Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87913 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Lifting my head when her cell starts to ring on the coffee table, I lean forward and pick it up before it can wake her, hitting the side button and sending the call to voicemail when I see it’s Matthew calling. I’ve got to give it to the guy; he is tenacious. Then again, after having her around for the last few weeks, I can understand how hard she’d be to let go of.
But that doesn’t mean his constant calling and texting doesn’t annoy the fuck out of me.
Putting her cell on silent, I drop it back to the table, then turn her way when her soft, sleepy voice asks, “Was that Matthew?”
“Yep,” I mutter, and she rolls her eyes before looking at the TV.
“How many episodes did I miss this time?”
“Only one and a half.”
“We’re never going to make it through this series at the rate I’m going.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t mind rewatching the same episode three times.” I smile, and she laughs while pushing herself up to sit.
“What time is it?” she asks.
“A little after four.”
“Crap.” Her eyes slide closed. “I need to leave soon. Molly is coming over at five to get ready for tonight.”
“The event doesn’t start until eight.” An event I’m not looking forward to going to but am obligated to attend because Hoffner—the man hosting it—is a major donor in the political world, so Billy expects all of us to show up. And unfortunately, with Jamie being back at work this past week, she will likely be there this evening, which could get messy, since Billy’s wife will be there too. It’s something I already warned Franny about at lunch.
Though, like I told Franny, ever since Jamie’s been back at the office after Billy’s announcement, she’s been different. She’s kept her distance and been nothing but professional. I haven’t even seen her seek Billy out, making me wonder what’s going on there. And I also wonder if Franny was right—if he told Jamie that his relationship with his wife was on the rocks in order to sleep with her, and then she found out that wasn’t the case, so she cut him off.
“I know, but unlike you, I need to do more than just get dressed in order to look presentable. I need to shower and do something with my hair and my face, which is a whole process.”
“You look beautiful all the time.”
“Whatever you say, big guy.” She laughs, then adds, “Molly also asked me to do her makeup and help with her hair, so that’s going to take time, too.” She studies me for a long moment, then asks softly, “Do you want to drive together?”
The way her question comes out—tentative, almost shy—pulls my answer out of me without hesitation. “Yeah.”
“Cool.” She seems to have to force her gaze off mine. “I guess I should go.”
Fuck, it feels good that she’s as reluctant to leave as I am to let her go, which happens each time she’s here.
As she gets up off the couch, PJ—who fell asleep on the dog bed I got him for my place—lifts his head to watch his mom as she grabs her cell phone. “Are you ready to go home?” she asks him, and he drops his head back to his paws. “I guess not.”
Laughing, I get to my feet, and she tips her head back to look up at me. “I’ll bring him down with me when I come to get you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll take him out and let him run for a bit in the back of Clay’s, so he can burn off some energy.”
“You’re the best.” She rests her hands against my waist as she leans up on her tiptoes, and without thinking, I dip my chin and press my mouth to hers.
I hear her sharp inhale of breath as our lips touch before she pulls back quickly, her eyes wide.
Fuck, how many times have I wanted to kiss her?
How many times have I stopped myself from just doing it because I knew that if that door was opened, there would be no going back?
Because one more taste wouldn’t be enough.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes like she’s the one at fault, like she’s the one who kissed me. “I didn’t mean….” She shakes her head, a pink flush spreading up her neck to her cheeks as her eyes drop to my mouth before shooting back up to mine. “I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorr—”
Capturing her face in my hands, I pull her back toward me and cover her mouth with my own before she can apologize again.
It takes only one second for her to melt against me and two for my entire world to flip upside down.
Sliding my fingers deep into her hair, I feel her lips part, and the soft puff of air from her whimper touches my tongue as her hands skim up my chest. Just like the first time I had her taste to savor, I lose all sense of reality, and my entire existence becomes hyperfocused on her, the sounds she makes, and the way her soft body feels pressed against mine.