Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“No, I’m f-fine,” she sputtered out. “I’ve just n-never seen someone s-so bad at yoga.”
Jack grinned. “Well, now you have.”
“Yep.” Suddenly, she became all too aware of how she was lying on him, her breasts squished against his chest.
She swallowed heavily. “I, um, I should . . .”
He tightened his hold on her when she attempted to move away. “Stay for a moment? I have something to ask you.”
“Okay. Oh, I forgot to say thank you for the food. So, uh, yeah, thank you.”
Smooth, Maggie.
Dear Lord. Could she embarrass herself anymore?
Also, were his hands on her bum? Were they squeezing her bottom? That was . . . exciting.
She wriggled slightly, pressing her thighs together. Jack watched her, his face was blank, but his eyes were hot and dark.
Yikes.
“What food?” he asked.
“Oh, um . . .” This was worrying. Did he have memory issues? “The trays of food outside my room.”
Jack gave her a strange look. “That wasn’t me, baby.”
She frowned. “Are you saying that it was—”
“What the hell is going on out here?” a deep voice boomed.
“Great timing,” Jack muttered. “As always.”
Maggie glanced over in surprise as Ian stormed his way toward them. “What happened? Are you all right, Maggie?”
She gaped up at him and attempted to move off Jack. But he tightened his hold for a moment.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
He smelled so good. She was getting addicted to the scent of pine.
“Yeah, baby.”
“Here, I’ll help you up.” Ian held out his hand to her.
She bit her lip, wanting to refuse. But that seemed petty and silly.
And while she might be a failure and a disappointment, she drew the line at petty.
Actually, she didn’t really. But she didn’t want Ian to think she was still smarting because of his words yesterday.
So she took his hand and let him help her stand. Ian’s jaw was tight as he stared at her, then at Jack, who had rolled onto his belly.
That was strange. Was he okay?
“Well? What happened?” Ian asked.
“Jack slipped over doing yoga,” she explained.
“He did what?”
“He’s struggling a bit with the moves,” she explained.
“Struggling with the moves . . .” Ian chewed on his lip. “Right.”
“Jack, are you all right?” She crouched next to him. “Do you have a cramp? Do you need me to touch you somewhere?”
Jack groaned again. It sounded painful.
“Tell me where it is. I once got a cramp in my bum cheek. Worse thing I’ve ever felt. Harry had to massage me right there on the ice. So embarrassing.”
“Who the hell is Harry?” Ian demanded.
Why did he sound so angry about Harry? Weird.
“He was my coach. Jack? Where do you want my hands?”
“I’m all right, baby.” Jack let out a deep breath, then moved up onto his knees and feet.
“Careful. You don’t want to get dizzy.” She put her hands out as though she was going to catch him.
“Get away from him,” Ian said.
She gaped at him. That was rude. And weird.
“If he falls, I don’t want you getting hurt,” Ian explained. “He could fall on you.”
Lord. She didn’t understand this man.
Actually, men in general. They were a bunch of weirdos. They got upset at the slightest thing.
They required a lot of hand-holding that was for sure.
“I’m not dizzy,” Jack reassured them as he stood and helped her stand again.
Her head was thumping, but she tried to ignore it.
“Do you have sunscreen on?” Ian asked.
She glanced up at the sky. The sun was setting so did she really need sunscreen?
“You can still get burned at this time of night,” he added.
“Do you care?” She winced as she said that.
Ian sighed and grimaced. Then he glanced at Jack. “Give us a few minutes?”
Jack crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”
Ian narrowed his gaze at him.
Jack just stared back at him.
“Fine. Fine.” Ian turned back to her. “Maggie, I, um . . . I . . . I wanted to tell you . . . um . . .”
Lord.
This was terrible. She felt second-hand embarrassment for him.
She just needed it to end.
“I forgive you!”
“What?”
“I forgive you for what you said. Hey, what are you two doing here? I thought Hux and Beck were guarding us today.”
“We finished what we were doing and are back as your guards,” Jack told her. “Although Beck and Hux seemed to want to stay. They were quite insisting while scowling at Ian.”
“You can’t just forgive me!” Ian blurted out.
She blinked, staring up at him. “What?”
“You can’t just forgive me.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“Yes . . . but you . . . I mean . . .”
“You should make him apologize properly,” Jack told her, moving closer. As though lending her his support.
And she appreciated it.
“And maybe grovel,” Jack added. “On his knees.”
“Thanks for your help,” Ian said dryly.
“Oh, anytime.” Jack waved a hand through the air. “I’m always here to help.”