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)
My heart ravaged at my chest, and my ribs stretched to the point of cracking. “You know I have to leave.”
Kane vacillated before he somehow dragged me tighter, his fingers on the other side of my cheek winding up in my hair. Inching back a fraction, he brought his nose to mine as he stared down at me.
Emerald sparked and the golden flecks glowed.
“And maybe you thinking you have to go is just an excuse for you running. For the war you think you have to fight.”
“All clean! Let’s eat, Mr. Kane!” Maci shouted it as she came bounding back into the kitchen with her arms thrown above her head.
He pulled away, all grins again, as if the severity hadn’t transpired between us.
Kane reached out and tugged at my hand. “Come on, Little Warrior, let’s eat.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can go.”
“You’ve completely upended your life since we came to stay here. I can go to the grocery store, Kane.” I tossed my cell into my purse where I’d left it on the entryway table.
“That was the whole point of inviting you here. Upending my life.” Kane’s words rushed me from where he was standing on the third step of the staircase, hand on the railing as he gazed down at me.
A wicked king ruling his lair. A sweet, gentle soul who’d never committed a crime. I couldn’t tell anymore.
Wearing a fitted tee, colorful designs rolling out from the sleeves and exposing the power that shouted from the bristling muscles underneath. Worn jeans that still appeared expensive.
Feet bare.
Casually cool and completely ruthless.
Enthralling.
Captivating.
What I needed was some space from it before I completely succumbed to his unabashed stares and brazen touches.
To his hands and his body and the weight of his eyes.
Before it was too late, and I became his.
I should go.
Permanently.
I knew that Maci was safe and loved, so what was the point of my staying here?
Every molecule in my body revolted against the idea.
I could rationalize my staying here since he hadn’t even told her who he was yet, and she thought we were merely staying here for a while because he was my friend, not because this was her home.
Though we’d been using that terminology more and more.
Home. Home. Home.
Whispering of its permanence so it would be embedded in her psyche.
But I’d be a liar if I said it was the only reason.
“Stay with Maci. I’m sure she would be happy to swindle you into playing memory or something of the sort.”
A rough chuckle escaped him. “Doesn’t take too much convincing.”
No, it didn’t.
Because he was an amazing father.
A natural.
I’d accepted it.
I dipped my chin, needing to get out of there before staring at him convinced me of something else.
“Good. It will give you two some time alone.”
“Think I can speak for both of us when I say we like it better when you’re with us.”
Another flush.
I swore, the man could set me aflame with a glance.
“Be careful,” he said when I didn’t respond.
“I will.” I pulled the door open and hurried out to the SUV sitting in front of the porch. The same expensive SUV we’d taken to River and Charleigh’s yesterday that Kane had insisted was mine for as long as I stayed here.
I clicked the fob to unlock it and slid into the driver’s seat. I pushed the button to start it and the engine purred to life.
I backed out, tires crunching on the gravel as I turned around in the circular drive and started down the dirt lane.
Rays of afternoon sunlight slanted through the leaves of the statuesque trees, sending flickering shadows across the windshield as I traveled beneath their shade.
I wound through the dense foliage, heading toward the main road that would lead into town.
I didn’t know what it was. What caused my attention to jerk to the left. But I caught a glimpse of something metallic glinting between the trees.
Slowing, I peered deeper into the woods as the hair at the nape of my neck lifted.
Spikes of awareness prickled through my consciousness.
That same sickly feeling I’d gotten for months gliding through my senses.
Paranoia fluttering along the fringes of my being.
God, why was I doing this?
Conjuring things?
I shook it off and accelerated.
It was time I stopped being ridiculous. Time I stopped allowing the beasts to rule my heart.
To rule my mind.
To rule my body.
It was time to allow myself to heal.
Face it.
Acknowledge it.
Put it all out in the open if that’s what it took.
Inhaling a cleansing breath, I hit the main road and drove through the quaint town of Moonlit Ridge.
Its pace slowed. An easiness billowing through people who strolled along the sidewalks in front of the trendy businesses that lined Culberry Street.
I took a right at Broadway then made a left onto 9th.
Affection rippled through me as I passed by Moonflower Floral Shop. Still unable to believe the young woman who’d made such an impact when we’d met her in front of her store would become such a fundamental part of Maci’s life.