Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
And just like that, the man has me tongue-tied.
“You have made it clear that you find me attractive, yes. This is not a conversation to have in front of your daughter.”
Birdie looks at me and then at her dad, and Bridger sets the fork down altogether, leans on the counter, and frowns at me.
Oh, jeez, I didn’t mean to make him mad at me. My stomach sinks, and I wish I could erase the last three minutes of conversation entirely.
“I disagree,” he replies. “I think it’s important for my daughter to see that her dad thinks his woman is the most beautiful girl in the world. Because you are.”
I feel my cheeks darken with embarrassment, and I simply shrug. “Thanks. Anyway, how exciting for dance. You must be so happy, Birdie.”
Bridger’s eyes narrow as he watches me, but he drops the subject and goes back to helping Birdie get the dough situated on the pan as the little girl tells me all about how ready she is for her new class.
Bridger slides the pan into the oven, and Birdie yawns.
“Can I go watch my tablet in my room?” she asks him.
“Sure. I’ll let you know when the cookies are ready to eat.”
“Okay!” She jumps off her stool and starts to run off, but Bridger stops her.
“Walk, peanut.”
She slows down, walking calmly back to her room.
“I’m so glad that she’s feeling okay. She scared me today.”
Bridger marches around the island, and I turn on my stool, facing him as he reaches me. His face is so serious, so intense, that I put my hands on his chest and blink up at him.
“What’s wrong?”
He frames my face in his hands and tips his head down so he can lean his forehead against mine. “It’s really good to have you here, sweetheart. And you’re wearing my shirt.”
“Your clothes pretty much make up my whole wardrobe when I’m not at work these days.”
He grins, and his hands slide back into my hair as his lips find mine, and my whole body goes from simmering to boiling with just that simple touch.
I grip his forearms as he steps closer, nudging his way between my knees, and my nipples are at full attention. Finally, he growls, palms my butt, and lifts me onto the countertop as if I weigh nothing at all. I let out a little gasp of surprise.
“I like being able to put you where I want you.” His voice is raspy, and one hand is back in my hair now, gripping tightly. I love the slight tug against my scalp. “And I fucking love your hair. It’s so soft, so thick, and it looks good wrapped around my fingers.”
“Have I mentioned that you’re good with your mouth?”
That has his lips tipping up in a sly grin, and I let out a breathy laugh.
“That, too, but you say the sexiest things.”
“I can’t help myself.” He plants his lips on my forehead. “And later, when it’s dark and Birdie’s asleep, and we’re behind a locked door, I’m going to whisper all the sexy-as-fuck things that I’m going to do to you.”
I don’t suppress the shiver that runs through me with that comment.
“Yes, please.”
“And you’re going to do the same.”
“Uh …”
“You know I love your dirty mouth,” he says, kissing down my cheek and over to my nose. “If you want to come, you’ll use it.”
“Well, when you use that kind of incentive, how can I argue?”
He laughs, and then I press my hand to his chest, pushing myself back.
“Wait. I have plans tonight.”
His eyebrows climb in surprise. “You do?”
“Yeah, so we might have to take a rain check for dirty talk.”
He braces his hands on either side of my hips, caging me in. “Who do you have plans with tonight, kitten?”
I lick my lips, watching his mouth. I really want it on me again.
“Dani.”
“Yeah?”
“Who.” He kisses my nose. “Do you.” Kisses my cheek. “Have.” Brushes his nose over my jaw. “Plans with?”
“If I don’t tell you, will you keep doing that?”
“No.” He pulls away.
“Well, that backfired.” I reach for him, but he won’t let me touch him. “Hey, come back. It’s nothing bad. Don’t withhold you from me, Bridge. I don’t like that.”
“Okay.” He folds me against him, and this is much better. “Sorry, baby. I was playing with you and pushing your buttons. Now I know how far is too far.”
“This is a way better method of getting me to talk.” I nuzzle his chest with my nose. “I have a book club meeting at Billie’s Books tonight. It’s our first one.”
He chuckles, and I can hear it vibrating through his breastbone. “First of all, I need to up my game if you’re ditching dirty talk for book talk. What did you read for this meeting?”
“Beyond the Thistles by Samantha Young, and it was so good. Sexy with a little suspense, and it’s set in Scotland, which only ups the sexy factor.”