Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“I can see the faint line of the roof, and it’s breathtaking. What you . . . ” She trails off as she turns her head. Her mouth is just a whisper away from touching mine. Lips shimmering in the darkness. Plump. Beautiful. Ripe for capturing.
We both suck in a breath, and I’m the first to move away.
Our moment broken.
Broken like I am.
I have no business being this close to a woman who shouldn’t trust me.
Because if she’s not careful, she will be another casualty of getting close to me.
6
Layla
“What’s on tap for tomorrow?” I ask as the car rolls down the last bit of the driveway. Tonight, has been unexpected, and I’m not sure what the next day will bring. There are equal measures of excitement and nerves churning inside me right now. Cain seemed relaxed with me. A concept that makes him even more enchanting.
But there’s something beyond the surface that seems off, and I want to find out more about those traits.
Why does he seem closed off to people?
Why is there no history before his architecture firm opened? I know I can find answers; I only need to figure out which direction to look.
“Still working on it, but I’d like to show you the community center. And if we have time, the spa.”
“Spa?” The thought of getting a massage has my hand lifting to my shoulder blades. That would be nice right now. My back aches from the drive up here.
“Yes.”
Turning to face him, I mutter, “I didn’t know there was a spa on-site.” I try to remember the brochure about this place, and I don’t remember seeing anything about a spa. Granted, I’ve been going nonstop since my boss told me about this assignment, but a spa is something I’d remember.
“You will find, Layla, that there is very little we don’t offer our residents here.” His voice sounds deeper, and I wonder if he means to sound so damn sexy or if it’s just him and he has no control over it.
“This place truly is a paradise.”
He chuckles at that. “Then you think the name is fitting,” he teases.
“It would be more fitting if I could use said spa, but alas, I’m sure it’s not yet open for appointments.”
“Unfortunately, not.”
“Next time.” I shrug.
“You plan to come back? You haven’t even seen the whole place yet.” The tone of his voice lowers, becoming deeper, making him sound more serious.
“Maybe not, but sometimes you have a feeling. You know?”
“I do.” I find myself turning to watch Cain, and we both are quiet in thought.
Tonight, has been perfect. It didn’t go as I expected, but he is nothing at all like I thought he would be.
He is charming. Polite. And despite everything I heard or read about him, caring.
It’s strange.
The man who took me to dinner and asked so much about me truly cared what I had to say. From what his assistant said, he didn’t listen or care about anyone but himself and his project, but that is not at all what I saw. Or felt.
No. Instead, all night long, I had to stop myself from swooning.
I’m not some ditzy wallflower or historical maiden who gets attention from a cold duke, then falls to the ground.
Yet . . .
When he smiles at me, when he smirks, when he stares into my eyes, that’s exactly how I feel.
The air in the car feels stiff as he parks at the house I’m staying in this week. Neither of us moves at first, and then he turns to fully face me.
There is a look in his eyes I have never seen before. It’s almost like desire. There’s no way this man could want me.
Sure, he was friendly at dinner, but never did it feel like he wanted more, yet as his gaze takes me in, it’s exactly how it feels.
If this were any other man, I would swear he was going to kiss me. No, that can’t be right. This man doesn’t want me. But then his eyes drop to my lips, so I could be wrong. He might. After the way he touched me at the park, anything is possible.
Time drags as I wait. I continue to look at him, never stopping the rhythmic begging in my mind for him to close the distance.
Highly unprofessional, but I can’t help that I want him to kiss me at this minute.
Later, I might come to my senses, but at this moment, this man is like a planet with his own gravitational pull. I can’t help but want to be in his orbit.
He reaches an arm out and cups my cheek. Just the warmth from his skin incites a riot in my body. Cain trails a finger down my jaw to my neck, and then he traces a line across from one side to the other . . . a strange pressure building in his touch.