Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Jersey’s nose wrinkled. “Yuck!” She tried to shove him, but he tightened his grip on her face and kissed her, fusing his mouth to hers like they were stuck together. Tasting the inside of her mouth like his tongue was on a treasure hunt.
“Time to go!” Max called, knocking three times on the door.
Again, Jersey tried to push him away with her hands even though her mouth fully participated in the kiss.
“I don’t like this silence!” She pounded on the door again. “Is Jersey in there with you? Please … pretty, pretty please don’t let her mark you today. You have a photoshoot.” Max’s voice simmered into a painful plea.
Ian released Jersey’s mouth, rubbing his lips together and wiping the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand like Jersey had done.
She lifted her shirt and wiped her entire face as if she had actually been attacked by a slobbery pet.
Ian rolled his eyes. “You liked it.”
She swallowed the lie because she did like it. “You’re taking me with you.” She squared her shoulders and tipped her chin up.
He opened the door. Max deflated with relief.
“Jersey’s hanging with us today.” Ian strutted down the hallway toward Shane.
“Oh good. I like it when you’re thoroughly distracted,” Max mumbled to Ian while pointing two fingers at her own eyes, and then pointing them at Jersey.
Jersey whipped her head around to glance behind one shoulder then the other before gesturing to herself while mouthing, “Who? Me?”
“I’ll give you fifty bucks if you’re good today,” Max murmured, giving her attention to her phone as they followed Ian and Shane.
“Define good.” Jersey adjusted the knife shoved into the back of her jeans.
“Do I really have to?”
“If Ian is in a good mood, does that mean I’m being good?”
“No. If he’s sexually frustrated and not bruised or bleeding, then I know you’re being good.”
The doors to the elevator opened, and the two men stepped into it followed by Jersey and Max. Everyone faced the doors except Jersey. She faced Ian, hands in her pockets, glancing up at him with all kinds of mischief—hidden revenge—in her eyes. Chin tipped down, Ian kept his gaze on her, eyes slightly narrowed and his lips in a firm line. Distrust bled through his expression. Jersey liked that about him even if it made her job a little more challenging.
“Max offered me fifty bucks to be good today.”
Ian’s brows inched up his forehead. “Is that so?”
Max didn’t budge, not a single flinch as Jersey called her out on her bribe. “Yup. Fifty bucks for you too, Ian, if you behave today.” She swiped along her phone screen like bribing people to be well-behaved was part of her everyday duties.
“And what did you say?” He cocked his head to the side, a playful glint in his eyes.
The elevator doors opened.
“Game faces, kids. A mob of paparazzi awaits.” Max and Shane stepped off the elevator.
“Why didn’t we go out a side door?” Jersey asked Max.
“They’re at all the entrances. Word got out where we’re staying.” Max looped her arm with Jersey’s arm and dragged her toward the entrance, distancing them from Ian and Shane.
A few people snapped photos of Jersey as Max stuffed her into the back of the SUV, but most of the attention went to Ian. He stopped for a few autographs and smiled for the cameras before Shane opened the back door, and Ian hopped in next to Jersey. Even after the door closed, the camera flashes continued.
As Shane shoved the vehicle into drive, Ian glanced over at Jersey and rested his hand on her leg. “You okay?”
She stared at his hand. Jersey liked the feel of Ian touching her, but she hated the memories of being touched—a polarity of emotions that warred inside of her. “Of course. I used to deal with that popularity crap at Marley’s. I couldn’t leave the building without someone snapping my picture or asking for my autograph. I was kind of a big deal around there. You know … my undefeated title and all that.”
Ian squeezed her leg. “I can see that about you.”
Jersey hugged her arms to her chest, unsure what to do with them while he continued to use her leg as a rest for his hand. After several stiff minutes, he retracted his hand and fetched his phone from his pocket. She relaxed her arms a tiny centimeter at a time to conceal her relief.
“I don’t know, Ian. Last year’s cover is going to be hard to beat.” Max held up a magazine with Ian on the cover—naked except for a guitar covering his man parts.
He chuckled. “Squint all you want, Jersey. You’re not going to see past the guitar.”
She leaned closer, continuing to squint. “Shut it, Coop. I’m just trying to see the title of the magazine.”
“Coop?” Max twisted her lips to hide her amusement.