Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47597 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
"Looks like they're lying to everyone," Ridley mutters. "Before you spill the news, you might want to find out why."
Oh, I know why. She thought she could avoid me if she was with another man. Well, fuck that. I'm going to haunt her gorgeous ass all across this vineyard until she admits that Connor means nothing.
"I'm going to spank her pretty little ass."
Ridley's deep laugh rumbles across the bar before he slaps me on the back. "Good luck with that, man. Judging by the way she's glowering at you right now, it might be you getting spanked."
He isn't wrong.
If looks could kill, I'd be a pile of dust and bones right now.
Why does that turn me the fuck on? Oh, right. Because she's Zoya.
Chapter Five
Zoya
"No sleeping with my daughter while you are here," my dad, Knox, tells Connor, his expression stern as he stares at him across the table after dinner. My little brother, Maxim, has been looking at him the same way all night. I swear, Maxim is going to grow up to be just like Dad.
"Dad!" I groan, my cheeks turning pink as everyone at the table turns to look at us. "Would you stop?"
"Yeah, He-Man," Mom says, lightly smacking my dad on the chest. "Leave the kids alone."
"Bah," he grumbles, still staring at Connor. "She is never too old to be smart, kisa. I want grandbabies, but not while she is still in college."
"I graduate in a few months," I remind him.
The reminder doesn't mollify him. My dad's worst enemy is the fact that my sisters and I are all growing up and don't need him as much anymore. He hates that we're no longer home with a fiery passion. If it were up to him, we'd have stopped growing when we were five, just so he could keep us close forever, and he'd always be our hero.
I don't think he realizes that we'll never be too old to consider him a hero, though. He taught us everything we know about what a good man and a loving home look like.
"Jareth put us in separate rooms, sir," Connor murmurs to my dad.
Naturally, Dad's eyes light up like he just learned he won the lottery. "Jareth is good man. I like him," he says in his deep, rumbling voice. "Very smart."
"Jareth is a…" I trail off when I notice my mom and Nadia both looking at me like they're trying not to crack up. I don't think either of them is buying that Connor is my boyfriend. They know me too well. And Mom caught me staring at Jareth earlier. They aren't asking questions, though. Thank God.
I feel terrible for lying about Connor to them, but if I tell my mom, she'll tell my dad. And my dad, apparently, loves Jareth. Who knows what he'll do? Better not to risk it. And Nadia shouldn't be caught in the middle of this…this…whatever this is, either. She still has to work with Jareth once the wedding is over.
All I have to do is avoid him for two weeks and then, with any luck, I never see him again.
Funny how much that thought stings even though it shouldn't.
The man is driving me nuts! He just had to corner me in the kitchen and work his sexual voodoo on me. I barely slept all night as it was, just waiting for him to sneak into my room and do it again. But he never even tried.
He's so annoying! And hot. And why the hell do I like it when he's in my personal space, making me forget everything but how badly I want to kiss him? Oh, right. Because I've lost it, that's why.
My dad glances across the table at my little sister, Innessa, who is whispering back and forth with Teo's little brother, Maddox. "Jareth would be good man for you."
I manage to slosh wine all over the place.
Of course Nadia and my mom notice. So does Connor.
He chuckles under his breath.
"Which one is Jareth again?" Innessa asks, peering toward the bar where Jareth and a group of his cousins are seated in what can only be described as a hot vintner mecca. Seriously. Every last one of the four is flipping gorgeous.
"Tattoos, dark hair, evil smirk," I mutter.
Everyone within hearing range turns to look at me, except Teo's brother, Maddox, who is scowling at Jareth like he wants to set him on fire. I don't think my dad realizes that he and Innessa have a thing going on. They think they're slick, but it's obvious from the way he looks at her that he's wild about her.
Nadia buries her face in Teo's shoulder to keep from laughing. My mom just smiles like she has my number for sure now.
Crap.
Connor nudges me with his foot. "She means he's the one on the left."