Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 33474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“You got the giant part right, shortcake,” I taunt her.
I give her another cocky grin and she rolls her eyes. God, she’s gorgeous, and I love the attitude. I lean down, and before she can protest, I turn her around, grab her hips, and lift her up so she can reach the towels.
“Put me down!” she shrieks, and starts to try to wriggle free. All it does is rub her ass on my face, and I smile against it.
“I can do this all day, shortcake. Take your time.”
I hear her let out a little growl, and feel her grab the towels.
“I got it. Now put me down.”
I hold her body against mine and slowly let her slide down, feeling the curve of her ass run all along the front of my body. This is probably some form of harassment, but hey, when opportunity knocks.... She’s too fucking gorgeous, and I don’t have much time before I ship out. I’ve got to make the most of a sweet thing like this, savor every second.
Once her feet hit the floor, she spins around and puts her little finger in my face. “I don’t speak Behemoth, so I’ll talk slow. You should learn some manners before the villagers chase you with fiery torches. You shouldn’t go around putting your hands on people, no matter how hot you are.”
“You think I’m hot?” For some reason I want to beat my chest at the notion of her thinking I’m hot.
“I think you’re…you’re…” she looks around, trying to find the right word before taking a deep breath and looking at me again. “Just keep your hands to yourself.”
“What’s your name, shortcake?”
“It sure as shit ain’t that,” she clips back, putting one of her hands back on her hip, drawing my eyes there. Damn, her curves would fill my big hands nicely. Give me something to grab onto when I pulled her into my lap.
“You’ve got a potty mouth for someone so goddamn cute,” I say, and give her my biggest smile. “I’m Abe.”
I extend my hand out to her. She looks at it, and then rolls her eyes when I don’t drop it. After a long pause, she extends her hand and our palms touch.
Some people talk about the zing you feel when you first touch someone you’re meant to fall in love with. Well, I didn’t feel a zing, I felt a shift. Like watching a sunset and feeling the calm settle in your heart. That’s what happened when I held her hand. My fingers wrapped around hers, and I felt her fall into place with me. It was the oddest sensation of my life, and I stood there, silently changing, knowing the change was permanent. Until she spoke.
“I’m Julie. Thanks for the help, Abe. If you’ll excuse me,” she says, and drops my hand to walk past me.
Did she not feel that? The earth just stood still, and she’s got somewhere else to be. What the fuck?
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up, shortcake,” I say as I walk behind her.
“Stalking is a crime, big guy. I said thanks for the help. I’ve got places to be,” she says over her shoulder, her blonde hair bouncing in waves behind her as she flees.
She walks towards the exit of the store, and I’m seconds away from making a scene to stop her.
“Go out with me,” I blurt out a little too loudly.
She stops abruptly, and I nearly run into her back, before she whips around to look up at me.
“Does giving women a command like a dog usually work for you?”
“No, but showing them my dick does,” I say on a laugh, but from the snap of her eyes she doesn't seem to think my joke is very funny. She’s probably right. Hanging out in the desert with ten men every day can give you some rough edges. Maybe a dick joke wasn’t the best idea.
“Air Force?”
“Marine.”
“I should have guessed. You jarheads don’t have any manners outside of your uniforms.”
She turns around again and keeps making her way towards the exit. I can’t let her get away.
“Please,” I say, getting in front of her and blocking her path. She tucks her towels under one arm, and puts her other hand on her hip, letting me know I’m in her way and she’s not too happy about it.
“No, thank you.” This time her tone is sweeter than before, like she is dismissing me politely. She tries to move past me again, but I sidestep her and block her path once more.
“Dude, can you not take a hint? I’m not interested.”
I realize that it’s time to pull out the big guns, not caring if I make a fool of myself or that if Lucias sees me I’ll never hear the end of it. I’ll kick myself more in the ass if I don’t get to ever see her again. I drop down on one knee, grab her hand and look into her eyes.
She looks around the store to see if anyone is watching, and some people are staring as they walk by. But I don’t care. I won’t let her get away.
“Marry me.”
Her eyes go huge, and then she starts to laugh. I swear it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. “You’re insane.”
“Come on, Julie shortcake. You’re the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’ve got four weeks left before I ship out. Marry me.”
She shakes her head, and then gives me the sweetest smile and leans in close to my face. With me down on one knee, we are about eye to eye.
“You’re crazy and hot. But I’m a firm ‘no’ on the proposal.”
“Fine then. If you won’t marry me, at least go on a date with me. In fact, come to a pool party with me today,” I say, and look at her with my most hopeful face. I just need to get her to agree to see me again, I’ll worry about the ‘marrying me’ thing later.
“No.”
“I didn’t want to have to do this, but I’m shipping out in a month. What if I die? Would you really do that to your country?”