Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“Shade ain’t gonna let you leave this side of the state,” Romeo said with more confidence than he felt. He hoped to fuck what he said was true.
“He might not like it, but he doesn’t rule my life.” She shot him a pointed look. “No one does. And what you did left me between a rock and a hard place, Rome. It’s not a decision I want to make, but I might not have a choice.”
“Always got a choice,” he grumbled.
She hated that pat answer because it wasn’t always true. “Oh sure. You mean the choice of working at one of the Fury businesses for practically free or wiping down tables at Coffee and Cream for minimum wage? That’s not what I went years to school for. Sorry, but I’m not giving up my dream or career goals because of Shade.” She then added, “Or you.”
He needed to come up with a plan to keep her in western Pennsylvania. “Got a gig for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure you do. Doing what? Being a line cook or tending bar at Dick’s? If I wanted to do that for a living, I could work at Crazy Pete’s.”
“Need your expertise.”
“My expertise?” Her voice raised a pitch. “For what?”
“Doc said I’m gonna need a physical therapist once these fuckin’ casts are off.”
“I can recommend you a good one.”
“Already got a good one.”
“I’m sure I can find you a competent one closer. No need to drive hours north to see me.”
“Not true. Got plenty of other fuckin’ reasons to come see you.” Not only did he have to convince her to take charge of his PT but to move back south to do so.
“Name one.” Maddie lifted a finger and added, “Other than sex.”
“Got a whole list.”
“Okay, let’s hear it.”
Shit. He wasn’t expecting to be called out on that claim. He should’ve known better. Maddie was smart and no push-over. But…
If she thought he would cut himself open by giving her that list… Fuck that. He already was doing shit not normal for him just by driving north to see her. By telling her about his mother. He never shared personal shit with women, and he certainly didn’t chase them.
Fuck. If that wasn’t a reality check…
He still didn’t understand his obsession with her. Why he couldn’t stop thinking about her day and night. What made Maddie different from the rest of his conquests? The answer should be “nothing.”
Only, it wasn’t.
His chest tightened when unexpected panic began to set in. “Ain’t my fifteen minutes up?”
Her eyebrows raised. “I’m willing to extend your time limit for this.”
Jesus Christ. “Missin’ the point.”
“I doubt that I am.”
“Maddie, I couldn’t just sit the fuck back and watch him abuse you like that.” Anyone who cared for her wouldn’t. If any Fury member knew about Smith being a total dick to her, they certainly would’ve stepped in and handled it.
“Well, you definitely solved the problem. Only not in the manner I would prefer. It would’ve been much more karmasmic for me to leave his employ once I got my dream job. I would’ve relished seeing that asshole’s face when handing in my two-week notice.”
“Karmasmic?” That was a goddamn mouthful.
Her lips curled slightly at the corners as she explained, “The satisfaction of seeing karma in action.”
“It give you a karmagasm?”
A smile flitted across her lips before she pinned them together to smother it.
Fuck, did that make him want to see her orgasm again. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be any time soon.
Unless he got creative.
Of course, she wouldn’t be open to that right now. He had more work to do…
His brain had to be scrambled. He still couldn’t understand why he fucking cared that she had ignored all his texts and calls.
Why did that bother him so fucking much?
And why did his heart do some crazy shit when he saw her parked out front?
Or getting out of her Toyota.
Or stepping into his motel room.
Those were signs he was fucking broken, right?
In the past, he’d been relieved when women simply disappeared out of his life. No “goodbye” was necessary. Truthfully, if they left quietly on their own, it made his life a fuck of a lot simpler.
No whining. No screeching. No stalking.
No fucking drama at all.
So, why the fuck was he here?
He said he had a list of reasons. Really, there was only one.
Her.
“You’re right. Your fifteen minutes is up.” She rose from the bed. “I need to go. Thanks for the explanation and I’m sorry for what happened to your mother. I’m sorry you lost her in that manner. But what happened to you, Rome, is your fault. What you did was reckless. I didn’t tell you to rough up Roger. You did that on your own. I told you to a thousand times to stay out of it, but you couldn’t. Now, not only am I unemployed and possibly blacklisted, you were broken into pieces.” She headed toward the door. “Have a great life, Rome. I’ll try to do the same.”