Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
I value his opinion more than most men because he’s loved and lost. Draven’s wife passed away a few years ago, so he’s been a single dad since. We don’t talk about women often, but from the bits and pieces he has let slip, he’s held the same view of relationships as I have. One night of fun doesn’t have to lead to a lifelong connection.
Until it does.
Opal is different. She’s fucking magnificent, and I want her.
The problem is, I don’t know if she wants me. Judging by what happened earlier at the bistro, I’m inclined to think no, but there’s always tomorrow, and at nine a.m. sharp, I’ll shoot my shot to get more time with the woman who has invaded my thoughts since I first met her.
The morning sun is shining down on me as I approach Turquoise Crown. I spot a vision coming toward me in the opposite direction. I don’t know how it’s possible, but Opal is more beautiful every time I see her.
I’m not the only one who appreciates how stunning she is.
The guy walking behind her can’t tear his gaze away from Opal’s ass. I can’t fault him for that. I’ve seen her perfect pear-shaped ass in a pair of jeans, and it is always a pleasure, and by that, I mean my cock always reacts. The guy currently staring at her ass is this close to rubbing his hand over the front of his baggy slacks. Grazing your dick in public, even if it’s through some cheap material, is never okay.
“Hey, sir!” I yell in his direction. “Watch where you’re going!”
By some miracle, he realizes I’m talking to him because his head snaps up just as he’s about to crash into a kid on a skateboard haphazardly darting around him. The crotch-grabbing guy shoots me a look that is all ‘go to fucking hell’, but all he gets back from me in response is a grin.
Once he veers off to duck into a store, I glance at Opal again.
She’s got her hair pinned up in a messy bun. She’s paired the jeans with a tight red T-shirt and black boots with heels. She exudes effortless sexiness in a way I’ve never witnessed before.
Her lips glide into a soft smile when she spots what I’m holding. I swear her steps quicken as she nears me. I’m all in for that, so I take a few steps in her direction to meet her halfway.
“William.” My name comes out of her in a tone that’s barely more than a whisper. “You didn’t have to do that. You’ve done enough.”
I almost bark out a laugh because she’s as wrong as wrong can be. If I spend every day for the rest of my life doing things that put a smile on her face, it still will never be enough.
“I noticed a few roses were missing from the vase last night,” I say. “I thought the remaining ones needed some company.”
Her gaze shifts from my face to the dozen white roses I picked up on my way here. I did that before I went to the coffee shop to grab her an orange tea, so Chelsie had a host of questions that I expertly diverted.
“I gave Posey and Malvie some,” she confesses, her hand jumping to tap her chin. “They thought they were so beautiful, and…”
“And you’re incredibly generous,” I interrupt to offer an explanation that saves her from telling me she gave away the flowers I bought her.
I love that she did. I love knowing she wanted to put a smile on the faces of two women who are important to her.
“Let’s get these inside,” I suggest. “You can see what a great job Draven and his crew did last night.”
“You helped.” She stops me from moving by gently resting her hand on my forearm. “How late did you end up staying?”
If I tell her I was here until six a.m. before I went home to shower and eat breakfast, that won’t keep the lingering smile on her face, so I avoid the question by shifting the subject from me to her. “Did you eat breakfast yet? I can order something in for you.”
Her smile widens. “I ate, but thank you.”
I feel instantly bereft when her hand drops from my arm. Her gaze wanders to her bar before she darts around me to head straight for the door.
44
Opal
William is not making it easy for me. I want to avoid him, or at least I think I want to. Regardless of what I want, I need to avoid him. My heart is begging me to, even though other parts of me want nothing more than to be as close to him as possible.
“You’ll need these to get in,” William says from behind me with the unmistakable sound of keys jingling.