Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Carly continued to frown.
Sarah’s smile slowly began to fade.
“Although by the look on your face, you’re feeling it’s anything but.”
“What about the guy and the girl?”
“What guy and girl?” Sarah asked.
“The other guy and girl who are being used on this date.”
Sarah blew a raspberry and waved her hand in the air as if it was no big deal. “No one cares about them.”
“I think you should,” Carly said. “That’s not fair to them. It’s a terrible idea. I know you want to bring your friends together, but have you ever thought of just pushing them together, or bringing them together naturally? Don’t hurt other people’s feelings in the process. Imagine that other guy or girl is you or Dalton, or Reese, or even Mitch, or me. I’d hate to be used in that way, and in truth, so would you.”
****
Nate finished his coffee and stared across at the bar. He owned the fucking bar, and he was the one who placed one of his men as a fake manager of said bar. Everything had been set up so Carly would have somewhere to work, to be safe, earn some money, so she could focus on what she was passionate about—her writing.
He wanted Carly to have everything her little heart desired. The only thing he couldn’t do for her was to write the books he knew were inside her head.
Mitch approached the car and climbed inside.
“I thought I gave you the night off,” Nate said. He was the one who asked Mitch to walk Carly home. Even though he was here every single night to see her out of work, and to follow them both, he still asked Mitch to be here.
“You did, and I decided to take a walk and see how you were doing,” Mitch said.
Nate had never been one to talk about his feelings, so he stared at his friend, waiting.
Mitch snorted. “Thought so. I just wanted to let you know Sarah is trying to come up with plans to push you and Carly together. The first one was terrible. Don’t worry, me and the guys didn’t agree to it.”
“Do I even want to know what it was?” Nate asked.
Mitch explained it to him and Nate shook his head.
“Yeah, I don’t know who Sarah was hoping to have killed for her suggestion, but either way, I put a stop to it.”
“Good.” He didn’t even want to think of Carly with anyone else.
“All of Carly’s other dates had sucked, I don’t know why Sarah thought this one would work,” Mitch said. “When are you going to tell Carly you’ve been in love with her forever, that you follow her home every night, you own the building where she sleeps? You’re the real boss of where she works, and that you’ve been keeping an eye on her for forever?”
Nate didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.
“Ah, so you’re not going to tell her anything.”
“I’ll tell Carly what she needs to know.”
“And what about Sarah overhearing you and Carly, and pregnancy?”
Now this did draw his attention. He didn’t know why he was surprised. Sarah always butted in where she wasn’t supposed to.
Mitch chuckled. “Yeah, we all know you and Carly are technically together. I just have to wonder if Carly knows that as well.”
“She will,” Nate said.
“Do you think you’re ready to become a dad?” Mitch asked.
“Fuck, no, but if Carly wants to have kids, then I can’t let anyone else give them to her.” Nate would be the best father, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t a little worried.
“You’re going to be a good dad,” Mitch said.
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. Carly wouldn’t allow you to be anything but the best.” Mitch smiled. “Don’t ruin this.”
Nate glared at him. “Friends or not, I am your boss, and I can still kick your ass.”
“True, but then, you know I’m speaking from a place of love. I don’t want to see you or Carly get hurt, and trust me, I know we do stupid things when we panic.” Mitch opened the door, and left.
Nate didn’t call him back.
Minutes later, Carly walked out of the bar and Mitch was nowhere in sight. He flashed his car lights so she would see him, and she ran across the road and rounded the car to get in.
“Evening,” she said.
Nate grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her in close. She let out a gasp, and then he took full advantage by slamming his lips down on hers. Carly immediately relented and began to kiss him back. He’d not kissed or breathed her in for a couple of hours and already that felt like too long of a gap.
“I’m taking you back to my place.”
Turning over the ignition, he started up his car and the beauty purred to life. He loved the sound. Nate didn’t have a lot of patience, so he pressed his foot to the gas and took off. The drive home took twenty minutes, and he might not have been going the speed limit.