Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
She pushes my hair over my shoulders. “You don’t have to go through with it if you don’t want to. Everyone will understand.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want an out. And that’s not just the margaritas talking,” I whisper. “I think…I like him? We’re so similar. We both have damage from people who were supposed to love us.” My words are stumbling over each other. Sometimes I feel like I’m made of Swiss cheese. I take her hands. “I don’t know if I’ll ever really find the kind of love you have, Lexi. This might be my only chance, and selfishly, I want it. I want the fairy tale, even if it isn’t real, even if it comes with a wicked mother-in-law, and even if it means I marry the hockey world’s misunderstood villain.”
“We’re all someone’s villain,” she replies. “Maybe you get to be his angel.”
“I would like that.”
When we return to the table, Tally is talking about going to a nightclub, but that’s never been my scene. I can only handle so much before I’m on sensory overload. There’s too much contact with people I don’t know, too many unknowns. So when we head out, I thank my friends for a fantastic night and take a car to Grace Manor.
Connor meets me at the front door. He’s dressed in black joggers and a black T-shirt, the art on his arms on display.
I blink at him. “Did you wait up for me?”
“My sisters texted. So did Lexi and Flip.”
“Flip texted you?” I press a hand to his chest and kick my heels off, groaning at the relief.
“To tell me you were coming home, and that there were no shots, but you’re a lightweight.”
I nod vigorously. “I am such a lightweight.”
“Let me carry you to bed, darling.” He dips down and tucks an arm behind my knees and another behind my back, sweeping me off my feet.
I loop my arms around his neck as he steps into the elevator, and press my face into his warm skin and inhale.
“Are you sniffing me?”
“Maybe.” He smells like sandalwood and citrus, with a hint of mint.
A few moments later, he steps off the elevator, but as he approaches my door I murmur, “Your room.”
He halts.
I lift my head and meet his wary gaze. “I want to stay with you tonight.”
His jaw clenches and releases. “I won’t touch you when you’re drunk, Mildred.”
“You’re touching me now.”
“You know what I mean.” His fingers flex.
“I’m not asking for sex. I just want closeness.”
“Why?”
I sigh, suddenly feeling the weight of everything. “Let me pretend this is real. Just for tonight. Please.”
He regards me with impassive eyes before he presses his lips to my temple. “Okay.”
A single lamp illuminates his bed. But it smells like him, feels like him—dark and broody, a mystery I want to solve. He carries me to his bed and carefully sets me on the satin comforter.
His gaze roves over me, nostrils flaring. “Let me get your pajamas.”
“I’ll take the shirt you’re wearing.”
“Mildred.” His eyes darken.
I grin. “Connor.” I pull my dress over my head.
“You’re a Dredful menace.” But he looks up at the ceiling and removes his shirt, tossing it on the bed. “Tell me when you’re decent.”
I unclasp my bra, letting it fall. Then thread my arms through the sleeves and pull the shirt over my head. It’s soft and smells like him. “I’m decent.”
His eyes drop, and he sucks in his bottom lip, exhaling harshly. He reaches behind me and pulls the covers back. “Under you go.”
I slide up the bed, settling against the pillows as he pulls the covers over me, then moves around to the other side and climbs in. It’s a massive king. There are two feet of satin sheets separating us.
But just like I’d hoped, he stretches out his arm, inviting me in. I slide over to nestle into his side. The light clicks off. I throw my leg over his and settle my palm on his stomach.
“Mildred.”
“You’re warm.” It feels safer in the dark with him, where he can’t see all the things I want in my eyes. “Don’t worry. I won’t be more of a menace than you can handle.”
He sighs and moves my hand to his chest, thumb brushing over the bracelets. “Can I take these off for you, darling?”
“Okay.” He can’t see what’s hiding underneath.
He carefully removes them, one by one, setting them on the nightstand.
“Tell me what you want again,” I whisper.
He presses his lips to my forehead, and I sigh.
“That sweet sound.”
I kiss the edge of his jaw. “What else?”
“You here, like you are right now.”
I nuzzle closer, lips on his cheek. “What else?”
“To play board games with you every night when I don’t have an away series.”
“We can do that.” I cup his cheek and turn his head toward me. “Anything else?”