Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
His brow wrinkled in confusion, and I couldn’t help but reach out to smooth a finger down his forehead. “But… why? We’re not your problem, Ryder. Why take this all on, knowing it could be hard at times? You could hook up with anyone.”
Well, that was an easy one. “Because you’re worth it, Alex. Yes, I can hook up easily, not with anyone…” I shrugged. “But sure, without sounding too arrogant, I don’t usually have a problem finding someone to hook up with.”
He chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Don’t start pretending you’re not arrogant now.”
“You know what I can’t do easily?”
He tilted his head and searched my eyes.
“I can’t find someone I connect with. Someone I can hook up with again and again and have it be better each time, and when we’re done, want to see that person across the table at breakfast. Or be excited to work with them at night. Or want to do whatever I can to make their life easier. Or want to learn every single thing about them and have them know everything about me.”
“Ryder… shit,” he said with a watery laugh. Then he pressed a hand to his chest. “You’re taking my damn breath away.”
My heart soared as I leaned in. “So, we’re doing this?” I whispered.
“We’re doing this.”
Alex grabbed the front of my shirt and sealed the deal with a kiss that probably made half the café blush.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ALEX
I floated my way through the entire afternoon. Study groups? I think I went to them, but don’t ask me what we talked about. Hopefully, the notes our group leaders emailed were comprehensive because I didn’t absorb a damn word.
Ryder’s words from that morning replayed over and over in my mind.
My life consisted of school, work, taking care of my family, and the minimal spare time remaining, I usually spent stressing about those other three things. A social life? What was that? Aside from the occasional quick lunch with Trevor or mandatory fun with my coworkers, I didn’t have one of those.
Yes, I knew I had a prickly personality ninety percent of the time. Life had fucked me without lube or prep more times than I could count. Of course, I’d built six-inch steel walls around my heart and head. Who wouldn’t? A therapist would probably help, but who had the money for one of those?
Not me.
It would take a damn saint to be willing to chisel through my bullshit, yet Ryder had done it, and that man was far from a saint. Ryder was, well, a man. Flawed and prone to mistakes, same as me. In my desperation, I’d let him climb a few of my walls and glimpse the mess on the other side.
And he hadn’t run away. Instead, he claimed to want more. And he’d fucked me like he’d meant those words. But he’d said the words after fucking me.
God, did he fuck me good.
And there I went, daydreaming about Ryder and his talented dick again.
My phone rang, dragging me away from my latest we’ll-have-to-try-that-later fantasy.
Diamond Auto Shop flashed across the screen. “Hello?” I said as I brought the phone to my ear.
“Good afternoon, this is Darla with Diamond Auto Shop. I’m looking for Alex Morgan.”
“I’m Alex.” I slowed to a stop near where I’d agreed to meet Ryder.
“Fantastic. Well, Mr. Morgan, your car repairs are complete, and it’s ready to be picked up at your convenience. We’re here until eight tonight and open at seven thirty tomorrow morning.”
“Wow, that was fast. Thank you.”
“You are very welcome, Mr. Morgan. We pride ourselves on fast and quality service.”
“And the bill?” I asked, though I knew what she’d say.
“Is taken care of.” Her cheery tone had me rolling my eyes.
“Of course it is,” I mumbled. “Um, could you tell me what the cost was?” If it were crazy expensive, I’d—what? What the hell would I do? I couldn’t pay Ryder back. At least not in a timely manner. Maybe he’d take a payment plan.
In blow jobs.
“No, I cannot,” she said with a tinkly giggle. “I have strict, written instructions not to let you know anything about the invoice amount. “In fact, someone wrote an exact script for me. Nice try, you stubborn, sexy man. Now go find Ryder and give him a kiss as a thank you.”
“Oh my God,” I said as my face heated to the equivalent of a tar road in the desert sun. I pinched the bridge of my nose, shaking my head. Thank God, no passersby could hear her side of this ridiculous conversation.
Darla giggled again. “Sounds like you got yourself a very sweet man there, Mr. Morgan.”
Her statement had my hand dropping to my side. “Yeah.” My throat dried up, leaving my voice a rough croak. “I’m pretty sure I do.”
“Have a good day, sir. We’ll see you when you pick up your vehicle.”