Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Nolan fell quiet for a moment. “It sounds like we need to catch up.”
“Yes, we do. I’ll call you this weekend. It’d be good to talk before we beat your ass next Wednesday.”
Nolan laughed. “We’ll see about that. I don’t know what else you have planned tonight but try to stay out of trouble.”
“Can’t promise that.” Tyler smirked.
My hotel was just ahead, and Nolan ended the call as Tyler turned into the parking lot, pulling into a spot at the far corner. I thought he’d want to talk, but he just got out with me, and as I took a step toward the hotel, he shoved his hands in his sweatshirt and turned away, heading down the block.
I watched. He obviously didn’t want to be around me any longer, despite what he’d said in the truck, and I knew I should let him go. Right now. Right here. This was a defining moment. If I let him go, whatever fucked-up situationship had developed between us would officially be done. Over. I felt that in my gut. That’s what needed to happen. Let him go.
I didn’t move.
Turn around, go into the hotel. Remind yourself why he hates you…
Except I headed after him. My feet moved of their own volition. I heard myself call to him. “Where are you going?”
He turned back, stiffening when he saw me, and shook his head. “No.” His nostrils flared. “Leave. Go to your hotel. Go to your room. Forget me, Rain.”
I took another step toward him.
His eyes closed before opening again, tormented. “Stop,” he said, still harsh. He gestured down the block. “There’s a bar there. I’m going to get obliterated, and I’m going to forget you. I’m going to forget everything about you, and then I’ll take an Uber home. I’ll wake up to go see Zoey. If I feel like it, I’ll fuck someone else tonight.”
Pain sliced me. “You don’t mean that.” I took another step in his direction.
This was stupid. I was being foolish. Rash.
He didn’t move away, breathing hard.
“You should,” I said, feeling myself peel away from my body. I was dissociating. “You should go and do all of that.”
We continued to stare at each other, chests heaving. He cursed under his breath. “Why do you think your brother hates you?”
I winced, but I was exhausted. He’d already asked once. I didn’t have the strength to deflect it again. I shrugged. “I don’t think it. I know it. He’s always hated me.” My hands went up in a helpless gesture. “There’s no great mystery to it. As far as I know, I never did anything. I was just born, and I wasn’t supposed to be there. That’s all I can say.”
“That’s messed up. He named his daughter after you. How can you explain that?”
“I can’t. But I guarantee if Dane ever saw me again, he’d look right through me like he always did. Maybe you’re right. Maybe Dane doesn’t hate me. It was always a more cold indifference. I never existed to him growing up. That will never change. I know my place, and it’s not in that family.”
Tyler slid his hand around my neck to the back of my head, drawing me close.
I put my hands on his chest, feeling his heart beat through his sweatshirt. He pulled me even closer, smashing the space between us until only my hands kept us apart—my hands and our clothes.
He let out a soft breath, lowering his forehead to rest on mine. His fingers slid into my hair. “This is a bad idea.”
I focused on his mouth, how close it was to mine. If I lifted up on my toes, just a little, I could taste him again, and suddenly that’s all I wanted. “Agreed,” I whispered.
Yet we stood like that, in an embrace that wasn’t an embrace, and we breathed each other’s air. He muttered, “My sister’s going to have to get over it.”
My eyes jerked to his. Determination flashed there, like steel. “Wait.” I pressed back, my pulse going wild. “She can’t. What Daniel did—”
“Not the car accident, not her injury. You. She’s going to have to get over the fact that I want you, because Jesus Christ, Rain.” He shifted directions and backed me against the building behind us. His hips pressed against me. “I want you, and I’m fast losing the strength to stay away.”
I licked my lips, salivating to taste him again.
His eyes darkened. “Don’t do that unless you want me to do something about it.”
“We’re on the street,” I said weakly.
“It’s late. Anyone from our organization is in bed asleep.” He let go of me to pull his hood up. “Thank God hockey players aren’t so recognizable.” He cupped the side of my face and tilted me toward him as he lowered his mouth. “Are you ready to deal with this? I can’t stay away anymore.”