Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Alejandro was sharing something so shockingly private with her. Why?
“I do not agree,” he stated. “If you speak vows and make a commitment, it should be solid. You should mean those words.”
“True.” Was he trying to tell her he’d be faithful? Why did he think it mattered to her?
The fact he felt compelled to give her his opinion known unnerved her. But, being honest, it also thrilled her treacherous soft side. Having a man like Ali in her life full time would be wonderful…but distracting. Indulging was not an option. Their search for this blackmailing bastard and her need to win the California Dance Star consumed her every thought and waking moment. Her commitment was to winning. Romance would only interfere.
“Take my friendship with Del,” he went on. “Del and I met in college. We quickly became friends—both outcasts to some degree, being foreign-exchange students with somewhat poor English here in Los Angeles. We discovered we shared a lot of similar interests and passions.
“So after graduation, we decided to put our degrees to work on something mutually satisfying. Del used his marketing degree and social media skills to spread word of the club and promote it all around. I used my finance degree to secure the funding, run the back end, and invest our profits. We operate in the black, and each year is more profitable than the last. But two years ago, I had the opportunity to sell out my half for triple the amount I paid to get in.” He shrugged. “Long ago, I promised Del I would stay in until we were both ready for a change. I declined the opportunity.”
“That cost you a lot of money, I’m sure.”
“Losing the friendship would have cost me more.”
“You can afford to say that; you have your father’s money.”
“Not so much anymore. I put a fat chunk of it in a trust for my mother. She thinks I set it up with my money. But the bastard owed her more than he could ever repay. I thought this was fitting.”
Shanna stared at Alejandro as if seeing him for the first time. In a way, she was. It was hard not to like him when he was protecting his mother and defending his friendships.
A moment later, they stopped in front of a local ice cream shop, quaint and somewhat old-fashioned. In a few hours, after dinner, this place would be crawling with families. But during the dinner hour, it was nearly empty.
“Ice cream?”
“I assume you like it.”
“I haven’t eaten dinner yet. I was planning to cook before you came over…”
He climbed out of the car and helped her out. “Who needs dinner when there is ice cream?”
“Who doesn’t need protein and nutrients? Ice cream isn’t a dinner food.”
Alejandro slipped an arm around her, and Shanna tried not to melt against the tempting heat of his body. Why did he have to be so damn sexy?
“I will not tell your mother if you won’t,” he teased.
“My mother died when I was four.”
She found herself choking out the words. She shouldn’t have opened her mouth; the truth only made her more vulnerable to him. But withholding that fact after he’d confessed all about his past seemed petty.
“I am sorry.”
She hung her head. “I don’t remember her. I have this…impression of what her laugh was like. I don’t even know if it’s accurate.”
He squeezed her against his side as they approached the counter. “So your father raised you?”
“Along with my brothers. They’re all athletes.”
“Which is why you are so driven to win.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Second place is nothing more than first loser. It’s the family motto.”
“Ah, this explains so much about you.” He turned to the teenager behind the counter. “A scoop of chocolate peanut butter and…raspberry amaretto. Shanna?”
“None for me. I have to fit into my costume—”
“She will have the same.”
“I will not!”
“Then pick your favorite flavors.”
“You’re going to force me to eat ice cream?”
“I am going to help you take a moment away from ambition and enjoy life.”
When was the last time she’d done that? Shanna thought back through the weeks, which became months…and quickly turned into years. The realization stunned her.
She hesitated, then caved in. It was ice cream, not a commitment. Tomorrow, she had a grueling practice. She’d work the calories off.
“Chocolate chip cookie dough and French vanilla.”
Alejandro paid as other teenagers behind the counter assembled their cones. In moments, they wandered to a little table outside and began licking on ice cream as the sun dropped closer to the horizon, with the California breeze stirring all around them.
After the first taste, Shanna moaned. “This is amazing.”
He smiled. “I discovered this place a few years ago. It’s part of my weekly ritual.”
“Where do you put it?” She eyed his hard body, absolutely no stranger to his rippled abs.