Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“You took a hard knock there, Tallie.”
I tighten my jaw. “You’re calling me Tallie now?”
“We’re getting married. I might as well.”
“Actually, you might as well stick to my actual, real name.”
“Sure thing, Tallie.” He checks under the ice. “Let me know if it’s too cold.”
“I told you, I’m fine.” I brush his hand back and hold the ice in place myself.
Brenden pulls up a stool and sits across from me. He seems at ease despite the number of people bustling around. Several cooks pause to stare and one staff girl asks if I’m doing okay. Brenden explains what happened in a way that makes it sound normal and fine, like I hadn’t caught him doing something he shouldn’t have been.
“Let me ask you something. Do you get hurt often?”
“Not before I met you.”
“Come on, that wasn’t my fault.”
“You surprised me.”
“You barged in on me, remember?”
“What were you doing in there, anyway?”
He considers for a moment before getting up to check my ice. “Let me get you more.”
“Brenden.”
He ignores me and comes back a second later with a fresh batch. I grunt as he presses it to my head, holding me steady.
“Riley used to drag me to events like this all the time. She hated it as much as I do, but she was the smarter sibling. She knew how to play the game.”
“You don’t?”
“Not really. I got in too much trouble to be useful at a fancy garden party. Riley wanted to be a troublemaker, but deep down, I think she always shone best at places like this.”
“You two are pretty close, huh?”
“I guess so. You seem like you and your siblings are tight.”
I rub my hands together bitterly. “Me and Annie used to be called The Twins by everyone when we were little. We’re ten months apart and were always together.”
“But not anymore?”
“We grew up.” I don’t like the look he gives me. It’s both pitying and curious. “I’m close with Davit and Sam too. But the others are all older or don’t live at home anymore, so it’s hard.”
“Eight siblings. I can’t even imagine.”
“It wasn’t so bad. I mean, my oldest brother was out of the house by the time I was even aware of him as a person.”
“How did your parents do it though?”
“It’s easier when you have enough money for a nanny or two.”
He laughs and I like the way it sounds. Low and genuine, coming straight from his stomach. His face transforms and he looks five years younger, like some of the stress and the pain he’s been through melts off.
“Yeah, I can see how that might work.” He checks under the ice. “Swelling’s going down.”
“Thanks. Let me.” I rub at the spot. There’s definitely a lump. I take the ice and hold it as he returns to his stool. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re very good at avoiding a conversation?”
“All the time.”
“You were doing something in that room. I heard you knocking.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“I definitely did. Those rooms are supposed to be off limits. And how did you know how to find the kitchens?”
He leans closer. His smile fades and that heaviness comes back. I hadn’t noticed it until now. There’s a shadow in his eyes like he’s looking into the past all the time, and only ever half way here. His gaze is distant and hard, and I’m not sure how I feel about it, but he’s so damn attractive that it makes my heart flutter, remembering what he did to me with that mouth of his.
“How did you like my gift the other day, Tallie?”
I pull away, lowering the ice into my lap. “What gift?”
“The second lighter.”
My jaw drops.
Holy shit.
How does he know about that?
The second lighter’s been bothering me since I woke up and found it in my room. I know I didn’t put it there, but I figured it was Sam or Davit playing a trick on me. That’s the sort of mental warfare Sam would go for. And Davit likes pranks sometimes.
“You… you did… how?!”
“Do you like it, Tallie?” He comes closer, crushing the space between us. “I wanted you to have it. So you knew… I was thinking about you…” His lips lower to mine. My heart’s going wild. I lift my chin toward him, and crap, do I really want him to kiss me right now? Do I want this, even knowing he’s dangerous?
I go to tell him off, or maybe I’m about to crush my mouth to his, but something cold spreads in my core. At first I think it’s dread, pure and simple terror, until I realize—
The ice is spilling.
“Shit!” I leap up and start brushing at myself. There’s a big wet mark on my dress. “Ah, crap, what the hell! Of course now it looks like I—“
By the time I look up, the stool across from me is empty.