Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
However, there are two vehicles in his driveway that are not his. The open blinds on the main floor give me a clear view of his kitchen. I recognize Herb, but not the other guy or the woman.
When I knock on the glass door, all heads turn. Koen heads in my direction just as I open it.
“You don’t have to knock.” He hugs me and drops a quick kiss on my lips. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
With a stiff smile, I nod. “Thanks,” I mumble. “Uh …” I glance past him.
“Listen,” he says, keeping his back to everyone gathered around his kitchen island. “I didn’t know they were going to show up.”
“They as in?”
“My family. They arrived ten minutes ago with food and cake. I knew you were already on your way, so I didn’t want to scare you off by giving you a heads-up.”
“Wow. Your family goes all out for Valentine’s Day?”
“No. It’s my grandpa’s birthday. He’s eighty-nine today. I’m sorry. I’ll make this up to you.”
I shake my head. “Make what up? I adore your grandpa.”
Koen sighs with a smile. “Thank you. Let me introduce you to my family.” He takes my hand and pulls me toward the kitchen. “Hey, everyone, this is Scottie. She works at Drummond’s, Grandpa’s favorite store.”
“Happy birthday, Herb.” I rest my hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you, young lady,” he replies, perched at the counter while arranging cheese on a cracker.
“Scottie, this is my mom, Shelly, and my brother, Kaleb.”
“Hi.” I hold up my hand in a friendly wave as they greet me.
Kaleb’s gaze drops a few inches.
Shit.
My V-Day sweater is not only red for the occasion but also thin and almost sheer from the loose knitting. And … I’m not wearing a bra or underwear, for that matter. I saw the evening going in a different direction, and I dressed for not wearing my clothes.
“How long have you worked at Drummond’s?” Shelly asks, sipping a bottle of green tea with one hand while tucking her flaxen curls behind her ear with her other.
I melt from her smile that’s as genuine and unpretentious as her pink pilled button-down and relaxed jeans on her curvy body.
“Ten years. I love Austin, the neighborhood, and the people who shop there.” I wink at Herb.
Again, when I glance at Kaleb, I catch him staring at my chest. I turn toward Koen. “I need to go upstairs for a minute,” I whisper, offering him a tight grin.
He narrows his eyes before nodding.
“I uh … need to make a quick call,” I tell his family. “So I’m going to run upstairs for just a few minutes if you’ll excuse me.”
I don’t wait for an answer before hightailing it up the stairs. After turning on the light in his closet, I riffle through his clothes.
“Forgot your phone,” Koen says.
I glance over my shoulder while he holds up my phone.
“Is there something I can help you find?”
“You don’t happen to have a bra, do you?”
He squints with a headshake. “Did yours break?”
“No …” I say slowly, eyes wide. “I thought it would be just the two of us, and it’s fine that it’s not, but I wore the bare minimum.” I lift my sweater.
Koen’s eyes flare, lips part.
I lower my sweater. “Your brother keeps staring at my chest. I’m sure it’s because he can easily see my nipples, which means your mom can too. This isn’t the first impression I want to have on her.”
Koen slides the pocket door shut behind him and steps toward me.
“What are you doing?”
“Did you miss me?”
With a nervous laugh, I avert my gaze. “Stop.”
“Because I missed you.” He takes a step closer.
I have nowhere to go with a full-length mirror at my back.
“Lift your sweater again.” He wets his lips.
Again, I return a shaky chuckle. “Your family is downstairs. You’re teasing me. That’s not nice.”
“Why would I tease you? If I’m teasing you, then I’m torturing myself. Want me to make you come?”
“Stop. It.” I press my lips together to keep from grinning.
“Lift your sweater.”
He could lift it, pull it over my head … rip it off my body if he wanted. But this is a game.
Do I want to play this game? Is this the time to play games?
Of course not.
But the way he says, “Lift your sweater,” in a deep voice, has the same effect as “Spread your legs.”
Sometimes, living in the moment isn’t the responsible decision. Now is an example of that. Yet, I really love to seize the moment.
I pull my sweater up past my breasts.
Koen palms both breasts, keeping his eyes on me while he ducks his head to flick my nipple with his tongue and suck it.
I hiss, feeling a jolt of pleasure shoot between my legs.
He does this over and over, gazing at me the whole time. I begin to squirm, hands in his hair, heart racing.