Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“I don’t do bossy. You are welcome to leave anytime.”
I step back into her space, cupping the back of her head. “Never understood where the guys were coming from. Thought they were idiots. Now I’m eating my words.”
“What does that even mean?”
“We have time, you’ll get used to it.”
“What does that mean?”
“You getting ready gave me a few minutes to think. I hear what you’re saying about me being your patient and I respect the position you’re in. You think it will mess up your reputation, I’ll back off.”
I can’t miss the flash of regret before her mask slips into place. “Thank you for seeing my position.”
“Two weeks.”
“Two weeks what?”
“Your recent assessment gave me two more weeks of therapy. Once I’m not your patient, your time is up.”
“You read my assessment?”
“It’s in my patient file online.”
“But no one actually reads those.”
“I do, especially when it means something to me.”
“You’re a very puzzling man.”
“I prefer intriguing, charming, irresistible, appealing—take your pick or take them all.”
“Adding humble to that list. You know, I had time to think those few minutes, too. Outside your annoying habit of being bossy, you have a penchant for gearing the conversation away from yourself. ”
“You saying you want to know more about me?”
“I may not want to date, but we can still be friends.” She makes her statement with a straight face, but the slight hitch in her voice gives her away.
“Friends?”
“Yes, friends.”
“You fall asleep cuddled to all your friends?”
“Well, no, but once Lucas and I shared a bed—”
“Shut it, Willow.” Irritation stirs in my gut.
“It was platonic. And technically, I didn’t fall asleep cuddled to you. You moved me.”
“Do you kiss all your friends like that?”
“You kissed me, and it can’t happen again.”
“Keep telling yourself that. Grab the leash and let’s get the beast out before I change my mind. Two damn weeks is a long time.”
“Fine, but it’s your turn to talk and share.”
“I’m an open book, babe. Tell me what you want to know.”
“And we need to set boundaries. No more babe, baby, angel, firefly, or any other pet names. And no touching.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” She does a shit job hiding the disappointment in her tone.
“You want to know about me, here’s lesson one. This is new, and for some fucking reason you are denying what we have happening here. I gave you the two weeks. In that time, I have no problem telling you what you want to hear.”
“Does that mean you’ll agree but really you plan to disregard my wishes?”
“You’re hurling sass and I’m about ten seconds from tackling you to that sofa and showing you how much I like it.”
“Talon, you aren’t tackling me!”
The countdown starts… ten… nine…
“Eight.”
She narrows her eyes, the challenge shooting straight to my dick.
Seven… six…
“Five.”
Four… three…
She yanks the leash off the hook and sidesteps me, rushing out the door.
“Smart move, babe.”
She gripes as she stomps down the steps with Wolf on her tail.
Yeah, two weeks is a hell of a long time.
7
WILLOW
My phone chimes loudly in my back pocket, and I reach for it a little too eagerly, inciting a curious look from Bex.
Talon
You ready for a big night out?
I bite the inside of my cheek, my heart picking up speed. It’s been five days since our Sunday together, and true to his word, he has respected my boundaries. No pet names, no inappropriate touches, no showing up unannounced.
The three sessions we’ve had have been focused solely on his rehab and progress. Our conversations stuck to the basics but were always geared toward me. My studies, Wyatt and Chase, how Wolf is doing—all safe subjects.
He’s worked night shifts this week, but each evening texts me a short message to say good night. And then in the morning to wish me a good day.
As much as I hate to admit it, his texts have become a favorite part of my day.
There haven’t been many men in my life. Joe was my only true boyfriend. Therefore, my experience is limited.
When the guy you’ve been dating for almost two years becomes distant, you break up, only to discover he’s in love with your sister—it leaves scars.
Now they’re getting married and I’m single, fighting feelings for the hottest man I’ve ever met—who is way out of my league.
Like a thousand times this week, my mind drifts back to Sunday. During our walk, I peppered him with questions. He’s met half my family, my best friends, and knew about my parents’ separation. Yet, I only knew the names of a few of his friends and their dogs.
He didn’t make me press too hard, offering up information easily.
“You’re an only child? One child was enough?”
He smiled slyly. “More like why keep going when you have the perfect son already?”
I bumped his shoulder. “Sure, you were the perfect son, huh?”
“Perfection at its finest.”
“You’re telling me you gave your parents no trouble? Isn’t that a rite of passage for all children? We have to give our parents grief at some point.”