, and I know and trust him. I always have. He’s definitely given me something to think about. After dinner. Or maybe tomorrow.