Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 147733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
The acid in her voice shocks me.
“Will? What the fuck?”
“You heard me.”
“Wait, you have to explain that last part. Jenn, I didn’t know. What about the will?” I follow her into the elevator, standing at her side with a glare that could scratch diamond.
“Go away.”
“Tell me what happened.”
She jerks her face up to meet my eyes. “Maybe I would, if you hadn’t kept the whole Pinnacle Pointe hack job as tight as a drum. It would’ve been nice knowing what we were dealing with, instead of hearing it from Google or waiting until you decided we deserved an explanation.”
“Tit for tat, huh?” I snort. “Fair, I suppose. For the record, I never used you. I’d take a scalpel to my own balls before I—Jennifer!”
The elevator chimes and the doors open. She doesn’t wait a nanosecond before storming out.
“Scalpel sounds like a great choice, Dr. Dickhead.”
I race in front of her, holding out my hands. To any bystander, I’m sure I look like a desperate fucking mess. The fact that she turned me into such a depraved creature should end this right there.
“Don’t make me push you,” she warns, knowing full well she’d have the same chance of moving me as Mount Rainier. “Miles, will you move?”
“Come home with me,” I snarl, grabbing her hand.
For a second, she twists sharply. The hate glowing in her eyes spears me, and still I hold on.
“Let go,” she spits.
“No. Not until you understand I never meant to hurt you, kitten. Curse me. Scratch my face. Call me every filthy name in the book. I know I deserve it. Hell, have me arrested. I’ll suffer it all—whatever the fuck you want—if you’ll just hear me out.”
Her glare never softens.
The sigh I hold in burns my lungs. “Jenn, I’ll explain everything as soon as we’re somewhere more private.”
I release her arm, expecting her to bolt, but she just stands there glaring at me.
“Nope. You should’ve done that days ago, and I don’t have the time or synapses left now. I have dinner with my parents and two giants who need some love. I’m not your plaything anymore.”
“If you won’t make time, I will. I’m coming with you.” The words are out of my mouth before I comprehend what that means.
The rancor on her face vanishes, replaced by shock. “You’re what?”
“I’m coming, I said. We need to talk about this tonight.”
“About what?” she hisses.
“Everything,” I whisper, leaning closer until we can’t help but breathe each other. “Everything I wish I could stop fucking up.”
“...you can’t be serious,” she says quietly.
“Tell me I look like I’m joking,” I growl.
Then I lunge forward, throwing the massive glass door open, holding it for her. She stalks past me, guarded, but doesn’t run.
I follow her outside into the soft nighttime rush of traffic.
“Wrong way. Benson’s parked over there.” I point to the curb.
“I’m not going home with you. I’m never making that mistake again.”
Fuck.
That castration I promised her would be less harsh.
“I already told you I’m coming home with you,” I say, watching as her eyes flash with uncertainty again.
“My car’s here.” She turns toward the parking garage.
“It’s late and you’re exhausted. I’ll pay any overnight fees and I’ll have Benson swing by for you in the morning. You shouldn’t be driving in this state.”
She turns her nose up. “What state is that? Chronic exhaustion from arguing with an overgrown dick who never learned to take 'no' for an answer?”
My brows pull together like thunderheads.
“I’d call it stubbornness. From shutting this dick out when he’s trying to help you,” I venture, watching as her face falls.
“If you wanted to help, you should’ve stocked up on tissues.”
“Excuse me?”
She sighs. “You could’ve saved us both a metric ton of energy and stress by just jerking off—and you would’ve had an easier time tossing it in the trash than with me.”
She has a way with words.
I don’t let it paralyze me, though, reaching for the car door and holding it open.
“Get in. Don’t make me beg, kitten,” I breathe, my voice torched.
I think it’s my tone that makes her hesitate.
She doesn’t climb in right away, but she’s not walking away. Her gaze drifts to the cool, dark interior, considering it.
“Sending Benson to pick you up isn’t scandalous, if that’s your concern. I’ve done it for other employees when they needed it, like you do now.”
“You’re serious?” She studies my eyes.
I nod.
The fight seeps out of her as her eyelids flutter shut.
With a draining sigh, she slides into the vehicle. “This is just because I’m too tired to drive. I still don’t want to argue with you tonight or hear more excuses.”
“I’ll take it,” I say warmly.
“Whatevs.”
The drive to her parents’ house isn’t far, less than twenty minutes. In front of the curb, I step out first and hold the door for her again.
She darts past me without a word or a second glance.