Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23713 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
“You know I will,” I tell her.
“I know you’ll keep your eyes on her.” She raises an eyebrow at me, and my heart jumps into my throat. “I don’t miss the way you look at her, Nash.” She sighs as she looks at her and then back at me. “Just promise me one thing?”
All I can do is nod because if I open my mouth, I’m not sure what will come out. I don’t want to lie to Rebecca, and any denial would be exactly that.
“That whatever happens while we’re gone is settled before we get back.” Her expression is serious as her eyes stare into mine. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Nash?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
There’s an underlying threat to what she’s asking, but I wouldn’t have expected anything less. She’s caught me watching Goldie, so she’s letting me know that Goldie’s heart better not be broken when she returns.
“Okay, go and tell your dad goodbye. We need to skedaddle.” She smiles at me, and all of the seriousness that was there a moment ago is gone.
While I go around the car to hug my dad, I watch Goldie bounce over to her mom and give her a squeeze.
“You good, son?” Dad asks when he lets me go.
“Yeah.” I nod and then take a breath. “Yeah, I’m good.” Maybe saying it a couple of times will convince me I’m okay. “You guys be safe but have a blast.”
“Making her happy is all I care about.” He shrugs, and it’s kind of adorable how smitten he is.
“Love you, Dad,” I tell him as I step back from the car and they get in.
“We love you!” he calls to Goldie and me before they take off down the driveway.
“Well,” I say as I turn to face Goldie, “it looks like it’s just you and me, little girl.”
Chapter Three
GOLDIE
If he calls me “little” girl one more time, I’ll murder him. Right now I’m trying to do it by glaring at him, but Nash doesn’t seem to notice. The man has three moods. He’s either annoyed, irritated, or disinterested. Well, at least those are his moods around me.
“You need to eat.” I press my lips together tighter so I don’t say something bad. “Or is this a hunger strike?” His lips twitch into an almost half smile, “almost” being the key word. “Eat.” This time his tone is more forceful.
My fingers itch to do as I’m told and I pick up my fork. “I’m not twelve,” I snip at him.
He heated up some of my mom’s sauce and meatballs for dinner. She’s made a ton, so all I had to do was boil up some pasta and toss bread into the oven. That should have been a sign that Nash was coming home. When Nash is here, Mom always makes sure to stock up. He gets along with her so easily. Why not me?
“Thank fuck for that.” Nash takes a bite of his dinner. “Now eat. I won’t say it again.”
“Whatever,” I mutter before doing what he says. I swear he relaxes the second the food enters my mouth. After I swallow, I narrow my eyes on him. “What would you even do? Ground me? I pretty much am at this point.” No way in hell is he going to let me go anywhere.
"Trust me, there are lots of ways that I can punish you."
I shift in my seat as heat spreads through my body. His response sparked something dirty, and now all I can think about is that bad girls get spankings. That can't be what he means. Nash has never touched me. Our only contact has been me touching him, and it's an accident for the most part.
With his response still causing an ache between my thighs, I eat quicker. The sooner I finish, the sooner I can make my escape to my bedroom. I want to call Josie and tell her what Nash said about being the warden and earning favors. I’m sure he was teasing me. It may have sounded like an innuendo, but I know he didn’t mean it that way. He’s always making a point to call me little girl.
"Done." I bolt up from my chair when I take the last bite.
"I didn't dismiss you."
"Seriously?" I gape at him in shock, but I have the urge to sit back down.
"Fine, go."
I'm not sure if he’s testing me, but I grab my plate and cup and take them to the kitchen before I hurry to my room. The second I'm across the threshold, I call Josie and spill everything. When I'm done giving every detail of the story, it’s quiet. I pull my phone away from my face to make sure the call didn't disconnect.
"Hello?"
"He's flirting with you."
"No, he's not."
"Right," Josie laughs. "If you don’t think he’s flirting with you, then you should test it out. Fight fire with fire."