Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
We need to talk when we have more privacy. I want to check the temperature of how she feels with the information that was dumped on her seemingly out of nowhere. I also want to know what really makes her tick when it comes to this property. It appears to be her sole focus. A goal of sorts.
She manages this place like it’s her own business, but made it clear it’s not. Her care and attention are put into every detail, and she gets flustered if things aren’t under her complete control. The owner said jump, and she plunged off the cliff to get here. Other than a paycheck, what’s in it for her?
Her gaze deviates beside me, and she says, “It’s open. The bathroom is in the hall on the right.”
When she looks back at me, she holds her phone up with a photo of me taken during a game. Eighty-eight, my jersey number, is on display as I slam into that punk kid who thinks he owns the ice out of Boston. That photo made all the sports channel rounds three years ago. I’d recognize it anywhere. “I looked you up.”
I come to stand before her and offer a hand. “And?”
“You’re famous famous.” When she reaches up, she folds her fingers with mine.
“How do you feel about that?” I pull her to her feet.
She stands toe-to-toe with me and raises her chin in the air. She must if she wants to see my face, but I catch a note of tenacity in the gesture. “I think back to all the things you said that made it so obvious, and I still missed all the signs right in front of my face.” Our hands are still together when she lowers them to the side, not making any effort to escape or wiggle out of this conversation. “You talked about being on the road. I thought you were in finance or something, and you traveled for your job.” She waffles her head. “You do, but because you play hockey. Even Roman mentioned he would only go to games when you were in town. And here I thought he meant because you would take him to the game, not for him to watch you play.” Turning away from me, she cups her forehead and squeezes her eyes shut. “This is so embarrassing.”
“I understand this is a lot of information to take in at once and not something you expected—”
“You fought your way back to Brooklyn after being in Milwaukee.” Her blue eyes pierce mine. “Literally, you fought on the ice to get traded to the Breakaways. It wasn’t just a turn of phrase. And now I know why. Roman.” Dropping her head back, she pleads to the heavens. “Save me from myself. It’s just so humiliating.”
Bending down so we’re at eye level, I look at her wrapped up in thoughts that should never be a part of her psyche. She’s too good for that. She’s too good for me, if I were being honest. That innocence she carries like a backpack doesn’t just peek through like sunshine. It shines like a diamond ring. And it’s just so damn appealing.
“Look at me, Summer.”
“I’m looking right at you, Daniel.” Her voice is so sweet that it’s tempting to kiss her.
“You don’t need saving. You don’t need to be embarrassed. You just need to be you. That’s what I want. That’s what has me standing here right now, hoping the damn pipe gets fixed so we can stay this summer.” I stand back up and run the tip of my rough finger along the soft skin of her cheek. “I know you’ll offer your house, but you don’t need two extra mouths to feed or us crowding your space.”
“I’m sure you can buy a few meals, Money Bucks.”
Grinning, I chuckle. “I can, but that’s not how I want us to get to know each other. I want us to spend time together because we want to, not be forced to because you’re too nice. And want to please me.” I tack it on at the end, playing into her sweet nature. Low? Sure. But I’m so fucking attracted to this woman that it will be hard not to blow through rule three before the sun sets. If I had my way . . .
Since I won’t because we shouldn’t, let’s hope we have the house back soon so she can spend some quality time over here.
“I’ve looked at the shower and checked the valve on the side of the house,” Bryan says, stepping out of the house and disappointingly making me step away from Summer before he runs to the tabloids. There’s something about the guy that I don’t trust. Maybe it’s because he’s too buddy-buddy, like he’s got something to hold over me.
All I can do is trust that he’ll keep his mouth shut like he promised.