Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
I settle in front of him, taking up the space between his parted thighs. “Any other reason?”
He swallows hard, peers up at me. “Because it mattered to you, and you matter to me.”
I could joke about all the power I must wield, making the baby developer buckle to my whims, but for once, I don’t even feel the urge to hide my feelings behind humor. “You matter to me too.”
His eyes soften. “I wondered if you’d ever admit to that.”
“It’s not easy for me. Not after Bill.”
“I know.” He sighs heavily. “So, is that it? Is the interrogation over?”
“Not quite.” I hesitate. “What is this, between us?” Vulnerability hangs in my voice.
“You tell me. You’re the one calling the shots. I’m following your lead.” He searches my features in earnest. “Am I just your rebound? Is this purely physical?”
“No.” Despite whatever foot we started off on with each other. “But I’m scared.”
“I know you are. But of what? I am not your ex.”
I bite my bottom lip. How do I explain this? “That you’ll decide you don’t want your tiny, beautiful menace anymore. That you’d rather have a wet noodle.”
A blank look takes over his face. “I can’t even pretend that I understand that. What … why would I want a wet noodle?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, it’s just something Shirley said about firebrands and wet noodles, and it resonated with me in a weird way. I am who I am, and for some people, I can be too much. Admit it, I was too much for you and your posh life and upbringing.”
“I can’t admit that because it’s not true. You were never too much for me.” His lips twitch with a smile. “That first day we met, when you told me I’ve never met a woman like you? Were you ever right. Because no other woman has invaded my thoughts so utterly and completely like you have. And it’s not even the sex, which believe me, is fucking mind-blowing. But I catch myself wondering what you’d say or do in any given situation, what snappy comeback you’d have.” He shakes his head. “No woman has made my blood boil, or challenged me, surprised me, or made me laugh, or made me care as much as you have. I wouldn’t ever want you to mute yourself for anyone, especially not me.”
My heart swells at the ring of honesty in his words. “I’m sorry I bolted last weekend.”
He nods. “I figured out why you did. I didn’t like it, but I knew it wasn’t me.”
“It was you. You’re too perfect. And I … am the woman your mother found on her knees in a closet with her son.”
“Man, did I hear about that one.” He chuckles. “But she’s a lot more open-minded than you might imagine. I think you two will get along.”
The air is chilly, but I barely feel it, my skin burning in anticipation.
Garrett tugs at his restraints. “I’ve never been handcuffed before. You did that awfully fast. Like you have experience.”
“A girl never tells.” I reach up to remove my hat and toss it to the table. My long hair tumbles down over my shoulders as I move in to straddle his lap. “There’re all kinds of things we can do with those.”
He leans forward as far as he can, his lips just inches from mine. “Such as?”
“Hard to describe. Better if I show you.” I keep my lips out of reach as I shimmy my hips closer until I can feel his hard length against the apex of my thighs. I grind against it, earning his groan. The ache to feel him inside me is building quickly.
“I have a question for you,” he asks, swallowing hard. “Sara told me about Bill and Izzy. How hard was it to hear that he’s getting married?”
“It was hard,” I admit. “But not nearly as hard as I thought it would be.” Because as often as Garrett claims he thinks about me, my thoughts have been consumed by him for months. I smooth my hands over his cheeks, admiring the sharp angles. “If he could do that to me, he’s not the man I convinced myself he was. That person doesn’t exist.” I give Garrett’s tie a gentle tug. “Besides, he’s got nothing on you. He can have his wet noodle.”
Garrett grins. “It’s starting to make sense now. Yeah, you’re definitely a firebrand.”
Mention of that brings me to Shirley. “How’d your big town meeting go?”
“Anticlimactic. I thought you’d be there.”
“I couldn’t. I was busy staging all this.”
His gaze drops over my lacy outfit and bare skin. “And I appreciate it.”
“So … no issues with your variance?”
“My request passed, and no one lobbied against it, if that’s what you’re asking.” His eyes narrow. “But I think you already knew that.”
“I may have heard something through the grapevine.”