Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Her smile wobbles but I push on. “I don’t want you to stay here because you have no other choice. I want you to stay here because this is where you belong.”
“But how do I belong here? I don’t even know you and I’m just…just a nobody who got stuck with a dead mother and a gambling addict father. This place is for some fancy supermodel, not for someone like me.”
I hook a finger under her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “Don’t ever say anything like that again. You belong here because I say you do and what I say goes.”
“I still don’t understand. What do I have to offer in return? I have nothing to give you. I can barely take care of myself.”
“I’ll take care of you. And as far as what you have to offer in return? Well, we’ll discuss that some other time.”
I feel the familiar stiffness in my pants and push my chair back to its original position. I’ve always had impressive self-control, but my body just goes haywire where she’s concerned.
Every inch of me screams to just let my primal hunger take over, but no. Fuck no. I’m not looking for a quick lay. I’m in this for the longer haul with a bigger payoff. That’s the difference between me and her father. I know how to keep my cards close to my chest and only bet when the odds are in my favor. I also know when the prize is worth waiting for.
And Cassidy? She’s worth everything.
Lunch arrives and I see Cassidy’s eyes widen. One by one, the staff arrives carrying silver trays of roasted lamb, a seafood platter, asparagus spears, mashed potatoes, and a bowl of garden salad. Cassidy scowls, and I realize I forgot to ask if she’s allergic to anything.
“Is something wrong?”
“All of this for just the two of us?” She stares at the lobsters like they might spring back to life and crawl away.
“Yes and no. The staff will eat whatever is left. Why?”
“This is more food than we’ve ever had in our house at any one time, and it’s just lunch for you.”
Ah, so that’s the issue. “Baby girl, your days of struggling are over now. As long as you’re with me, you can have anything you want or need. I’ll give you the world on a silver platter if you ask for it.”
“This is such a mind-bender,” she mumbles.
“What? What does that mean?”
“This whole setup is crazy. My father may have agreed to let you take me, but I’m technically an adult. I should have had my own say in the matter. I didn’t and that should piss me off to no end. You should be the villain in this story, but so far, you’ve treated me better than anyone else ever has. You’re so big and intimidating, but when you assure me that everything is okay, I believe you. More than that, I feel safe around you despite all the warnings my father told me before. That’s a mind-bender.”
I can’t help but smile because she’s right. It is a mind-bender. I went to the outpost last night expecting nothing more than to beat the hell out of some loser and maybe take his car and his pocket change.
Now, I’m here with this beautiful, young girl. I made her a part of the deal on an impulse, and most of the time we’re together, I’m fighting off a raging erection. I’m almost always hard to the point of pain, and I’ve had more cold showers than I could count for the past twenty-four hours.
This isn’t me. I don’t just fuck around. My mind is always on my job and making sure the business runs smoothly. I wasn’t looking for a girl, but maybe that’s because I’ve never met a girl like this one before. I have never wanted anyone as much as I want her, and that throws me.
We eat our lunch in silence and my phone rings. I like to spend more time with her, maybe learn more about her, but this call is important. With a groan, I stand up to excuse myself.
“What do I do now? Do you have any more tasks for me?”
“Take the dogs out to run and exercise them for an hour or so. Just play with them. That’s all. Quick warning. They’ll run you ragged and you’re going to come out a sweaty mess.”
“Sounds like fun.” She grins and I clench my hands so I don’t reach out, cup her face, and taste her lips.
I leave her on the patio even if all I want to do is strip her naked, memorize her curves and dips, and mark her as mine.
5
CASSIDY
I overslept again today.
Chris must think I’m the laziest person alive. Between spending half the night thinking about him, my situation, and what the future holds, plus the decadence of this bedroom, I can’t seem to get myself moving in the morning.