Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I shake my head in vehemence. “You’re better than that dickhead. Don’t let him scare you off. This town needs those condos. Have you seen the shithole that’s old condo row? Plus, if you don’t build them, I’ll be forced to live with my sister forever and watch her parade her boyfriends through there. Throw me a bone.”
“Sure, let me base all my business decisions to suit your needs.” He chuckles. “My attorney is flying up here soon. Maybe he’ll have better options for me because I’m completely out of them.”
“Another round, boys?” Kian chirps, bouncing up to our table, his customer service grin affixed. I don’t miss the slight edge in his tone, though. The guy doesn’t like me because he clearly has a sixth sense about my seeing his ex.
“We’d like that,” Rhett says to him. “Have anything a little more sophisticated than the house wine?”
While they discuss different wine options, I check my phone. Sure enough, I have a missed text from Jax. After last night, the moment was too intense. I needed space. But, now that I’ve had it, I want to see him again.
To get laid and only laid.
At least that’s what I tell myself.
It’s not because I want to kiss his full, pink lips or watch the way they curl into a smile when he sees me or the way his eyes flash with hunger whenever I’m near.
Just sex.
Jax: Can I see you?
Me: I don’t know, can you?
I take a picture of my hand around my wineglass. He’s smart and will figure out where I’m at.
Kian says something sassy to Rhett that has him cracking up and drawing my attention. As soon as Kian walks away, he shakes his head.
“What’d I miss?” I lift a brow at him as I pocket my phone.
“Me schooling the millennial on good wine.” His grin is wolfish. “He wasn’t pleased.”
“Always causing trouble in this town?”
“Always.” He turns serious, his brows furrowing. “What’s going on with you? You’re here, but you’re not. Something’s bothering you.”
I rub at the back of my neck and shrug. “Just trying to get shit done at the B&B.”
“It’s more than that. I’m not an idiot.”
Leaning forward, I keep my voice low. “Guy problems.”
“Do tell. You know I’m always curious about your love life. It helps keep my mind off the fact I don’t have one.”
We both laugh. Kian drops off a couple more glasses of wine but rushes off to help another customer, which is fine by me. I don’t care much about getting chatty with my guy’s ex.
My guy.
Fuck. He’s not my guy.
“That’s the face again,” Rhett says, eyeing me over his glass. “You’re practically in pain. Whose ass do I gotta kick?”
“It’s nothing now,” I grunt out, the lie bitter on my tongue. It’s always been a whole lot more than nothing, which makes it all the more frustrating and confusing. “I really liked a guy, but he was in the closet. So far in he’s never coming out. It was fun for a short while. I’m not looking for anything long-term anyway.”
Rhett lets out a huff. “You know I don’t believe that bullshit, right? Everyone’s looking for that someone. I think you’re just trying to convince yourself you’re not. As though it’ll soften the blow somehow.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I admit before taking a gulp of my wine so I can continue, “but even if I did want something long-term with him, it wouldn’t happen. I know where we stand—where we’ll always stand. And that’s hidden in the shadows. It’s just not who I am. The secret fooling around was fun at first. Now I just hate it. I promised a weekend, not a whole damn month.”
“Listen,” Rhett says, leaning in to clutch my shoulder, “you got a bad egg, is all. You deserve to be with someone who’s not going to hide you. But do us both a favor and stop trying to pretend you’re not looking for a long-term companion. You’re catching up to me in years, buddy, and trust me, it sucks to be forty damn years old and alone.” Rhett’s eyes lift and widen as he looks over my shoulder. “Oh, fucking hell. Gary’s gone and done it now. The sheriff is on his way over here and he looks like he’s going to kill me.”
Heat sears down my spine, splintering at my groin and making me tense up. Within seconds, Jax’s formidable presence burns into me from behind.
“Whatever Gary said was bullshit,” Rhett says, holding up both hands like he’s innocent. “And he can talk to my damn lawyer in person because he’s making a special trip here from New York to assist me.”
“You’re Adrian?” Jax asks, his deep voice rumbling through my every nerve ending.
“Nope. Wrong guy. Thank God,” Rhett groans.
I twist around to face the surly sheriff, pleased to see how fucking hot he is when he’s jealous. That’s exactly what this is.