Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
I get out of my car and approach, slow and steady, trying not to limp as much as I am. “That’s a nice bike,” I say, nodding to the Harley he is leaning against.
"I don’t skimp,” he says, a smile breaking over his face.
God, he’s beautiful.
I bite my lip. The silence hovers between us, almost soft. He doesn’t bother stepping away from the bike, just tips his head to the side and watches, like he’s still deciding whether I’m real.
“You cut your hair,” I say, stupidly. But it’s better than standing here in silence.
I’ve never been so nervous in my life.
He runs a hand through the shorter locks. “Told you I would.”
I swallow, hard. I remember his hands in my hair, gentler than anyone ever was, maybe even more gentle than I deserved. “Looks good,” I say, meeting his gaze.
He lifts his chin, those eyes dragging over my face, my hands, then down to my feet. He definitely notices the limp and he offers, “You want to sit down?” He gestures at the curb beside his bike. “They got benches.”
I hesitate only because Gage would lose his shit if he saw me parked on my ass in public. I nod eventually, and we sit at the bench just in front of his bike. He sits beside me, and my breath catches. Being next to Kael is like standing on the edge of a precipice, thrilling and terrifying all at once. His presence is magnetic, drawing me in despite the chaos it stirs within me. The air feels charged, every nerve in my body acutely aware of his proximity.
My heart races, each beat echoing the unspoken tension between us. It’s as if the world narrows down to this moment, the space between us filled with possibilities and unspoken words. I can feel the warmth radiating from him, a comforting presence that contrasts with the turmoil inside me. My breath gets stuck in my lungs, a mix of anticipation and fear, as if I’m waiting for something to happen, something that could change everything.
“So, what now?” I ask, staring out at the road. The 7-11 is deserted except for a minivan and some old guy standing on the sidewalk talking on the phone.
He’s quiet a long time, then he says, “What happened to you don’t sit right with me. I want to help.”
“Not sure that’s a good idea,” I say, inhaling and wincing as the pain radiates.
He shifts, pulling a flask from his jacket, unscrews it, and holds it out. “You look like you need it.”
I laugh weakly. “I’m already full of antibiotics and painkillers.”
He chuckles. “I bet.”
He shoots it back then tucks it away.
“I want to find who did this to you,” he continues. “They don’t deserve to breathe another fuckin’ second.”
“Why?” I manage after a long moment. “You don’t even know me.”
He tilts his head. “Somethin’ tells me I will regret gettin’ to know you, but I can’t seem to stop myself from needin’ that.”
I swallow the lump in my throat.
“You’re not supposed to care,” I croak. “Nobody is.”
He shrugs. “Who gives a shit about supposed to?”
Silence falls again, but this time I let it. I catch his eyes, for just a flicker, and feel something that I could so easily get addicted to.
“This is a very bad idea,” I say, my voice hoarse. “I shouldn’t be here.”
I don’t know who moves first. Maybe it’s both of us. But his hand is up, knuckles brushing my jaw with the kind of tenderness that makes me want to scream. I lean into it, just a little. He doesn’t kiss me, but his lips are so close to my ear when he says, “Tell me what it is about you I can’t seem to shake.”
I wish I knew.
My phone vibrates and I know without looking that it’s time to go. I pull away slowly, and Kael lets me.
“I gotta get back,” I say, not just for him but for me too. If I stay, even a second longer, I don’t think I’ll have the strength to walk away again.
Kael nods without a single word.
He walks me to my car and when I get in he places a hand on the roof and leans down, his eyes catching mine. “I’m not done with you.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“I’m married, Kael. This is a bad idea.”
“Friends aren’t illegal,” he murmurs. “I’m not finished until I have who hurt you in my hands.”
I hold my breath, wanting to scream at him to just stop and tell him never to leave all at the same time.
“I should go,” I whisper.
“See you later, sweetheart.”
I drive away, forcing myself not to look in the rearview mirror.
I’m afraid that if I do, I might just turn around, and never look back.
A MONTH PASSES.
A long, slow month.
Kael messages me every single day.