Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I know.” He puts his hand down on my bare thigh. “I don’t think you should waste time on it. You’re small and a woman; as much as they shouldn’t underestimate you, they will. You win people over by being steady. You’re an even force, and predictability isn’t always a bad thing. It can bring comfort and understanding to many people. Being reliable holds far more weight than people realize. Don’t underestimate it the way people do you.” He gives me one of his charming smirks. “We know where that can get them.”
“Dead.” I place my hand on top of his. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you remind me a bit of my mother. The things you say.”
“I would never take that the wrong way. As your husband, I would hope that in time you could hold me in the same regard.”
“So that I’ll kill for you,” I find myself teasing right back. Everything he told me in the hotel suite is still fresh in my mind.
“I don’t think having you kill for me would be hard.” He actually chuckles, making the conversation lighter.
“You’ve killed before?” I ask.
“I have.”
“How many?” My curiosity is piqued now.
“Is this one of those car games to kill the time?” A small laugh leaves me, surprising me.
“I guess I’m not good at small talk.” I shrug.
“Yes, when I have to. I don’t favor it.”
“You do have a very clean-cut background, considering all things.”
“I killed my father.” I set my cards down. “My second favorite kill.” Oh, this is new information or as Bonte would call it, tea.
“You’re full of surprises.” I swipe my tongue across my bottom lip. Is it weird that this little game of ours is somehow turning me on? “Who was your favorite?”
“Not sure you’re ready to hear that one yet.”
“I am.”
“You’re adorable when you pout.”
“I don’t pout.” I scowl. He kisses my bottom lip.
“Your bottom lip says otherwise.” He kisses it again, and that urge to crawl back into his lap hits again. “Let me get your door.” I glance back out the window. I hadn’t noticed that the vehicle had stopped moving.
When he slips out of the car, I touch my bottom lip. Was I pouting? It’s not the worst thing, I tell myself. Pouting can be a tool to get what you want.
Paxton opens the door for me, offering me his hand. “There are cameras,” he warns before he steps aside, unblocking the view of everyone.
“A red carpet?”
“We’re on the West Coast. The parties are more dramatic.” Nix would love it here.
Paxton slips his arm around my waist, pulling me snugly into his side. I find myself leaning into him, enjoying his warmth and closeness. I tend to like my space, but with Paxton, I want him as close as possible. That possessiveness I have for him is only growing.
We stop and pause for a few pictures. Paxton is charming and polite. I force a smile, wanting to blend in.
“Paxton, who’s the girl?” a male asks from the other side of the rope that is keeping them at bay. He’s dressed down compared to most, a camera in hand.
“She’s—”
“His fiancée,” I tell him myself. The words are slipping past my lips before I can stop them. That has never been a problem for me before. Hell, Paxton was just saying how I think before I speak. This man is ruining me, and the messed-up part is I don’t want him to stop.
“Interesting. You got a name?” I glance up at Paxton, and he lifts a brow, silently telling me he can take over the conversation or I can keep going. This might be a thing I need to get used to.
“Naomi.”
“You got a last name, Naomi?” Is this an interrogation? People are too nosy here. Where I’m from, you mind your own business.
“That will do, Rodger,” Paxton says, cutting in and guiding me up the stairs into the hotel where the event is being hosted. “It won’t take them long to dig your name up.”
“I suppose it was only a matter of time.” I glance around the ballroom filled with pretty people, all dolled up. “Have you thought about what others might think here if you marry a Marino?”
I’m seeing the Paxton image here is rather clean-cut to the public. I’m sure those politicians and people in power prefer that. It makes it easier for them to be seen with him.
“I don’t care. If I need to, I can walk away from here.”
“But you built a name for yourself here.” How could he so easily walk away from that? I have spent my whole life building up who I am to the outside world.
“It’s all pointless if I can’t have you.”
“You’re too charming.” Everything he says is past perfect. This better not be a game; I really don’t want to have to kill him.