Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mean about this. I meant, because I’m dressed like this. It must be making you uncomfortable. This is your home and I’m just wandering around in lingerie.”
“Why are you in lingerie in the middle of the day?” he asked.
Indie could feel her cheeks heating, growing bright red. “Oh, um, well, I’m not allowed to put clothes on today.”
He raised his eyebrows, his arms crossing over his chest. There was a stern look on his face. Which was actually quite a show of emotion from Quaid. “Is that right? Why is that?”
“I’d rather not say,” she mumbled.
He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head back. “Tell me.”
Urgh. She couldn’t ignore the command in his voice.
“Icalledmyselfgrossandunattractive,” she blurted out without pausing or taking a breath.
“Did you?” he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he removed his finger. Urgh. Why did she miss him touching her?
“That was naughty,” he told her. “I’m surprised you can sit comfortably. Although, I suppose proper spankings will have to wait until after the baby comes.”
“Can I take my legs out from under the water now?” she asked.
“No. You have to leave them under for ten more minutes. And then we’ll see if we call the doctor or not.”
“We are not calling the doctor.”
“Hmm, the guys aren’t really doing a good job if you think that you get to make the final decision about your health and safety.”
She scowled at him. Rude.
He simply eyed her back.
“As for wearing the lingerie . . . it’s not like any of you knew I was here. I shouldn’t be here. It’s obviously time for me to move on.”
“No!” she cried, reaching out to grab his arm. “Please don’t go.”
He stared down at her hand and she snatched it back.
Whoops. Shit.
Quaid didn’t like people touching him. Well, other than the guys. Once upon a time, he’d tolerated her touching him.
It hurt that that was no longer the case.
“I mean, unless you want to. Obviously, I can’t keep you here against your will. I’m just . . . I don’t want you to leave because of me, Quaid. I know I’m making you uncomfortable. I promise that I won’t walk around anymore in lingerie with my nipples out again.”
She tried to peer around her stomach to see her legs. They felt frozen now. Surely she’d had them under the water long enough?
“Why wouldn’t I want to see you in lingerie with your nipples out?” he murmured.
Umm.
This felt like a trick question. She raised her gaze to stare at him.
Where was Slade? He must be done with his call soon, right?
She swallowed heavily as Quaid gazed back at her.
“Because you don’t want me . . . like that. I hope we can be friends again, though? Can we?”
“No.”
Ouch.
Her heart was breaking. She swore she could feel it tearing apart and she rubbed at her chest, trying to take a breath.
“Not want you?” he whispered in a raw voice. “There isn’t a moment that goes by where I don’t want you.”
What?
Could what Slade said be right? Did he want her? He just didn’t think he deserved her?
“Then why . . .” she trailed off. How did she word this? “Why haven’t you been here? Why have you been avoiding me?”
“Because I don’t deserve you,” he said in a harsh voice.
Before she could tell him that he was an idiot, Slade walked in and immediately rushed over to her.
“What the fuck? What happened?” he asked.
“It was entirely my fault,” Quaid said in a monotone voice. “I didn’t think she should be carrying a tray with hot things on it and called out, not meaning to scare her into dropping it. The pot smashed and her legs have been burned. I would suggest calling the doctor. I need to leave. I have things to do.”
“You have things to do? What do you mean?” Slade asked. “Shit, Boo, these look sore.”
“They’re really not anymore. Quaid was taking good care of me.” And she desperately wanted him to come back. But he disappeared before she worked out what to say.
Slade fussed over her, but she was only listening with half an ear.
What was she going to do about Quaid?
52
“Iknew I shouldn’t have gone for a run,” Spencer said with a worried frown as she lay in bed that night.
They’d ended up getting a doctor to come to the penthouse to check her over. She shuddered to think about how much that had to cost.
Her legs were fine. She just had to keep them up for a bit and loosely covered and apply some burn cream.
The doctor was being cautious because she was pregnant so he wanted her to rest for a few days.
Which sucked.
Because tonight was her night with Spencer and he’d promised to eat her out again.
“I’m fine,” she said. “And my legs aren’t that bad. Everyone is just being a fusspot.”