Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“You’re very chivalrous,” she told him.
“No, I’m not.”
“You are. And you’re a hero.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’re very kind.”
“Girl, you are getting on my last nerve,” he growled.
“Why? There’s nothing wrong with being kind.” Jeez, she’d just been trying to give him a compliment.
“Stop calling me kind. I’m not fucking kind. I would have killed those assholes if I could have.”
“Well, no one would blame you for wanting to do that. I felt rather murderous toward them myself. And I wasn’t very nice.”
“What?”
“I called them names. I nicknamed them Fishy-breath, Frog-face, and Garbage-feet.”
“Gosh, so mean.”
Hmm, was that sarcasm? She thought it was.
“You came to my rescue, so I have to find some way to thank you.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“And you’re funny. You have a very dry sense of humor.”
“Not trying to be funny.”
“And you smell good.”
“No, I . . .” he trailed off and stared down at her as he stepped out onto the street. His eyes narrowed. “Fuck, your cheek. Which one of those fuckers hit you?”
The look in his eyes stole her breath. This man could definitely be dangerous. Then he glanced away, and when he looked back, he appeared softer.
Had she imagined that look?
“I don’t know . . .” She thought about it. “I think it was Fishy-breath.”
“Fishy-breath?” he asked.
“Yeah, the one you tied up back there. How did you tie him up?”
“Zip tie. I carry them in my pocket. They always come in handy.”
“Right. Okay. I mean, most people might have gum or a tissue, but you have zip ties. That’s not weird or anything.”
Nope. Didn’t set off an alarm in her brain at all.
His gaze heated. “You’re wearing a gold dress.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty, huh? Goes really well with my purple velvet shoes.”
“Your dress is riding up.”
She glanced down. Shoot. Her coat wasn’t covering much of anything.
He looked around, then quickly crossed the road and moved along the street until he reached a small half-wall which he sat her on.
Yikes, that was cold on her butt. But she didn’t complain. Maeve didn’t like to complain.
Reaching out, he drew her coat more firmly around her, doing up the belt. Pulling out his phone, he tapped on it. Was he answering messages? Seemed a bit rude.
What was that smell? Where was it coming from? She sniffed. Darn, she thought that garbage smell was just in the alleyway, but it seemed to be out here as well.
He quickly put his phone away, then kneeled on the ground and picked up one of her feet.
“Girl,” he said, running a finger over the sole.
“Yes?”
“Your feet are filthy.”
“Oh, well, they weren’t filthy before. Promise.”
Gross. She tried to tug them out of his hold, but he wasn’t letting go.
“You could have cut them up. They could have gotten infected.”
“But I didn’t, they’re fine.”
“Would you even know? Hard to see under all this dirt. You should have left your shoes on.” He brushed at her foot quite forcefully. She bit her lip so she didn’t say anything. He was just trying to help.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said hastily. She didn’t want him to feel bad.
“Girl,” he said, rolling his r. That was sexy. Even if she wasn’t certain about being called girl. Although said in that low, gravelly voice, it could almost be an endearment.
Oh, Maeve. You’re crazy.
“I didn’t have any other weapons,” she told him.
He gave her a firm look. “Give me your shoes.”
“Why? These are very special. They’re my favorite.”
“Shoes.”
She huffed out a breath. “You know, I don’t like to say anything bad about someone who is my hero—”
“Not your hero, girl.”
“But you’re being quite, uh, well, you’re slightly bossy.”
“Already know that. Give me your shoes.”
“I can’t put them on, my feet are filthy.”
“You’re not walking around with no shoes on. You’ll cut your feet. Shoes.”
“Fine, bossy butt.”
“Bossy butt?”
She bit her lip. “I’m sure you’ve been told before that you’re rather demanding. You might want to work on that.”
He placed his hands on her thighs. Wow, his skin was burning her, even through her dress and coat. Not that either were very thick or warm.
She shivered.
“Not going to work on it. I am what I am.”
“Are you like this with all your friends?”
“We’re not friends.”
“That’s not very nice.”
He sighed. A very long sigh. Then he stared up at her. Wow, he was gorgeous. He had a thick beard. His dark hair was a bit longer and slicked back on top and then shorter at the sides. And he was built large. Very large.
Hmm, she wondered if he was he large all over.
Don’t be crude, Maeve.
“I don’t have any friends.”
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Although he was quite forceful and blunt. That probably didn’t help him gain friends.
“It is true.”
“Well, maybe you just haven’t seen them in a while,” she suggested.
“Nope.”
“Hmm, I’m sure we can change your non-friend status.”
“Is that a social media thing?” he grumbled.