Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
While we finished our breakfast, she gave me a synopsis of the call from her brother and dad. I couldn’t really blame them for being so overbearing. Annalise was precious and needed to be protected. I was grateful to them for keeping her safe for me. However, soon I’d have to make it clear that she was now mine to take care of.
When we were done, I carried the dishes to the sink, rinsed them, and loaded them in the dishwasher. She tried to get up and help, but I told her to sit her pretty little ass down and rest.
With the dishes taken care of, I returned to the table and took her hand, helping her to her feet. “How about we watch a movie?”
She beamed up at me, and warmth burst through my chest again. “Sounds perfect.”
I got her settled on one end of the couch before finding the remote and taking the center seat so I could put her feet in my lap. “What’s your poison?”
Annalise studied me with narrowed eyes for a few seconds. Then she blurted out the title of an eighties cult classic I’d probably seen a hundred times.
“With or without bonus content?” I asked.
She burst into laughter, and I grinned in response to the beautiful sound. I could listen to it all day.
“You’ve passed my movie test,” she announced when she’d settled down.
“There was a test?”
She nodded with a mischievous glint in her green orbs.
“Well, damn. Are there any more?”
Annalise shrugged with a smirk. “Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”
Chuckling, I flipped on the TV and cued up the movie she’d requested. “Well, I’m glad I passed this first one.”
“Oh, that wasn’t the first one. But don’t worry, you passed that one with flying colors, too.”
My head twisted to the side, and I raised an eyebrow. “What test was that?”
“Seeing you interact with my pups. I could never love a man who didn’t love animals—” She froze, and her expression looked like a deer in headlights. “Not that—oh my gosh—I didn’t mean love love—I mean—I shouldn’t have said—what I meant was—”
I laughed and leaned over to cup the back of her neck and bring her closer so I could give her a thorough kiss. “Relax, gorgeous. You’re not going to scare me away.”
She looked dubious for a few seconds, but after I kissed her again, she just melted back down in her seat.
Once the movie was playing, I picked up one of her feet and began rubbing it with smooth strokes. Annalise groaned and dropped her head back, her face awash with bliss. Which forced me to raise her foot up higher so she didn’t feel the huge bulge in my jeans.
“If you keep that up, I’m never going to leave,” she sighed.
“Sounds like a plan,” I mumbled.
If she heard me, she didn’t comment, so I let it go. For now.
About halfway through the movie, Annalise fell asleep. Wanting her to truly rest, I turned off the TV and carefully scooted out from under her. Then I picked up a blanket from the other end of the couch and spread it over her.
For the next few hours, I got caught up on some work, did my PT exercises, and took a shower. As I dressed, I glanced at the clock and realized it was long past lunchtime.
Quietly, I padded into the living room to see her stirring. As I walked over to her, she yawned and stretched like a sexy little cat. I was starting to think that there was nothing this woman could do that I wouldn’t find appealing.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I murmured as I sat on the edge of the sofa beside her and brushed the hair out of her face. “How’s your head?”
She smiled and leaned into my touch. “Never better. Guess I just needed a little more rest to kick the last of the headache.”
“Still, I think you should take it easy today,” I insisted. “If you push too hard, it will come back.”
Annalise’s mouth curled up at the corners. “If you want to pamper me, who am I to say no?”
I laughed and leaned over her, forcing her to lie back again, and captured her mouth with my own. Once we were both breathless and I was seconds away from ripping her clothes off, I forced myself to pull back.
“It’s pretty late for lunch. But how about I make you a snack and then we’ll have an early dinner?” Then early to bed. I shook off that thought. My body and heart were moving at warp speed, and I had to keep reminding them that I didn’t want to scare Annalise away.
“Okay.”
“We can finish the movie if you’d like.”
She smiled brightly and snuggled deeper into the couch under her blanket.
When I returned with the food, Annalise put her feet on the floor and patted the cushion next to her. As we ate and watched the movie, I was acutely aware of her body heat, especially when she squirmed around like she was trying to get comfortable, and it brought her even closer.