Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“That your way of calling me stupid?”
“No, I would never call you stupid.”
One corner of his lips curls, the blue in his eyes gleaming. “You going to educate me on the preparations for this occasion?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. You’re coming to my place and helping me. We’re ordering pizza, drinking wine, and packing.”
His grin wavers, a flicker of what resembles anger in his gaze. He focuses over my shoulder, rolling his lip through his teeth. The mood shifts and I immediately realize why. He’s still stuck on me living in the townhome.
A sense of boldness takes over and I tip on my toes, urging his attention to me. “Then, because I’ve been deprived and missing you like mad, you have four days to make up to me.”
This earns me back the grin. “You got any beer at the townhome?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s get this shit going before I throw you in the bed of my truck and fuck you.”
An idea hits. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
“Fucking in the back of my truck?”
“We’ll save that for a later date.”
“But I’ve never had sex in the studio. Once we get rid of these Peeping Toms, we could take the edge off.”
In a flash, I’m off my feet and over his shoulder, squealing as he storms toward the salon.
“Party’s moving to the townhome,” he announces. “Rowan and I will meet you there.”
“Hmmm, is that code for ‘get the hell out because I’m about to ravage Rowan?’” Shayla asks boldly.
“Girl, with the testosterone emanating from him, he’s about to destroy her. Five bucks says she can’t walk tomorrow.” Cruz sounds impressed. “Good thing I sleep with headphones.”
I should be embarrassed.
I should demand he put me down.
But I don’t.
Because I know what’s coming.
And I cannot wait.
19
FORD
“Don’t tell me you’re another one who doesn’t sleep.” Cruz barely looks my way, going directly to the coffee pot.
I close out my email and place my phone on the counter. “Years of training.”
“Even when you work night shifts?”
“That’s different.”
“Even when you haven’t seen your girlfriend in days and keep her awake all night?”
This time, I grin and shrug. “That’s totally different.”
He crosses his arms, taking a sip and eyeing me skeptically. “You got something on your mind?”
“Hoping to talk to you and Alex together.”
As the words leave my mouth, Pepper bounds through the kitchen to the back door, jumping in circles.
Alex follows, letting her out, and then hoists himself up on the counter. “Didn’t think we’d see you this early.”
“He’s not a big sleeper. Remind you of anyone?”
I don’t have to guess to know he’s referring to Robbie.
“But it’s good you’re here. He’s stewing over something.” Cruz tops off his mug. “I have a feeling this may be a double dose of caffeine type of conversation.”
Memories of last night roll through my mind. The ease Rowan has with these men. But not only that, it’s their unyielding acceptance and support they clearly feel.
“I’m not a selfish man,” I start.
They share a look of confusion.
“At least, I wasn’t a selfish man until I met Rowan. Never saw myself as stupid either until the night I fucked up and let her walk away thinking she meant nothing.”
“You hurt her,” Cruz speaks cautiously.
“I know, and I also know what you did to help her.”
“Of course.”
“What you don’t know is that night, when she didn’t go home, I was close to losing my mind. As barbaric as it sounds, she was mine, even when she didn’t know it.”
“You really know how to make a girl feel special.” Alex’s sarcasm grates on my nerves, but he has a right to feel this way.
“Think I’ve proven myself and my intentions by now.”
“We know you don’t want her here. You want to lock her away in your love nest.”
I crack a grin at Cruz’s terminology. “You’re right, but I need to thank you.”
Alex’s eyebrows shoot up, his eyes going wide. “Thank us? For caring about her?”
“More than that. Last night, it became clear how comfortable she is with you. She’s had a shitload of fucking waste in her life the last year. She’s guarded herself for a long time. With you two, the shield is down.”
“Ford—”
“Did you know she didn’t sleep at night? For fucking months, that woman worked herself to exhaustion until dawn before lying on a sofa for a few hours of restless sleep. It’s a wonder she could function.”
“Yeah, we knew that.” Cruz reacts unhappily.
“She sleeps here.” I hope he picks up on my point.
They both nod.
“It’s no secret I want Rowan under my roof full-time. But she has some fucked up misconceptions about it being too soon. In the few weeks I have to wait for her to see reason, it soothes the burn that she’s sleeping under your roof. That sense of safety is everything. So, again, I’ll say thank you.”