Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“Yeah, he works for CJ Steele Construction, the company that refurbishes houses in the Old North End neighborhood—the ones I’ve been lusting after? But you know what I mean. He’s not a doctor or lawyer.”
“You’re not even making sense. When did you ever want a doctor or lawyer?”
“That’s the point!” she wailed. Usually Ashley understood her better than this. “It’s not what I want, but it’s what I should want. I’m done with bad boys and Cody is definitely a bad boy.”
“Hmph,” Ashley sniffed. “Well, I don’t believe you, but it sounds like you need some time and space to figure out what you want next, and you’re just getting out of a relationship, so don’t rush. If Cody won’t have sex with you, that’s probably a good thing. You know you’re way too loyal to people you’ve bonded with.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m not criticizing. It’s what makes you an amazing friend and a perfect sister. It’s what will make you the best girlfriend for the guy who doesn’t take advantage of you.”
“If that guy exists,” she said sourly.
“He exists,” Ashley murmured and Melissa heard the depth of her love for Ben. A pang of guilt over calling during their honeymoon made her forget her own dramas.
“Hey, get back to your groom. Your alpha wolf. Does he still bite you?”
Ashley laughed. “No, once he marked me he had more control.”
“Good to know. Not that I’m going to be getting marked or anything. Have fun. Give him a killer blowjob today, okay?”
Ashley laughed. “He’ll thank you for that suggestion. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she said softly and hung up.
Cody came home that afternoon to find Melissa sitting on the couch with the Chromebook propped on her legs, looking adorably studious. He’d rushed through his tasks for the day, not wanting to leave her alone too long.
Or maybe it was the fact that her scent still lingered on his clothes, the vision of her, glorious and naked, trying to tug him into the shower that morning kept replaying in his mind until he could scarcely think.
She didn’t look up immediately, but her cheeks colored, and he knew she was remembering what he’d done to her that morning. He smirked.
“Hey, baby. No special outfit to greet me today?”
She pursed her lips in what must be her attempt at prudish, but actually made her look even more sex-kitten. “That got me in trouble, if I recall.”
He sauntered toward her, his cock already stiffening at the memory. “And I seem to recall you enjoyed your punishment. Quite a bit.”
Her lips twitched, but she continued to play at ignoring him, clicking away on the computer.
The burner phone he’d bought her rang.
“I forwarded the calls from my old phone to this number,” she explained as she picked it up. “This is Melissa.” The blood drained from her face. “I don’t know where he is,” she croaked into the phone.
He rushed to her side and put his ear next to hers.
“You tell him Junior Rabago is looking for him, and I want my money back. He has until Friday to produce it.”
“How much money does he owe you?”
“Fourteen grand, plus interest. I need it paid in full or you and your boy both die. Don’t think I can’t find you.” He hung up.
Melissa drew a long, shaky breath. “Well… at least I know how to get a hold of him now, if we do use Ben’s money to pay him off.”
“We’re paying him off. The sooner the better. We need to get this guy off your back and out of your life.”
“Do you think it will get him off Jeremy’s back too?”
He glowered, hating that she mentioned the asshole. “Only if he’s part of the delivery,” he opined.
Her hand shook as she looked at the phone in her hand. “I talked to Ashley today and Ben said he could have the money transferred straight to your account, if you give him the routing and account number.”
“I’ll text it now.” He moved away from her, no longer able to stay so close without shoving her onto her back and having his way with her.
She returned her focus to the Chromebook and her brow furrowed. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed, smacking her forehead. She tossed the Chromebook down on the sofa and jumped to her feet. “Oh crap, oh shit, crap shit crap!” She paced a rapid circle around his living room, shaking her fists in various directions.
“What? What is it?”
She whirled on him. “I forgot my little’s birthday.”
He stared at her. What in the hell was she freaking out about? “Your what?”
“My little. I’m in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. I was supposed to have a date with my little to celebrate her birthday last night. With everything that’s going on, I totally forgot. She probably tried to call my phone but of course I don’t have it—it’s probably dead by now. I feel like such a schmuck.”