Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Declan snorts out a laugh and plucks my glasses off my face. “They can predict all they want, but it wouldn’t happen.” He pinches my chin and leans closer, so close I can feel his cool breath against my lips. “Those guys you dated got stiffed for a reason. They didn’t know how to handle a woman like you.”
His words cause my breath to hitch. “What are you trying to say?” I choke out.
“That if you were mine, I’d make sure you never had a reason to run.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
DECLAN
I regret the words the moment they’re out of my mouth. Not because I don’t mean them—I do—but because I told myself I wouldn’t go there. At least, not yet. Kendall just ended her engagement. Dipped out on her wedding. I meant what I said: she has no reason to feel bad. She did the right thing. Her brain might not understand it, but her heart knows, fucking knows she wasn’t supposed to marry Kyle. I don’t know why she planned to call off her engagement the night she came to me, but it was clear she had no intention of going through with that wedding. When she woke up and didn’t remember, I thought for sure she was going to marry him, but the heart proved it’s stronger than the brain, and even though she couldn’t explain it, she knew the feelings were gone.
But even knowing that, she still needs time because I don’t want to be her rebound. If I have it my way, I’m going to be her goddamn forever. I can see the way she’s eyeing me with interest. Earlier in the room, I’m almost positive a part of her was hoping I would kiss her. Because that heart… it knows what she doesn’t remember. That it opened up and let me in. I have a long way to go, but I’m okay with that. I’ve always been a hard worker. And having her here with me, just the two of us alone, will make it that much easier to show her that I’m the one for her.
I meant what I said. Those other guys didn’t know how to handle Kendall, and none of them have what we have… what we’ve been slowly building for the past couple years—friendship. Kendall’s going to be mine, but I have to walk before I can run. She’s like a scared doe, and I have to approach her slowly, carefully, so she doesn’t flee. And I will.
Which is why, even though I meant what I said—that if she were mine, I’d make sure she never had a reason to run—I shouldn’t have said it out loud. The last thing I need or want is for her to get spooked and take off. Which is why I didn’t kiss her earlier in the room. She might’ve wanted it, but once it happened, there’d be a damn good chance she’d freak out and run. And one kiss isn’t worth the risk of her running.
“It’s hot as hell out here,” I say, standing. “I think we need to cool off.” Before she can process where I’m going with this, I’m scooping her up and throwing her over my shoulder—her hat flying off her head and hitting the ground—then stalking toward the pool.
It takes her a second, but once all the dots connect, she shrieks, “Declan! No!”
“Shh, Kendall, don’t yell.” I give her luscious ass a quick smack. “We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”
At the edge of the pool, I slide her off my shoulder, ready to throw her in, but somehow, before I can complete the action, she clings to me. Her arms and legs wrap around me like a damn octopus, and instead of her going in, and me laughing, we both crash into the pool.
As we plunge into the water, she holds on to me, and when I come up for air, she’s still wrapped around me, our bodies flush against one another.
“I can’t believe you just did that!” She throws her head back with a laugh that rings out in the otherwise quiet area.
“That wasn’t how it was supposed to go down.” I mock glare, swimming us over to a private part of the pool tucked away in the corner with a large cluster of rocks. I push her against the wall, and even though she’s holding me, I bring my hand down to grab her ass as if I’m holding her up.
With my other hand, I swipe a wet lock of hair from out of her eyes, tucking it behind her ear so I can get a good look at her face. It’s free of all makeup—she must’ve taken it off while she was changing—showing off her sexy as hell freckles that are dotted across her nose. In the sunlight, her eyes are extra bright and filled with mirth. And her lips, full and pouty, are curved into a gorgeous grin.