Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 106948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
No matter how close we’d been physically, we were essentially strangers, and that bothered me because it reminded me that in reality, we were moving too fast, and I’d promised myself I wouldn’t get instantly, possessively attached. But this…this feeling, this experience between us, was different. Leo was different. He was hardened, jaded, and world weary in a way that had marked him. It was like life had ground away all the softness from him, leaving only solid rock behind.
But when he looked at me, all that stiffness relaxed, and I knew deep in my gut this was a man who allowed very few people to see this side of him.
“Morning, Leo.”
“Love the breathy way you say my name, sweetheart. Especially first thing in the morning. There’s food under the silver domed trays. Help yourself. My housekeeper made it earlier for us.”
I piled the lovely blue and gray plate I found waiting for me on the counter with food, grabbing a double portion of the scrambled eggs that had some kind of fragrant salsa in them, along with a couple sausage links.
I joined Leo at the big table, sitting next to him where a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee were waiting for me. In the center of the table sat a curved lavender glass vase full of peach and yellow roses, along with white lilacs, one of my favorite flower combinations. When I looked from the flowers to Leo, he gave me a slow quirk of his lips, his gaze smoldering. Distracted by all that sexiness being aimed my way, I forgot how vigorous some of our activities had been last night and I let out a hiss as my sore bottom met the hard chair.
The heat vanished from Leo’s gaze, replaced by deep concern. “Are you okay?”
The way he seemed ready to leap up from his seat had me smiling ruefully. “Yes, I’m okay. My butts a little sore, but in a good way…um, no pun intended.”
He didn’t smile. “Maybe you should see a doct—”
I held up my hand, noticing a few bruises around my wrist that probably came from when he was holding me down and I was coming my brains out. “If you’re suggesting that I go see a doctor because I’ve been well fucked, you’re insane.”
The worry vanished from his eyes, replaced by a pleased, almost smug expression as he leaned back in his chair, the thin cotton of his shirt stretching nicely across his wide chest. “Good point.”
Eager to get off the subject, I returned my interest to my meal as I asked, “So, you have a cook?”
“Yes. I’m afraid to confess I don’t have much of a domestic streak. My chef comes in three times a week and cooks, but also leaves meals for my housekeeper to prepare for me on the days he’s not here.”
“I’m guessing a yard crew as well? This place is immaculate, and I can’t imagine you being the kind of guy to pull weeds in his spare time.”
His dark eyes watched me closely, his lips curving into an easy smile that didn’t match his gaze. “You’re right. I have much better things to do than pull weeds. In what little free time I’ve had to spend here, I’ve mostly enjoyed the pool and sauna.”
“Sauna? Wow, nice.” The delicious bitterness of coffee helped clear my thoughts a bit. “You live here alone?”
His brows arched and he abandoned the relaxed pose he’d been in, leaning forward on the table, exuding menace. “Do you think I’d bring you here if I lived with someone else? That I’m in the habit of sneaking around with women?”
Realizing I offended him, I tried to do damage control. “No, no. I’m just saying, it’s a big house. You need to get a dog or something.”
The anger left him as if it had never been there and I resisted the urge to blow out a relieved breath. “You’re right, I do need a dog. In fact, I was considering going to the pound at some point to find a puppy.”
I tried to compose myself, but I couldn’t help my happy little squeal. “Really?”
His lips twitched and his eyes crinkled as he took in my glee. “Yes, really. This place is too big for me alone, but I’ve been too busy working these past few years to give a dog enough attention.”
I sighed, my enthusiasm waning as I thought of all the reasons I couldn’t have a dog. “I know how that is. I’ve wanted a dog for like, forever, but it wouldn’t be fair to get one and then keep him in a cage. Then there’s the fact that I live in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, and Kayla doesn’t like animals…so yeah…no dog for me.”
“Did you have a pet growing up?”
I had. Before my sister had gotten sick, we had a sweet golden retriever. Then the endless rounds of hospital stays began and we couldn’t care for our dog, so my parents gave her away to one of their friends. I’d been devastated, but when I’d protested, my mother had berated me for being selfish.