Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 152(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
“We’ll see. I’m not making any promises when it comes to you and your plans.” It’s time for me to turn this around. Besides, it was me who came up with the idea for this relationship to be fake. Hearing non-stop from your mom it was time to find a good woman and to settle down can grate on a man. Then, when your baby sister calls you, saying she’s met the man of her dreams and was married, there was no way I was coming home empty handed.
“I won’t be a dick the rest of this weekend. We’ll talk, since we’re getting off easy with the attention being on Leena. I’ll even apologize to you because I’ve been the biggest dick on earth.” Kelsey doesn’t know just how I’d really like to say I’m sorry, licking her clit while spelling the words out with my tongue. Fuck yeah, that’d be sweet, and we’d both get something out of it, her more than me.
“If your apology also comes in the form of beer and takeout?” I noticed Kels was nursing her glass of wine, the same one I grabbed for her when we first got here. Had I known she didn’t care for wine, I would have gotten her something else.
“You got it. Let’s go.” I start to pull her off the dance floor, but she’s holding firm in not moving.
“Deke, you can’t just leave. This has barely started. They haven’t even cut the cake.” Shit, not like it would be smart to walk in my condition either. That’s all I’d need my brothers to see, me walking off with a raging boner, pulling my date behind me.
“Son of a bitch, you’re right,” I admit. A blush creeps across her chest, spreading to her neck.
“Did you, Deacon Hart, just say those two words?” The only reason she’s here with me this weekend is because I helped her at a time no one else could. It pissed me off something fierce when I walked out of the small diner and saw her cornered by what I now know is Kelsey’s ex. It wasn’t a good situation, but instead of beating the dick’s ass, I slid my arm around her shoulder, pulled her into me before whispering into her ear to go with the flow. She relaxed even though she didn’t know shit about me. When it was all said and done, Kels thanked me, told me she owed me, and we exchanged numbers. I didn’t think I’d have to cash in on that favor until I got that call from Leena.
“You probably won’t ever hear them again. Come on, let’s say our goodbyes. I love my little sister, but I’m okay with not seeing her husband shove his tongue in her mouth.” A wave of disgust works its way through my body, clearly visible because Kelsey is trying to hide her laughter in my dress shirt. In another world, I could see myself with someone like the fiery woman in my arms, but that’s not happening. The last time I gave a girl my heart, she shit all over it in the worst way possible.
CHAPTER THREE
kelsey
“Well, that was fun.” We skated by. I could see the sadness seep into Mrs. Hart’s eyes. That’s when I told her my stomach wasn’t feeling good and I’d really love to be able to make it to brunch tomorrow, where it was more of a one-on-one setting. The Hart family is big, but the friends they invited along to the reception, well, it made it even bigger and harder to spend time together. Everyone was being pulled in one direction or the other. At one time, Deke was being asked a business question after we stepped off the dance floor, prolonging us from leaving. It worked in the long run because Mrs. Hart smiled and pulled me in for a hug, which also made me feel like the biggest jerk in all of Florida with this ruse of a relationship.
“The sarcasm dripping from your voice tells me otherwise.” When we made it back to Deke’s condo, he brought my bag into his bedroom. Yep, you guessed it. His place is a studio-style condo with a complete open floor plan minus the bathroom. The vibe is masculine with a sparseness that I’m not sure is what Deke is going for or if he can’t be bothered. Or maybe he just bought the place for the view, considering it’s right on the beach.
“Have you met me? If not, let me introduce to you all of me, sarcasm, sass, and smartass all rolled into one.” Deke gave me the bathroom when we got back. My feet were screaming to ditch the heels, and I needed to change into clothes that don’t require me to worry about my nipples being on full display. Though if Deke keeps his air conditioning at the level it is now, he may find me sleeping out here on his balcony.