Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
I ran another hand through my hair, still not used to it, and walked to the pool’s edge to slip into the water.
The sound brought Maia MacLeod’s gorgeous face up as she drew to a halt mid-stroke.
Air seemed to fill my whole fucking chest as our eyes met.
This was what it felt like every time.
We swam together three times a week. We hung out whenever she could get away from that prick of a fiancé.
It had been almost two years since we’d met. And she still knocked me for six.
I pushed through the water toward her as she floated in the middle of the pool. Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, then widened when I drew to a stop in front of her.
“You cut your hair!” Her exclamation bounced around the tiled room. She winced. “Sorry. But you cut your hair.”
I’d never given a fuck about what anyone thought about my appearance. So, I’d cut off my hair on a whim last night, wanting a change, not thinking anything of it. Then I started to worry what Maia would think. One of the few compliments she’d ever paid me was that I had “gorgeous hair.”
It had been so long I had to wear it up all the time.
I’d had the barber lop most of it off, keeping it long enough that it still fell into my face. Belatedly, I realized I’d have to wear a headband now to keep it off my face at work.
I gave Maia a cocky grin I didn’t particularly feel. “Fucking awesome, eh? Feels light as a feather.” I shook my head like a dog at her, and she let out a peal of laughter I felt in my dick.
She placed a hand on my shoulder for stability as she reached up to draw her fingers through my hair. I held back my shudder, leaning into her without thought. My hand found her waist under the water, and my blood heated as I studied her while she wasn’t looking into my eyes.
Under the bright lights of the pool area, Maia’s irises were a striking violet. I’d never seen an eye color like hers. They stood out against her dark lashes, tan skin, and dark hair.
The first time I saw her, we were in a club. She was kind of like a cousin to my best mate Callan’s fiancée, and they’d bumped into each other that night. The lights flashed across Maia as she’d talked animatedly.
And it was like the dance floor fell away from beneath my feet.
I knew then that I’d met the one.
Don’t tell me how.
It was all gut instinct.
I’d lived my life on gut instinct, and it hadn’t steered me wrong.
Maia MacLeod was THE ONE.
Unfortunately, she was engaged to this financial prick arsehole wanker I’d like to suffocate with my goalie net.
Still, I trusted my gut. I pursued a friendship with Maia to see if my gut was right. And almost two years later, through hell to boot, here we were.
And I was in love with Maia MacLeod.
If I had to watch her marry that Will guy, it would break me more than the brain injury I’d suffered last season ever could.
“Well?” I gave her waist a squeeze, for once glad Maia wore a full bathing suit to swim in so I wouldn’t feel her soft, bare skin against my palm.
Her eyes met mine, and she smiled. “I like it. You look really handsome.”
My heart turned over in my chest. I grinned. “I think you mean I look sexy as fuck.”
Maia rolled her eyes and pushed away from me. “Are you here to swim or to preen?”
I spread my arms wide, deliberately showing off my cut physique. “I can do both!”
Maia’s gaze roamed over me for a second, and I tried not to let my cockiness show too much. Her fiancé worked out. But he was at least six inches shorter than me, so I made him look like a toothpick in comparison.
However, I also knew there wasn’t a vain bone in Maia MacLeod’s body. Some folk might think so because she was mind-blowingly stunning and she always looked good. But she’d shown me photos of her when she was a young teen with her big hair and nerdy glasses. I thought she was cute as fuck, but Maia said she got bullied a lot. I’d like to punch the wee bastards who messed with her head back then because they’d skewed Maia’s self-perception. Yet, I also knew they were the reason Maia didn’t put much stock in people’s appearance. If she liked you, it was because you were worth liking.
Maia liked me for me, just like I liked her for her.
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t remind her I was built like a brick shithouse and had stamina for days.
A tinge of red on the olive of her cheekbones was visible even from a distance. Maia quickly looked away and resumed her swim.