Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
When the sun comes up, I close the book, and I’m still grinning. While I’m curious where Austen is, because man, we need to talk about this book, I have a more pressing question.
I dial my mom’s number, and when she answers, I know she’s pissed. “My love, it’s five in the morning.”
“I know. Listen, have you unpacked the party box yet?”
Her voice is grumpy as she answers, “No, it’s in the office. Why?”
“Do you still have the Halloween party stuff?”
“I do.”
“Awesome.”
Oh, Superior Janie is going to kill me dead.
seventeen
Austen
I’d completely forgotten my work bag at the apartment when I left to go shopping with my sisters. We had dinner and then stayed at a hotel that night since I didn’t want everyone to be cramped—or at least, that’s what I said. Truth is, I don’t want anyone knowing about the six-foot, two-inch Russian Stallion with piercing light-blue eyes. I tried to talk them into waiting in the car for me since, with it being a half day, they’re going to the arena with me, but they insisted on seeing my space. I know Dimitri is at the arena for morning skate, so I’m not worried. I just hope he didn’t leave clothes anywhere. Or any of his beers.
“Remember, guys lived here before me, and some of their stuff is still here,” I lie, and Louisa looks at me, confused.
“Why don’t you clean it?”
“I haven’t had time,” I stress. “And then I get home in the evenings, and I’m exhausted.”
“True. Why don’t we stay here and clean while you head to the arena?” Eliza suggests as I put my key in the door.
My stomach drops. That can’t happen. Dimitri may come home. “No, I want to show you both my work. Plus, you can get a look at the guys,” I say, dragging out the Y in guys so it’ll entice them.
“Oh yes. I’d rather do that than clean,” Louisa says, and Eliza laughs.
“True, true.”
I push the door open, praying it’s clean inside since Louisa and Eliza are on my heels. But once I enter and I hear his voice, I wish I hadn’t just prayed for a pair of boxers not to be here; I should have prayed for the whole-ass guy not to be. Dimitri stands at the island with a huge bowl of cereal in his hands. His lips curve up in that devilish grin as milk gathers at the side of his mouth.
“Hey, you.”
I let out a curse as my sisters knock into me, trying to get a view of who is talking. Of course, his voice is low and rough and dark and dirty, and all that is right up their alley. I don’t have to look at them to know they are gawking at him as my stomach drops; I know that by the look on Dimitri’s face. His eyes are dark, playful, and those dimples appear, dangerous and in charge. “Well, well, well, who do you have with you, Janie?”
I’m going to murder him. I clear my throat as I look at my sisters, who are both staring at me with wide eyes and trying so hard to hold in their laughter. I look away as I take a deep breath. “Dimitri, these are my sisters Louisa and Eliza.”
The door shuts behind me, making me jump as he grins at my sisters. He sets his bowl down and wipes his mouth with such ease, it’s frustrating. Like, why is he wiping his mouth so slowly, so seductively! His eyes meet mine as his tongue comes out, licking his lips as he washes his hands. The sound of the rushing water is how I feel my blood is rushing through my body to between my legs. He is the devil in disguise, I swear.
I refuse to look at my sisters, knowing they are watching me as he comes toward us. He holds out his hand, and Louisa takes it first, shaking it slowly as her gaze slides down him like hot honey, and she grins at him like she’s gonna eat him.
I do not like how that makes me feel.
My chest vibrates with annoyance from not wanting her to look at him like that. He is not for her to admire. Eliza is the same, taking his hand and giving him sultry eyes as they shake hands. When he looks back at me, so do they, and I just stand there.
I’ve only hit my sisters once, and that was when they took my pancakes.
Not that Dimitri is mine.
Why is this getting complicated?
Unable to handle my inner monologue, I snap the shit out of my wrist and blurt out, “Why aren’t you at the rink?”
“Morning skate was canceled. You didn’t get the text?”
I shake my head. “I didn’t.”
“I told you, you gotta give me your number.”