Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Then I froze when I felt the presence encroach from behind.
Obliterating.
Decimating.
A shockwave of intensity that slicked across my skin.
A wave of disorder.
A tremble of that thing that had pulled between us since the moment I’d met him. That thing that I had to eradicate.
There was no chance in hell I would survive staying under his roof for four weeks while he made me feel this way.
Toiling in contradiction.
Stewing in a conflict that boiled in the darkest corners of my being.
The disgust up against the attraction that had sunk the sharpest claws deep into my psyche.
“Mornin’,” Kane rumbled.
The rough scrape of his voice skated over me like the skimming of his hands.
God.
This was a nightmare.
Maci squirmed, urging me to set her onto her feet. “Good mornin’, Mr. Kane! I didn’t even know that I got to come stay at your house, but when I woke up, my auntie said that we get to, and I fink you had a super good idea because I don’t got my old house anymore.”
My hands darted out to the roof of the car to support myself, and Maci wiggled around my legs to get to him.
I felt him stall, a stir of potency as he processed what she said, before I could feel the shift, sense that he was kneeling in front of her. “I think it’s a good idea, too. I think you’re going to like it here a whole lot.”
“I definitely like your house a whole lot! I fink it’s a princess castle.”
A low chuckle rolled out of him. “Well, I guess it is now since you’ll be staying here.”
I finally forced myself to turn around, eyes catching on the way his index finger that was tatted with a skull gently touched her chin as he peered at her before that powerful gaze slanted up to clash with mine.
A thousand unsaid words in his eyes.
I refused them, gulping hard as I set my hand on Maci’s shoulder. “We should probably get our things so Grammy doesn’t miss her flight.”
A flight all three of us were supposed to be taking.
Kane pushed to standing, and Maci grabbed his hand and started to haul him toward the rear of the car where my mom was already waiting. “Did you know I got really special fings in my special bag, Mr. Kane?”
He followed her without reserve. “I didn’t know that, but I can’t wait to see what you brought.”
“Well, I gotta have my bwankie because it’s the softest and my mommy gave it to me when I was only a tiny baby.” Maci chattered it as she hopped along at his side.
“You definitely need that,” he agreed, casting me a sympathetic glance.
My chest nearly caved.
Why did he have to look at me like that?
Like he freaking cared?
I didn’t want to receive it. But it swelled around me like a caress.
“Well, I gotta keep it forever.”
“That sounds like a plan, Angel Face. We’ll definitely make sure we do that.”
We.
Forever.
The two of them.
I bit down on my bottom lip to stop the flailing of my emotions, and I moved around to the trunk and ducked in so I could grab my suitcase.
Kane nudged me out of the way, his big body too close to mine. “I’ve got it.”
“I can carry my own bag.” I couldn’t keep the spite from my voice.
“I’m sure you can,” he grunted as he pulled it out. “But why would you want to go and do that when you have me to do it for you?”
He said it like he was the one at my feet.
Like I had a modicum of control when he’d crushed it with a single strike of his heel.
He set my suitcase on the ground beside him then leaned in to grab Maci’s duffel with the cartoon print. “And I’m assuming this belongs to you?”
Maci jumped, clapping her hands overhead. “How did you even know?”
Soft laughter drifted out of him as he tossed the strap over his shoulder. “Just had a hunch.”
“Well, you got a good hunch because you’re right.”
Breaths choppy, I leaned in and grabbed my laptop case and overnight bag before I straightened, fisting the straps of both in either hand, trying to breathe deep enough that I could get myself together.
Four weeks.
I had four weeks.
And then what?
She and I would come to our end?
Panic threatened to drop me to my knees.
Mom was suddenly there, shifting me around and pulling me two steps away from where Kane and Maci stood, her arms wrapped fiercely around me as she whispered, “You can do this, Emery. I know it’s difficult…painfully difficult…because I’m having the hardest time forcing myself to leave right now. But give him a chance. He might be exactly what she needs.”
“Or the absolute worst thing that could happen to her.” I gasped it as I clutched her to me.