Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
My cellphone rings and I walk to my desk, retrieve my phone and note my father’s number on the caller ID. Settling into my chair, I answer, “You’re early, Dad.”
“I had a charity breakfast. The things I do for sick kids.”
“Would make Mom proud.”
“Believe me, I feel as if she’s on my shoulder during these things. But listen, I miss you. How are things?”
“Good. I closed that huge Hollywood deal for Dash. It’s life-changing for him.”
“And you, as his agent?”
“It’s something I’m proud of, yes, Dad.”
“Then we should celebrate. I have a big expedition race next weekend in Dallas. Can you and Dash—and his sweet thing Allie, of course—come on over and I can take you out for a hell of a celebration?”
“I’d like that. I’ll talk to them. If they can’t, I can. I think I need a little family time.”
I can almost see his eyebrows lift before he says, “What’s going on?”
“I got a new puppy. Dash got me a Golden to celebrate the contract.”
“A puppy? Damn, you know I love me a puppy. Okay, it’s decided. I’m coming to you. I have to see this puppy. Girl? Boy? Name?”
“Molly.”
“Better be a girl,” he jokes, and adds, “I’ll get a private flight after the race. I’m going to have to go, but are you sure you’re okay? You avoided that topic as sure as your mother was sure of everything.”
“I’m good, Dad. I promise.”
We disconnect and I set my phone down. My father is coming into town, and I have no doubt he made that decision when he sensed something was wrong with me. I’m lucky to have him in my life. And the truth is, that he and Dash together will do my aching heart right.
Because the idea that it aches for Tyler is all wrong.
Romance 101, per my mother—you never give your heart to a man who has no heart.
Chapter Nine
Tyler
I stand at the window of my office while Gavin lectures me about my inheritance and the security of the company, but it’s all white noise. Right now, I couldn’t give two shits about anything but what just happened with Bella. What happened with Bella last night, and in LA.
Just like that, I’m transported back to the hotel and the hotel room bed. I’d woken on the first morning sharing a room with Bella, with her naked and pressed to my back. The crazy thing is how much I liked it. How much I didn’t want to be anywhere but right there with her. That’s not who I am. I don’t stay over. I don’t do the morning after. And yet, I’d laid there a good half hour, savoring the feel of her freely, willing, lying with me that way, as if I’d turned away and she’d sought me out. I’d known the moment she’d woken up, sensed her panic at her boldness.
Before I could react, her cellphone had gone off, offering her an excuse to flee or try to flee. I wasn’t about to let that happen. The fact that I wouldn’t, that I couldn’t let her go any more than I can now, has me thinking back to that morning, reliving it, and asking myself what this woman is doing to me.
She tries to shift away from me and I catch her hand where it rests on my hip. “Where are you going?”
“My phone’s ringing,” she declares, obviously eager to escape the embarrassment I don’t want her to feel. Yeah, she’s spooning me, but I can feel her puckered little nipples pressing into my back, and it doesn’t get much better. The only thing hotter right now would be me spooning her and my cock buried as deep inside her as I can get it.
“I couldn’t give two fucks about your phone when you’re naked and your breasts are nuzzling my back,” I inform her, rolling toward her and guiding her hand to my rock-hard cock.
“Oh my God,” she whispers.
I laugh and say, “Just what every man wants to hear from his woman.” I close my hand around her hand where it holds my shaft and give both a squeeze. Ask any man. There’s not much in life better than having a woman holding his cock in her hand. Except, of course, when it’s in her mouth.
Bella’s eyes go wide, her expression incredulous. I’d like to think that reaction is about my cock being as large and hard as it is right now, but instead, she says, “I’m not your woman, Tyler.”
She’s clearly shocked by my words, and she’s not alone. They came out easily, a possessive feel to them on my tongue that should send me running. Instead, they leave me wanting her on my tongue.
I shift and roll us to our sides, facing each other, molding her closer, nice and snug, the thick press of my shaft between her legs. “You feel like my woman to me,” I murmur, stroking back hair from her eyes and tilting her gaze to mine.