Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Of course, Nick came to my party. I hadn’t seen much of him for almost an entire year because he was so busy. Sure, he came to Mark Townsend’s holiday party way back when, but he didn’t even stay. The alpha male merely showed up that night, said his hellos, and then disappeared. Maybe Nick got called back to the hospital for an emergency. I don’t know.
But I was excited that my stepbrother was coming to my party. He arrived a little late, but I could sense his presence as soon as he walked through the door. There was a vibration in the air, and despite the living room being crowded with people, I somehow knew that he was here. I turned, and sure enough, the huge man was staring right at me. That cobalt gaze met mine from across the room, and the air between us sizzled. The music faded away, other people seemed to disappear into the mist, and it was just me and him. We connected, and my insides grew moist and quivery while staring back at him.
But then Milly tugged at my arm and giggled.
“Yo, I think Brandon Rivers likes you,” my sister whispered in my ear. “He keeps asking all these questions about you, like what you’re going to do after high school, and whether you’re single.”
The truth is that at that point, I’d never had a boyfriend before. Sure, there were guys interested in me after I blossomed, but I still remembered their cruel comments when I was a stick-figure with coke-bottle glasses. Those boys were downright mean back then, and I have the memory of an elephant. Maybe their taunts were years ago, but I still remembered and resented them for it.
But Nick never made any such comments. It’s partially because he wasn’t around much, seeing that he’s ten years older and already out of the house. But something changed in the time since I was a kid, and while nothing ever happened between us, I could feel the shift in the air. I could feel the heat in that blue gaze at the occasional family dinner, and I could sense my stepbrother’s appreciation of my curvy figure, even if I never actually caught him looking at me.
But nothing happened between us, and I put these dirty thoughts from my mind. After all, what’s a girl to do? Nick’s a busy man who has women throwing themselves at him left and right. He’s tall, dark, and forbidding, with a sculpted physique and penetrating blue eyes. He’s a doctor too, so he literally saves lives in the ER. What more could a woman ask for? Of course, everyone and their mother was ready to drop their panties.
But as soon as my stepbrother made an entrance at the birthday party, I knew something was different this time. I could feel it. Usually, Nick’s blue gaze would glance over me casually, before moving onto something else. Usually, he’d turn away and greet other folks as they welcomed him home from medical school.
But when he arrived at my party that evening, he saw me and his eyes didn’t drop. That blue gaze held mine and locked. Not only that, but for the first time, my stepbrother let his eyes sear my curves, openly appraising my big breasts, narrow waist, and long legs. Then, he let his gaze run hungrily back up my figure to meet my startled expression before a smile appeared on that mobile mouth.
Of course, I behaved like a blubbering idiot, even from across the room.
“Nick,” I whispered under my breath, my nipples taut as my insides melted. “Hi. You came.”
But Milly merely leaned forwards.
“What did you say? Oh Nick!” she said, whirling around to catch sight of her brother. “Oh, he’s here! Let me go say hi real quick. I’ll be right back, Kris.”
Then, my little sister scampered away before throwing herself at our brother for a giant bear hug. Meanwhile, I wrenched my eyes away as I struggled for oxygen. He’s here! Nick’s at my party. Oh my god, oh my god, what do I do?
But the answer was clear because nothing happened. I continued to circulate, chatting with guests, and so did he. I saw him talking with long lost friends from high school, our neighbors from across the street, and even old Mrs. Lazarus from the next block with the cat that yowls at night. Nick was unfailingly polite, and smiled and nodded at all the right times from what I could tell. His gaze never faltered from Mrs. Lazarus’s wizened facade, and he seemed to not notice me. Had I been dreaming? Did I make our sizzling connection up in my head? Slowly, my hopes ebbed.
Of course you imagined it, my subconscious scolds. You’ve been in love with this man since you were a pre-teen. He’s more like a rock star than a real prospect who might be interested in you, Kristie. The spark was just figment of your imagination.