Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
It’s up to me. He’s waiting on me to make a move. I don’t know how to make a move. I can’t do this. I need to focus on work not Dean.
A knock on my office door has my attention. I stand, moving to it, opening it to find Dean O’Neal on the other side.
He is tall. At least six feet three inches as Jonah was six feet. He stands in front of me in a black t-shirt that fits him like a second skin, not hiding the definition of his abs and muscle cut chest. He has on dark blue jeans, black boots, and of course his Hellion vest, that Sara taught me they call a cut forever ago. His beard is long but not tangled or unkept. His hair is not long but the ends curl a bit in a cute way. His face is chiseled like a statue and his eyes, they are green in this way that I lock onto and can’t seem to break away from.
I stand in front of him awkwardly as he reaches out cupping my neck to tip my head to look at him. Before I can think, his lips hit mine, and as if I have kissed him my whole life I give in.
He pulls away and I instantly feel the loss. “Gotta eat babe. That shit you pack, it’s good for you, but not filling. Let’s go to lunch.”
I shake my head as if I can somehow magically rattle my thoughts back into place. “I have lunch and I’m not sure what you’re doing here.”
He smirks under his beard causing me to remember I’m sort of upset with him due to his lack of communication. “Jo, you got a lunch break. Carrots, celery, broccoli, and hummus is not a fuckin’ meal unless you’re a damn rabbit.”
“Shhh,” I tell him, “Don’t cuss at work like that. I have to be professional.”
He looks around. “Jo, there are maybe five people in the entire office. One of them being Sara who knows exactly what she gets with me. Now, I had a long couple of days at work and I haven’t had time to check in with you. Managed to get today to pull duty and now, I’m hungry.”
“Duty? I’m not a job, Dean. I’m a person. I understand things are complicated you seeing what you saw with Brett. He’s a problem for me, but one I’m handling with my lawyer and the police. You can be released from your duty.” I absolutely have a sharp tone with my last sentence to get through to him.
His face turns cold, and I back up into my office. He follows, shutting the door behind him, I release quickly my retreat is a mistake.
“Dean,” I whisper his name as my chest tightens, his grip on my neck tightens in a squeeze, but it’s not painful.
“First,” his voice is soft in a rasp, “I will never hurt you, Jo. Not ever. You do not have to fear me. The man I am, I’ll put a bullet in my head before I ever put my hands on an innocent woman or a child in anger, malice, or in any way to harm them. Second, you aren’t a fuckin’ duty. You’re fuckin’ mine. That means you fuckin’ matter. You may not see it, the warped shit that fuckface put you through, but Jo, you’re special. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I’d fuckin’ be at your side all day every day. Had some shit to do, let my brother’s keep watch, now I’m here. Third, I’m fuckin’ hangry. I think you need some food too. Okay. I want to feed you some carbs, I want to eat some meat, and while we eat, we can discuss anything you want. What we’re not gonna do is stand here arguing about releasing me from a duty because you got all twisted in your head. Your ex is a fucker who did a number on you. I won’t pressure you, but I also won’t let you think I am him.” He takes a breath. “Jo, gorgeous, can we please go eat and talk?”
“I have,” I start to speak and his lips crash to mine. Immediately, my mouth opens, and our tongues collide. After a beat I lift my hands to grab his wrists because he’s still got his hands on my neck in this almost comforting way.
He pulls away leaving me wanting and feeling ridiculous at the same time.
“Jo, I know you have lunch. Told you, that is shit. I want to eat, you get a lunch break, so for the love of Pete will you let me take you out for lunch?”
I pause thinking I don’t really know what to say. Therefore, I only nod.
He releases me as he looks to the ceiling, “Thank God we are getting somewhere.”