Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
He’s gentle as he lowers me down to my unmade bed. I try my best to hide my smile when he reaches to the other side, grabbing my extra pillow, before urging me to raise my hips.
It’s kind and considerate, but it’s also a slap in the face, the reality of what this is. I can’t believe I lost sight of that even for a second.
He gives me a gentle smile as he pulls the covers up over my body.
“Going to wash up,” he says, hitching his thumb over his shoulder before turning and disappearing into my bathroom.
I hate the wave of relief I feel once he’s gone. I know we have to transition back to just friends, and I think that would be impossible to do if he were still standing in front of me.
I close my eyes, my breath still a little ragged from the two orgasms.
“Are you going to take a nap?”
I open my eyes, hating how put together and unaffected he seems.
I have to remember what this is really about, but I don’t think it will hurt if I imagine him being mine. That what happened between us is something we always do right before he heads into a shift at the police station.
“I might,” I tell him. “You going to make it to dinner tomorrow night?”
He gives me a small smile, and I pretend that it reaches his eyes because the fantasy him would be elated to spend another evening with my overly nosy family.
“Your mom or dad’s?”
“Dad’s,” I tell him.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he says, walking closer.
I clench the blanket in my hands when he leans down to press his lips to my temple. If I don’t, then I run the risk of ruining everything by wrapping my arms around him and begging him to spend the day in bed with me.
“See you soon,” he says, but he doesn’t stay long enough for me to reply before walking out of the room.
Chapter 17
Cash
As if the world is stacked against us, I wasn’t able to see Adalynn at the bar last night. I texted her early to let her know that I wouldn’t be able to make it. I don’t want her wasting her time waiting for me when I know I won’t be able to be there. Not only does it increase the chances that some other dude better suited for her would approach, but knowing she wasn’t at home safe in bed would keep me from being able to do my job.
Last night that wouldn’t have mattered because we were stuck trying to wrangle a small herd of fucking goats that got out of a downed fence. The bad thing about using old tree branches as fences is that they rot and break more often than using metal t-posts or treated lumber. The old, rustic look is appealing to tourists who travel to town in search of a lazy day, but it’s a true pain in the ass for everyone else.
It was well after midnight before I made it home. I then, somehow, managed to sleep through my alarm this morning, meaning I didn’t have time to go see Adalynn at the bakery before she opened for business. It’s probably for the best, considering the dream I had last night of licking her secret recipe buttercream off her tits. I knew I wouldn’t be able to smell vanilla in the air and resist. It was bad enough that we got busted the other day by Chase. Our luck would have the new kindergarten teacher hearing her moans of pleasure when she came to pick up sugar cookies for her class or something.
I have to think of stats from the last World Series to shift my focus from my dreams to the current situation, something I wouldn’t know if it weren’t for Ronnie and Donnie talking about it incessantly earlier this year.
I clear my throat as I lift my hand to press the doorbell.
Once again, the door opens, revealing Adalynn rather than one of the guys.
“Hey,” I tell her, my eyes having a mind of their own as they run down the length of her.
I’ve seen this flower-patterned dress at least a half dozen times, but it’s like I now have permission to fully take her in.
Her legs seem longer, the hem seeming shorter. I still haven’t had much of an opportunity to run my tongue over every inch of her, but it’s high up on my list of things I need to do.
“Hi,” she says just before her teeth dig into her lower lip.
I know she must sense my arousal when her cheeks flush that sexy shade of pink.
“I was hoping—”
“Whatever you’re hoping to do, maybe get out of the entryway to do it,” Donnie says, making me freeze.
“I was hoping for Italian,” I say as I step to the side to let the guys enter.