Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Charles nods at Jack and thanks him.
And that right there is another reason I’ve fallen for Jack. He’s not like the other guys here. He is hard and strong, and no one here doubts that, but he’s also compassionate and caring. A lot of these men are in prison because they’ve done really bad things. And yeah, Jack killed a guy, but he did it protecting a child that was being assaulted next to a park in Whiskey Run. He broke the law, and he hasn’t shown any remorse for what he’s done because he said if he had to do it again, he would. Who can really blame him for that?
I nod toward Jack. “Thank you for helping him. Now, Mike, what about you? Anything you want to talk about?”
The next few guys grumble through their confessions and complaints, and I take notes of things I can help them with. Before I know it, time is up, and I start to panic. Jack is about to walk out of here, and who knows if I’ll ever see him again. Do I want this to be my last encounter with him? Am I going to be able to just let him walk out the door without another word?
The thought makes me sick to my stomach, and as all the guys start to file out of the room, I step in front of Jack, putting distance between him and the guard. “Hey, Bradley, I’m going to go ahead and do Jack’s exit interview now, okay? I’ll just need around thirty minutes.”
Bradley is an older guard, and he’s taken it upon himself to look out for me. His wife sends in cakes and cookies to give to me at least once a week. Bradley leans his head back and looks up at Jack. “You going to give her any problems?”
Jack shakes his head. “No, sir.”
Bradley measures him with a look and nods his head. “Fine. I’ll be right here, Em—I mean Ms. Riles. You just say my name and I’ll be here.”
I nod, unable to hide my relief. It’s not much, but I have thirty more minutes with Jack, and it’s going to have to be enough. I’m going to have to commit everything he says and does to memory because I don’t want to forget anything about any of it, but mostly I don’t want to forget how he makes me feel.
Bradley steps outside of the room, and I grip the door and close it halfway. Without looking at Jack, I walk back toward my desk. The long skirt I have on feels tighter, and I know Jack is watching my ass move side to side as I go. I resist shaking my hips even though I want to. Even though this is inappropriate, I can at least put up a modicum of professionalism.
As I settle at my desk, Jack walks toward me. His gaze is penetrating, and I slide my thighs together, wanting the friction there.
“Have a seat,” I tell him breathlessly.
I point at the chair across the desk, but he grabs it and picks it up like it weighs nothing. I hold my breath as he carries it around the desk, sets it beside mine, and then settles his heavy frame into it.
It feels like something is lodged in my throat, but I mumble, “What are you doing?”
He turns toward me. He’s caged me in with his arms and thighs. His right arm is on the desk in front of us, his left arm is on the back of my chair. His left leg is behind me, and his right leg is pressed against my knees. I hold my breath because even though we’ve sat close before, this is closer; this is different.
He leans his head toward mine, and just for a second I wonder if he’s going to kiss me. His breath is hot on my cheek. He's that close. “I leave here tomorrow, Em. I have thirty minutes to breathe you in, and the only way to do that is to sit close to you.” His hand comes down on my thigh, and I jump. Not because I’m scared but because I wasn’t expecting his touch. “Please, let me have these thirty minutes touching you.”
My voice is shaky and filled with need. “We shouldn’t do this.”
CHAPTER 3
FELON
She’s right. We shouldn’t be doing this, and I shouldn’t be touching her. Maybe it’s the thought that I’m about to walk out of here and leave her unprotected. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve yearned for her since I first saw her, or maybe I just can’t hold back anymore, but I don’t move back, and I don’t remove my hand. “We shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t touch you. Do you want me to stop?”
She shakes her head side to side, and I grip her tighter.