Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 14079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 47(@300wpm)
“I came here to see you. I can’t stop thinking about you.” That’s putting it mildly. She owns my goddamn heart and soul. Her honey eyes widen as I finish my explanation. “I’m kinda hoping you’ll agree to have dinner with me tonight.” Then we can negotiate you staying with me forever. I add silently.
“I already cooked a pasta casserole that I’ll never be able to eat by myself. Some will go to waste if you refuse.” I’m not above begging to get my girl to spend time with me.
Her straight white teeth dig into her plump bottom lip as she considers my proposition. “Well, we can’t let your casserole go to waste.” Relief cuts through me as she agrees. “I don’t get off of work until seven. Is that too late?”
I’m tempted to insist on coming to get her, but I don’t want to push my luck. “That’s perfect. I usually eat late anyway. Why don’t you come straight over after work?”
“I’ll be there.” My heart settles into a normal pattern when she agrees.
I almost pump my fist in the air as I rush to the Rodeo Drive Market to find a bottle of wine that goes with my granny’s famous chicken pasta casserole. Tonight, everything has to be perfect for my curvy little honey bun.
I watch the clock move at a snail’s pace all afternoon long. When the darn thing finally hits six-forty-five, my heart starts to pound. I’m really doing this. I’m not sure when it happened, but the smoking-hot hockey player got under my skin. Big time. I’m pretty sure I’m at least halfway in love with him already. Who am I kidding? It’s really around ninety percent. I’m in so much trouble here.
At five minutes until seven, the bell over the door rings and I groan. Great, a last-minute customer. I paste a fake smile on my face and turn to the door.
My heart drops when I find Miles standing there, and I wonder if he came by to cancel.
“Uh, hi.” All my thoughts scatter as disappointment cuts through me.
“Hello, honey bun.” He walks over and takes my hand. “I know you want to drive to my place, so I came by to follow you.”
“Why?” I attempt to wrap my mind around his words. None of this makes sense to me.
“To make sure you get there safely.” He smiles down at me before leaning over to place a soft kiss on my cheek. His warm lips barely brushed my skin, yet I’m ready to jump his bones.
“Silver Spoon Falls isn’t exactly a dangerous place,” I remind him. “And I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” It’s the same argument I’ve had with my overprotective brother for years. In fact, Fischer makes me call or text him every night when I get home from work, so he knows I’ve made it safely. It gets old, but I love my brother and want to keep the peace.
“I have no doubt you can take care of yourself, but you don’t have to. It’s my job now. I plan to spend the rest of my life making sure you’re well taken care of.”
Hello, twilight zone, you have a new resident. “We just met two days ago,” I remind him.
“It only took me two seconds to fall for you.” I hope it’s not a line because I just fell the last ten percent myself.
“Oh.” This is all happening so fast. I’m having trouble keeping up. “I need to lock up, and then I’ll be ready to head out.” Disappointment fills his gray eyes, but I’m not ready to hand over my heart on a silver platter. The hot hockey player has to earn it first.
Within five minutes, I’m in my tiny car following behind his mammoth SUV. I’m pretty sure he could fit his entire hockey team in that thing. The entire ten-minute drive to his house, I give myself a pep talk, but all my thoughts scatter the second we turn down his long, winding driveway.
He pulls into the attached garage and then hops out to walk over to my car. “You can park in the extra garage spot if you’d like.” He points to one of the three other garage openings.
“Okay.” I park my car and take several deep breaths before I open my car door and slide out.
Miles takes my hand and leads me through the door that leads to his huge, modern kitchen. “You can do some cooking in here.” I gasp as I take it all in. It’s easily four times the size of the kitchen in my efficiency apartment. Dark wood cabinets with white marble tops line three walls in a U-shape with a matching huge center island.
“Honestly, today is the first time I’ve used it except to make coffee in the morning,” he admits.