Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Setting the drinks on the ground near the edge of the empty booth, I force myself to take deep, cleansing breaths, the way Steph taught me. I’m not going to wreck either of our days—our lives—by killing this man.
Even if I really, really want to.
But my Zen is almost immediately tested as I round the corner to see Drake taking a menacing step closer to Steph as she backs away. “You know you’re not over me,” he says. “You know you still want—”
“Need some help, babe?” My voice emerges low, calm, but deadly.
I know Drake can hear the deadly. He instantly pales as he darts a wary gaze my way.
The fear and relief mixing on Stephanie’s face as she hurries to my side makes me want to punch the fucker all over again. “Let’s go,” she whispers, fisting her fingers in my shirt and clinging tight.
Drake snorts as he blurts, “What? No fucking way, this is the boyfriend? This guy? The neanderthal from the studio?”
“Big word. Congrats,” I say, unbothered by his insult. The only thing I care about is getting Stephanie away from him, and ensuring he knows not to bother her again. “Listen up, friend, Stephanie has made a choice not to include you in her life moving forward. She blocked your number and made it clear that she has nothing left to say to you. So, from now on, you’re going to respect that. You don’t text her or reach out on social media or come anywhere near her home or business. If you see her walking down the street, you move to the other side and keep your eyes on the sidewalk. Hell, you don’t even think about her if you can help it. Are we clear?”
His face flushes blazing red, making me think he’s already had a few. “Fuck you. This isn’t your business. Stephanie and I have history. This is between us. You’re fucking nothing. You’re just the rebound guy.”
“History is all we have, Drake,” Stephanie says, her voice steady despite the tension I can feel radiating from her body. “Ancient history, I regret more with every passing second. So, leave me alone. Tank’s right. I have nothing more to say to you, and I won’t ever again.”
Drake’s features twist into an ugly mixture of rage and confusion. “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re really choosing this meathead over me? Can he even read?”
“He’s incredibly intelligent, yes. But honestly, I wouldn’t care if he couldn’t read. Because he fucks me like a freight train and treats me like a princess,” Stephanie says, anger flashing in her eyes. “He’s twice the man you’ll ever be. So, get lost, asshole.”
I grin, loving every word of that take down more than I can say. It was a chef’s kiss of a comeback and we are clearly done here.
“You heard the lady.” I allow my grin to take on a shit-eating edge as I jab a thumb to my right. “Bye, Drake.”
“Bullshit,” he mutters. “You’ll be sorry. When you realize what you gave up.”
He opens his mouth as if he might have more to say, but I guess something in my expression—the burning urge to throat punch him simmering beneath my smile, perhaps?—convinces him that’s a bad idea. After a final growl, he turns and stalks away, his shoulders rigid with wounded pride.
When we’re alone, I turn to Steph, brushing a gentle hand across her forehead. “You okay, Teach?”
She exhales a shaky breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just… Thank you. For not hitting him. And for handling that so well.” Her cheeks flush as she adds, “Sorry about the freight train thing. I was mad.”
“You had every right to be.” I grin down at her. “And I’ll be your freight train any time. You’re sexy as hell when you’re angry.”
She laughs, but her smile fades as she steps in, pressing her face into my chest. “Thanks, but is it… Is it okay that I want to get out of here? I don’t want to run into him again. I’d rather just be alone with you.”
My heart lurches as I hug her close. “I’d like that, too. Can I take you home, Love?”
She looks up, her gaze softening as she whispers, “Yes, please, LiBassi. That’s all I want.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” I say, meaning it with everything in me.
Because that’s what this is about.
What she wants. What we both want.
And right now, I’m pretty sure what we want most is each other.
CHAPTER 11
STEPHANIE
The ride home on the back of Tank’s Harley is torture.
Sweet, electric, delayed-satisfaction-flavored torture…
The deep growl of the engine vibrates through my bones, but it’s nothing compared to the feel of his hard body against mine. I press closer to his back, my arms wrapped tight around his solid torso, the heat of him doing nothing to ease my pebbled nipples.