Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Gavin, and as a second moved by and he continued to stare at me, I wondered if he was feeling the same way.
He finally snapped out of the haze he was obviously in and cleared his throat, shutting the door behind him and making his way toward the small table. His body was huge and seemed to dwarf it, his shoulders broad, his body so muscular. He seemed far bigger now, far stronger. Maybe it was because I was older? Maybe he’d been working out?
The clerk started going on about the property, the rental agreement, terms, financial aspects of it. I could hear everything she was saying, but I wasn’t paying attention, couldn’t have repeated back a word she uttered. I was too nervous, too excited as I stared at Gavin.
Before I knew it, the clerk was passing over some papers for me to sign. I blinked back to reality, looked down at everything, and then glanced at the clerk. Shit, I’d been so focused on Gavin I didn’t know if she’d actually said anything important.
She gave me a small smile, and I wondered if she knew I hadn’t really been focused. “This is just the agreement we already talked about previously. Everything is written here,” she said and pointed to the areas in question. I looked down, saw the monthly rent, any expenses, repairs, all of that written in black-and-white. “And you just sign here if you’re in agreement.” She pointed to where I was supposed to jot down my signature.
I nodded and licked my lips, feeling Gavin’s focus on me the whole time. Once he finished signing, the clerk took the papers, put them in a manila envelope, and excused herself.
And then Gavin and I were left alone in the room. I probably should’ve gotten up and left too, but I was rooted to the spot, nervous and excited after seeing him after all these years. But my feelings were so strong, stronger than I ever remembered them being. And that’s how I knew it was real. What I felt for him was real.
What was he feeling in this moment as he looked at me? Did he feel that connection, that spark?
I swallowed again, wanting to say everything that had been on my mind for these four years, but the words failed me.
“Bailey,” he said deeply, and it sent shivers up my spine. “I’ve thought about you every day. Every fucking day since you left my cabin and were gone for the last four years.”
The air left me violently at his admission. “You did? You have?” My voice was nothing more than a strained whisper.
He nodded and this serious look crossed his face. “I shouldn’t have let you walk away all those years ago.”
“I didn’t want to leave,” I admitted. “I wanted to go back to you so many times, but I guess fear kept me away.” God, was this really happening?
“I wanted to find you so many times. I did, in fact, but found out you left for school. I told myself to let you be, to let you live your life. But inside, all I wanted to do was demand you to come home with me and be mine.”
This was surreal, as if I were having one of the hundred dreams I’d had of Gavin over the years, in which he said this exact same thing to me. But it wasn’t a dream. It was real, and it was incredible.
And I wouldn’t walk away again. Never again.
“I haven’t been with a man since you. No one interests me.” Here I went, admitting this and probably scaring the shit out of him. But the low sound he made almost seemed like one of… approval.
“No one’s touched you?”
I shook my head, his gruff voice having me clench my thighs together.
“It’s only you for me, Bailey. Only you for me.”
I wanted to reach out and touch him, to make sure he was really here, but instead I curled my hands into tight fists. Fate had made me rent a place he owned. Because what were the chances?
“Have dinner with me.”
I swallowed at his command, unsure how to respond. Dinner was the last thing on my gutter-mind.
“We can go out. You can pick the place.” God, he seemed so anxious to see me, and that made me feel incredible; it made me feel like he was right here with me emotionally. “Or come to my cabin and I’ll cook for you.” He sounded more desperate, and I knew it was because I had yet to say anything. “Bailey, I just want to see you, and I’m not above fucking begging for your time.”
My heart was thundering a mile a minute. “Gavin.” I whispered his name.
“I won’t take no for an answer.” He leaned forward and braced his forearms on the table, staring right in my eyes.