Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 38490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
My knees almost gave out and I had to lock them to stay standing or fall on the bed. She was beautiful, the woman in the photo, and my heart squeezed because I knew that she was someone he loved.
Why that brought tears to my eyes I don’t know. Or why I felt like running away and hiding. The dull ache in my gut and the pain in my heart I understood only too well though.
Somewhere between the time he’d stepped out of the dark to save me, and the next day when he ran me off, I’d gone and fallen for him. What a way to figure that out Cassie.
I stood there next to the bed for the longest time not able to move when I heard his gruff voice behind me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I jumped and dropped the picture I hadn’t been aware of picking up from suddenly lifeless fingers. I turned to see the look of rage on his face and felt real danger.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” I looked back at the picture that had fallen on the soft mattress thankfully.
“Get out!” His voice sounded so cold, so final. I didn’t move fast enough so he grabbed my arm, dragging me from the room.
“Where’s your bag? Get your stuff and go.” I’d left my bag in the car earlier but even if I hadn’t I wouldn’t have taken the time to look for it. I turned and practically ran out the door to my car, fidgeting around in my jeans shorts for the keys.
The dog came bounding around the side of the house from the back, barking as if telling me to stay but there was no way I was hanging around there. The fact that Braden had slammed the door after I left said it all.
9
Braden
Hell, I’d scared her so much I hope she didn’t wreck in her haste to get away from me. She’d ran like a scared rabbit. Serves her right. What was she doing going through my things?
What’s to go through? The picture was sitting right out there on the nightstand. It’s not like she went digging through drawers and shit.
I don’t give a fuck where she found it.
You’re a dick.
Fuck off!
The fuck!
I half expected a call from my brother but when none came I got even more suspicious. It’s not like him to let shit go this easy. Or had she not gone running to him to complain like last time?
I refuse to feel bad about my behavior. Everyone’s entitled to their privacy aren’t they? By dinnertime I was getting antsy. Wyatt hadn’t called to bitch and there was no word from her.
I was tempted to pick up the phone and call him, see if he’d heard from her. But my stubborn pride wouldn’t let me. This was for the best. I was already imagining all manner of things that weren’t good for either of us.
Well, they may be good for me seeing as I haven’t fucked anyone in a while, but there was nothing in it for her beyond the orgasms she was sure to get at the end of my dick. Better leave that shit alone.
When she didn’t show up the same time the next day I was ready to pull my hair out by the roots. I asked myself why the fuck I should care while enjoying my second cup of coffee and ignoring the accusing looks from the mutt.
I hadn’t slept very well the night before and wasn’t too happy about that shit either. If it wasn’t her face haunting me even in my waking moments, that damn annoying feeling was back and more persistent than ever.
As a practical man who believes in logic, nothing about this shit makes sense. Why should a girl I’d just met only briefly take up this much space in my damn head? And why do I feel like the worse kind of monster for treating her the way I have when I’ve treated others much harsher and didn’t give a good damn?
I was tempted to call Wyatt but in the end I didn’t have to, he called. “Hey big brother? How are things working out with Cassie?”
Did he really not know or was he fucking with me? I’m still not sure if those two are in cahoots, but this would explain him not riding my ass the day before.
“I wouldn’t know she hasn’t shown up.”
“What did you do?”
“The fuck! Why does it have to be me?”
“Because that sweet girl wouldn’t hurt a fly. You didn’t make her cry again did you?”
“When did I ever make her cry?”
“Like you don’t know. She was just trying to repay your kindness the only way she knows how. I’m very disappointed in you.” He hung up the phone leaving me feeling like the world’s biggest son of a bitch.