Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
I could feel my pulse drumming through my jugular and blood rushed through my ears, the pressure behind them mounting. I tried again. Clearing my throat, I stepped into the room and said quietly, “Hello.” I followed this with an awkward, robotic wave.
The man closest to me stood from his sitting position. He was tall, lean with a swimmer’s build, and had light brown hair which he wore messy. I could see he hadn’t shaved from the stubble on his chin. His soft brown eyes were kind and when he held out a hand to me, I appreciated him making the effort. “Hi. I’m Lee.”
“Lee,” I repeated graciously with a grateful smile. I took his hand and we shook for a second. I silently prayed he couldn’t feel the dampness of my palm.
I was sure he could. He was just too polite to say anything.
Another man stood and this one was positively hulking. With his long, ashy blonde hair worn in a looped bun at the top of his head and the long beard he donned, he looked like a Viking. And, because I was special that way, I decided to tell him exactly that. “You look like a Viking.”
The man grinned and his green eyes sparkled. “Nice. I’m Helmer, but you can call me Hell. Everyone does.”
My mouth opened and a slight gasp took me. “That is very fitting. I’m almost certain Helmer actually means ‘wrath of the warrior.’”
Hell’s brows rose in surprise. “No shit?”
“No—” My voice turned to a whisper. “—shit.” It wasn’t ladylike to cuss, or so my Nanna had taught me.
The last man didn’t even stand. He just jerked his chin in my direction. “What’s up?”
He was rude, the last man. Something about him, the way he hung off the chair he was sitting on, his inattention, and lack of regard spoke volumes. He didn’t care who I was. And that was fine by me.
Being invisible came naturally to me.
But he was beautiful, and that made my stomach do a strange and funny thing.
It shimmied.
What was that about?
The man wore black fitted jeans, a black V-neck tee that revealed a plethora of tattoos at his neckline, and a pair of black high-top sneakers. A steel chain hung down the side of his jeans, and he wore a big silver ring on the middle finger of his right hand.
It was a skull.
What sought my attention, however, was the small dagger tattooed across his right cheekbone.
Quickly realizing I was staring, I shrunk in on myself and stupidly repeated what he’d said. However, while he sounded totally confident, my voice shook. “What’s up?”
Noah kicked out at the man and when his foot connected with rude guy’s shin, the guy let out a sound of pure annoyance. “What was that for?”
Noah glared at him.
The man clicked his tongue then looked at me, really looked at me.
Oh God, don’t do that!
My stomach bottomed out.
When he spoke, it sounded forced. “I’m Connor. Nice to meet you, Emily.” The way he said my name was as if I were a plague on his very being.
“Likewise,” I uttered as quietly as possible without actually muting my speech.
It felt like an awkward silence was about to ensue when Lee spoke directly to me. “How old are you, Emily?”
“I’m twenty-three.”
“You look like you’re twelve,” Connor stared, making a show of looking me up and down, his light brown eyes invasive. It was nerve-wracking to say the least. I didn’t like the way his lip curled, revealing his teeth.
I liked teeth, and his were straight, and white, and perfect.
For some reason, my go-to response was, “Sorry.”
Hell scowled at him from the sofa. “No, she doesn’t.” The sweet Viking turned back to me, and spoke gently, “No, you don’t.”
That was nice. And in that moment, I felt my nerves decrease.
Lee smiled softly. “Are you excited?” At my confusion, his face became void of emotion. “About being on tour?”
Oh, that. I didn’t know what to say, which is probably why I said what I did. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Noah grinned.
Hell watched me closely a second before he tipped his head back and let out a booming laugh. He laughed a long time and showed no sign of stopping. When his laugh finally gentled, he chuckled, “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He cracked up all over again. “I think I like you, Emily.”
Noah, the traitor, decided to inform them of my folly. “Emily here has never heard of Left Turn.”
The silence that surrounded us was thick and suffocating.
My chest began to ache and when they continued to look at me the way they did, a lump formed in my throat.
My face fell as I looked around the room to each of the men. “I’m sorry.”
The mean guy, Connor, stared at me, wearing an expression I could only describe as sheer skepticism.