Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“Do you know what it will be like living with me long term, Ambrielle? The reality of living with someone with a record like mine? We’ll get harassed every time our car is stopped in traffic, and believe me, baby, it will be stopped. If we have children, I won’t be able to go with them on some of their school trips or volunteer in their classrooms. You’ll always get those looks, and so will they. You’re going to have friends who will give you looks and talk behind your back. Being married to me could impact your business in a very negative way. If you were madly in love with me, trying to live with all that would be difficult enough, but having what is virtually a marriage of convenience, over time, there is no way you will be able to stay.”
Ambrielle sighed. “You’re determined to sink us before we have a chance, Master. I want this to work. I want you. I can’t tell you how I know I’m supposed to be with you, but I do know. I also know I can’t make it work without you. I can’t be the only one fighting for us. It is an uphill fight. It takes work to hold a relationship together, and we’ve gotten together under terrible circumstances. I’m so traumatized I don’t know what I’m doing half the time, and I’m terrified to let you out of my sight. You have to make up your mind. You do.”
He’d already made up his mind. “Never thought I’d be a fucking pussy over a woman.”
Her brows came together. “I don’t know what that means.”
“It means I know you can break my heart when I didn’t even know I had one. You’re supposed to be the one falling apart all the time, not me. Get out of the truck, princess. You ever tell the others I’m making a fool of myself over you, I’ll strangle you with my bare hands.”
Her eyes searched his again, not, he was certain, to check to see if he meant the threat but to make sure they were good. Then she gave him her little half laugh, half giggle that got him somewhere in the gut, put her hands on his waist and shifted to the very edge of the seat, clearly expecting him to lift her out. He did, because when your lady wants you to put her on her pretty little feet on the parking lot asphalt, you do it. He’d already looked like an idiot once too often.
She slipped her hand in his as they made their way to Ink. “Do I look all right? You didn’t say if you thought this outfit is good enough for this restaurant. I’ve actually heard of Crow 287, but I’ve never been here. Mom and I talked about driving up the coast to try it out. She loved finding great out-of-the-way restaurants.”
He liked that Ambrielle’s voice was clear. She could talk about her mother without falling apart. He needed to be able to come to terms with their marriage, to believe in them the way she did. Who knew that he was going to have so many issues? He tightened his fingers around hers and reached over her head to open the door for her as Ink stepped back to allow them entrance first. He was guarding their backs—or rather Ambrie’s.
She didn’t seem to realize that it was more than probable that Walker Thompson had an army of mercenaries out in force looking for her. He would go looking for Kir Vasiliev, the man Ambrielle had married, and that would lead Thompson to the Torpedo Ink club in Caspar. He would send his men to kill Master and acquire his widowed bride. Thompson was really hurting for money, and no one was going to help him. Not his father and not his partners. Not anymore.
Master had stacked the deck the best he could in his favor for the dinner with Ambrielle’s friends. He had two band members coming to round out the table along with Ink. Maestro and Keys were good at fielding questions. Ink could charm the socks off a roaring lion—or lioness. Czar was bringing Blythe. There would be several other members of Torpedo Ink dining at tables surrounding the longer one they had reserved.
Master halted before they were in sight of the tables. “Princess, one last thing. Sooner or later, your friend is going to get you to go with her to the ladies’ room so she can be alone with you.” He bent his head close to hers, to ensure she understood him. “If there is anything at all you don’t like, you find disturbing, you signal Lissa or one of the other Torpedo Ink women. They’ll go into the room at the same time. You’ll be covered, just in case.”