Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
At best, I ignored the blood, took over-the-counter meds for the pain, and hid the fear from her. I also hid the bruises with makeup and wore a full wet suit to cover other bruises while surfing.
During that month, I also saw very little of Slade Wylder. I didn’t look for him in class or go to my favorite tree to nap. I allowed myself no more than a two-second glance when passing his house.
Truth?
I missed Jericho. And I missed Wylder.
But clearly … he didn’t miss me.
For Halloween, Aubrey did the unthinkable—she had a party at her house. Well, her parents’ house. I think it had something to do with the news that her parents were getting a divorce. She didn’t take it so well, said she hated both of them.
I’d come to learn that there were two kinds of people in the world: those who lived for Halloween and those who didn’t even set out a bowl of candy if they weren’t home. I fell into the love Halloween category.
“Whoa …” Kara’s jaw dropped as I strutted down the stairs in my sexy SWAT costume—black onesie with a built-in pushup bra that gave the impression that I had a lot more cleavage than I actually did, garters, fishnet stockings, black combat boots, and a black hat with SWAT in white. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and I felt pretty badass.
It was my silent statement that I could be both sexy and tough.
“Let’s just hope a few available options from the opposite sex show up to the party.” I rubbed my glossed lips together and wrinkled my nose at the pumpkin spice overkill. Aubrey didn’t want any candles lit, but she wanted the smell, so she bought a gazillion bowls of pumpkin spice potpourri and air spray.
“Still haven’t had sex?” Kara adjusted her seductive skeleton leotard.
“No.” I frowned. “I may never have sex again.”
“I think you stand a really good chance of it tonight.”
I laughed. “If this doesn’t work, I’ll know I’m simply broken.”
An hour later, the party was in full swing with body odor, perfume, and possibly some pot competing with the pumpkin spice. And it was hot in the house.
Sticky, gross hot.
There were easily just as many men as women. My chances of having sex seemed good. Sadly … the pool of viable options dwindled as the party dipped into the early morning hours. Everyone seemed to be coupling, except me. Missy suggested I have a drink. She thought guys were intimidated by my costume and my sobriety.
I didn’t drink. Not for special occasions and not to get laid. When I discovered my room and bed were taken, I escaped the house for some fresh two-in-the-morning air. Plunking my ass into the hammock Aubrey put in the front yard for her spiderweb display, I closed my eyes, and it swayed gently side to side. At some point, I fell asleep.
A cold, wet nose woke me up. It was dark, and I felt certain from the hum of the music, my bedroom was still being used for a bone fest.
“Jerry …” I sat up, nearly falling out of the hammock onto my ass as I rubbed my eyes. “What are you doing?” Then it happened, I fell onto my ass. “Oof!” I laughed a little as he licked me. “I’ve missed you. Where is he? Is he injured again? Is that why you’re here?”
Climbing to my feet, I straightened my hat and messy ponytail. “Let’s take you home and see what’s up.”
I followed him to the back door of the firehouse, not expecting to have those eyes render me motionless and speechless the second I stepped into the kitchen. Slade glanced up from the table and his laptop.
“Hi,” I whispered, suddenly overwhelmed with nervousness and vulnerability. My costume might have had something to do with the vulnerability part.
His tongue swept across his bottom lip as his weary gaze managed to find enough strength to check out my entire getup. “Hey,” he responded softly when our eyes met again. “Nice costume.”
I gave him a shy smile, adjusting the top of my onesie, but it wouldn’t cover another inch of my breasts. That seemed to be the point when I picked out the costume. However, with fully dressed Slade’s intense gaze all over me, I wished it gave me a little more coverage. “Thanks.”
I folded my hands near my chest, using my arms to cover some bare skin. The AC and lack of bodies made his kitchen feel twenty degrees cooler. The lack of pumpkin spice and sweat delivered a nice breath to my senses.
“I uh … just wanted to make sure you were okay since Jericho showed up at my house.”
He studied me a bit more. “He was making sure nothing happened to you while you were sleeping alone in your front yard wearing…” he gave a slight nod toward me “…that.”