Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“Hey.” She was breathless and smiling. “Am I interrupting?”
I nodded and stepped back, waving her inside. “A welcome interruption. Have you come for another kiss?”
Her cheeks flushed prettily as she passed me into the house before turning to face me with a shy, sexy smile. “No, actually. Well, maybe.” She shook her head as if to clear the fog. “I brought food and badges for beer pong.”
I reached for the bag, but she held it away from me. “Hey, what gives?”
“You should know that Nix and Lee are also entered.”
“Duh.” I rolled my eyes. “Lee can’t beat me at pong.”
She held the bag out to me. “Maybe he can now. Things change. People change.”
“Not that much.” I opened the bag and groaned at the scent of corned beef and sauerkraut. “How did you know?”
She closed her eyes and pulled her lips between her teeth. “Some days it’s just me and my boy Reuben and my best girl, Cheyenne.”
I stared at her, dumbfounded that she understood that line. It was a throwaway line that just happened to be true.
“Sorry, is that creepy?”
“Hell no. It’s hot as hell if I’m being honest. You know people ask me all the time if I’m still friends with Reuben?”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Do they really?”
“Yep.” I shook my head. “Most of the time I just answer honestly and say yes, but sometimes the devil comes out.”
Her hazel eyes widened. “Now I’m bummed I don’t watch your interviews.”
“Ah, but the internet is forever.” I unwrapped the sandwich and walked to the living room. “Thanks for this. Is it a bribe?”
“No, I ate mine on the way. I was just being kind.”
Such a rare thing in this world. “Your kindness is appreciated.”
I watched her as she looked around the living room, taking in the high ceiling and scattered papers before her eyes settled on Cheyenne. “You’re writing. That’s great, Mac!”
My smile came immediately. “It really is.” Had I ever met a more genuine woman in my life? Torey came to mind, but this was different; I was attracted to Kayla. Intrigued by her. Hell, who was I kidding? I wanted her. Badly. “You’re not at work.”
“No, I did a double yesterday, so it’s a rare day off for me.” She shrugged, something I noticed she did when she got nervous.
“Then we should practice drinking. I can’t lose to Lee.”
She laughed again and dropped onto the sofa beside Cheyenne, running a reverent hand across the body. “Are you trying to get me drunk, Mac?”
“Nah,” I answered, shaking my head. “I don’t need to.” That wasn’t arrogance; it was a fact based on that kiss the other day.
“Confident,” she whispered. “Borderline arrogant.”
I watched the way her mouth moved when she talked. “No, but that kiss the other day was hot as fuck, and we were both stone-cold sober. I think we should practice because I’m guessing you’re not a big drinker, and I want to see you let loose.”
“Even tipsy, I’m not the type to dance on tables.” Her words were a warning.
“Dancing on tables is easy. Everybody does it.”
Her lips twitched. “Table dancing doesn’t impress you. What does?”
“You,” I answered honestly. “I’m fascinated by you, Kayla. You’re a badass, sexy lady doctor who blushes easily but says what’s on her mind. You like me and my music, but you don’t treat me like I’m special. I like you, Kayla, and I just want to spend more time with you.”
Her full lips parted in an ‘o’ that woke my cock right up. “I wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“Does it concern you?”
She nodded, but her mouth said the opposite. “No. Yes. Maybe.” Her laughter echoed around the room. “I like you too, and it’s silly. I shouldn’t.”
“Why?”
“You’re a famous musician. Gorgeous. Hot. And I’m just me. The day we ran was the first time I’ve been running in six months—at least. You’re leaving.” She licked her lips as her eyes met mine, and that little pulse in her throat beat a hot rock beat. “I don’t want to fall for you.”
There was that honesty I appreciated so much, even when it worked against me. “Maybe you’ll get to know me and realize that’s not even possible.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not mean or selfish.”
“I can dial that up a little if it’ll help.”
She smiled at me. “You’re not helping.”
“I’m not really trying to.”
She stood, and I thought she might storm out, angry at my presumptuousness. “You are entirely too likeable, Mac Lancaster.”
“Thanks?”
Kayla headed toward the door, but she stopped short and turned to me. “You going to finish your songwriting before eight tonight?”
Hell yes. “I can, sure.”
“Dinner. Eight o’clock. My place.” Her smile was slow and a little frightened, but she wore it well as she left my house.
Her scent lingered in the air.
Her smile was stuck in my head.