Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
He wouldn’t budge. “No.”
“No, we’re not going to enjoy our evening or no, we won’t talk about this later?”
“No, you don’t get any more time or space or minutes and seconds away from me. No. I’m no longer going to be patient, understanding Chase. Hell, no! I’m now back to the jackass you met before, the very persistent and stubborn jackass who chased you all over the globe. No, you will not step into your shitty apartment again, not even to pack your things. By the way, a moving service is packing your items as we speak. No, I don’t care if you’re mad. No, I won’t go on probation. No, it’s not kidnapping because you’re mine. No, I won’t stop, and no, I’m not bloody sane when it comes to you. No and goddamn it, no.”
I swallowed in my fear. “That’s a lot of no’s.”
“I feel that amount was necessary.”
“So people are now violating my privacy and packing my things? This sounds like that whole kidnapping problem that we discussed in Italy.”
“You’ve had your space, tesoro. There won’t be any more.”
“But—”
“No.”
“Okay. Let’s just—”
“No.”
I closed my eyes and sighed. “Really?”
“No.”
Dear God.
He chuckled. “I think I’m starting to like this word. I see why you say it all the time. There a sort of finality with the word.”
“You’re insane.”
“Even more after falling in love with you.”
I opened my eyes. This man snared my heart from the very beginning. He caught me and never let go, no matter how much I begged and pleaded. Could I even truly fight him off? Could I ever leave him alone?
No, and hell, no.
“Okay. I want to take things slowly.” I held my hand up before he could protest. “Yes, I will move in with you, but. . .could we just take our time with the process. All of this scares me. I don’t know if I’m ready to be with you, and this whole thing with Benny and Lucy isn’t done yet. Plus, you’ll have to deal with Sherman eventually, just to get that out of the way.”
He formed his lips into a bold smile.
Dear God. His ego is inflating right before my eyes.
“Chase, I’m serious. We have lots of things to deal with. This isn’t just going to be some easy ride.”
“It never has been, but it’s me and you together. We’ll win because we have to, and of course, I don’t lose.”
“Well, non-losing narcissist and part-time kidnapper, this means that you have to stop hiding things from me.”
“I’m an open book.” He shrugged.
“What were in those two rooms at the house in Atrani?”
His smiled faded.
“Chase?”
“That’s not connected to anything that would deal with us. It’s my past, not our future.”
“Then tell me.”
Tight-lipped, he guided me forward. “Let’s enjoy the opening. I’m sure Gabe has many delicious surprises for you. Let’s just hope none of them force my foot to travel to the nether regions of his anus.”
“Oh, so now you’re hungry? That’s very convenient.”
“I can’t control my stomach. It has a mind of its own.”
“Sure, it does. Fine. We can eat now, but remember, before we buy a place or anything, I want to know what’s in those rooms and why you’re so scared to tell me.”
He avoided my gaze as the hostess held the door open.
“Chase, do you hear me?”
“Yes, we’ll discuss this later.”
“Now look who’s saying no.”
“That wasn’t a no. It was a later.”
“When is later?”
“Somewhere between me consuming your body and right before I place a ring on that empty finger.”
“It’s not empty.” I showed him my lucky copper ring. “I have a ring.”
He scrunched his face up in horror. “That is not a ring. It’s a cracked piece from a trumpet that somebody melted and looped around your finger. Please tell me you didn’t buy that.”
Benny had bought it for me and presented it at my high school graduation. I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell him that. “It’s always been special to me.”
“I’ve always assumed you lifted it off of a bum. It’s not nice to steal jewelry from the homeless.”
“Ha ha. It’s copper not brass and it was a gift.”
“It’s horrific.”
“You’re a freaking uppity person when it comes to fashion.”
“Says the person who complains about the quality of food at almost any place I take you to.”
“Not true and stop changing the topic.”
A grim shadow cast over his face. “I’ll tell you about the two rooms, one day. We’ll have to go back there, just promise me that. We go to Atrani and I take you into both rooms and. . .you give me the time to explain it all. . .and then you promise me you’ll understand.”
I didn’t like how it sounded. “Do you really think it’s that bad?”
“It’s just the truth. My reality and that’s something that many people can’t handle.”
“Have you ever given anyone the chance to handle your ‘truth’?”