Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I would never ask you to play second.”
“You don’t have a sister.”
“I’m glad to know I have done so well in keeping her hidden.” I watch as her demeanor shifts.
“You’re protecting her.”
“I’m allowing her to choose how much she wants to be involved not only in my life but also in the world I often operate in.”
“I understand this.” She gives a slight nod. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Same.”
“Yeah, sure. Same,” Bonte and Mac say from behind me. All of them are watching this play out.
“Can I see the MRI machine?” Mac asks.
“No,” Naomi answers before my sister can. I shift out of the doorway so that she can pass. I mean to let her, but my hand comes out, stopping her. I spread it across her stomach. She turns her head slightly and drops it back to meet my gaze. “What are you doing?”
“Only wanted to tell you that I’m glad you had a safe flight and that I missed you.” Her eyes search my face.
“You mean that.”
“I do.”
“Okay.” She nods at this; maybe the fight we’ve had is over. “You can kiss me again,” Naomi says. “That’s what lovers do when—” I don’t need further explanation. I lean down, pressing my mouth to hers.
The way her whole body softens as I pull her closer to me is addictive. When I slide my tongue across the seam of her lips and they part for me, I think I might have won the fight.
Not that I’d ever tell my sunshine that; we’re not there… yet.
Chapter Twelve
NAOMI
“It’s like we’re getting Cinderella ready for the ball.” Bonte is highly entertained by all of this, even if Eros did crash this trip. I’m surprised it took this long. It has also always been Mac, him, and me. I don’t want to push him out. He can’t help he was born with a dick.
He’s in the suite next door with kittens in tow. He dipped out when I started getting ready. As long as he doesn’t get in the way, I don’t care what he does. I have a new understanding for his obsession.
“I am not poor, but I do have two very annoying sisters.” I state.
“Ahh, did you hear that, Mac? She said we’re like sisters.”
“Do you really think this is okay?” I stare at myself in the mirror. I have worn dresses over the years here and there. Mostly for reconnaissance purposes. I would wear anything; even the black dress I had thrown on to go to the club was just a dress. I had no preference for any particular one. It was doing what it was supposed to be doing.
This one, however, I really like, which makes me think it can’t be cute. Cute, I want to be cute. Interesting.
“I could not pull it off, but you can,” Mac says. Bonte nods in agreement.
“It’s your frame,” Bonte encourages. “He did good.”
Paxton had sent it over when I had agreed to this evening, knowing I likely didn’t bring anything that would work. He was prepared. I’m not sure what it is about him picking out my clothing that works for me. I found it sweet. That he was thinking ahead. More than that, it feels as though I’m being taken care of. It’s intimate.
A date—it’s a first for me. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to having some feelings about it. Ones I’m not used to. Or maybe I am but in different ways. Never have I been excited or anticipated something when it had to do with romance before.
I’d been pissed when he’d asked, before I realized who the woman was to him. Then I’d thought about him going to this event alone. I didn’t much care for that either. Paxton is too handsome for everyone’s own good. It could really get a person killed.
I do a slight turn in the mirror.
When Bonte pulled this dress out of the garment bag, I thought there was a mix-up. It appeared to be a tuxedo jacket. I put it on, and then Bonte clipped the front closed and used some tape to ensure it stayed in place for the deep V design.
“It’s fucking hot.” Mac is no longer paying attention to her computer, so this must be true. I slip on the black heels, grateful that I have experience wearing them so I won’t look like an idiot or bust my ass.
“It has pockets,” I point out. Mom would love that. “Will you take a picture?” I ask.
“Really?” Bonte sounds surprised.
“She’ll send it to her mom,” Mac says before I can respond.
“It will make her smile.”
Bonte takes the picture for me before finishing up her final touches on my makeup. “Holy hell, I love this so much.”
“It is nice.” I agree with her.
“And the kiss, Nix would fall over and die if she witnessed it firsthand. I’m not even sure she’s going to believe how swoony it actually was.”