Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
I force my feet to move, waving once over my shoulder. The cold nips at my nose, my cheeks, my thighs—nothing the sweatshirt, the flannel, and the memory of Declan’s mouth can’t fight off.
Snow crunches under my boots, my breath fogging in front of me as the inn comes into view. I tug the flannel tighter around my shoulders, warmth lingering as if his hands are still there.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Declan
Obsession tastes like Emery Corbin and chocolate cake.
Feeling like a creep, I stand outside the back door and watch her until she reaches the end of the parking lot. I should’ve given her a ride to the inn. She turns the corner without looking back and disappears.
She’s been out of my eyesight for fifteen seconds and I’m already itching to chase her down. I force myself to shut the damn door before I end up jogging after her like a deranged duckling who imprinted on the first person who fed it a slice of Wonder bread.
Get it together, Sterling.
She’s fine. It’s a straight shot to the inn in broad daylight. There’s no logical reason for the itch under my skin, the restless energy tightening every muscle.
My hand’s already pulling out my phone, thumb hovering over her contact like a psychopath, debating texting her even though it’s been—what—one minute since she walked away?
Pathetic.
I drag both hands over my face and stalk through the hallway into the back of the shop, trying to shake the buzz she leaves in her wake. Doesn’t help. Being with Emery was nice. Really nice. Letting her into my space. My bed. Waking up next to her. All of it.
“You better get out of here before I call the sheriff!” Lucy shouts, breaking me out of my stalking Emery daydream.
“Huh?” I lift my head and frown. Lucy’s standing by the front desk with her phone held high in the air and amusement tilting her lips.
I roll my eyes. “What?”
“Oh! Sorry, Declan.” She widens her eyes to a dramatic degree. “Phew. I didn’t recognize you with that…what is that? A smile on your face? Are you smiling or do you need to fart?”
A deep scowl settles over my expression. “Hilarious. You should give up piercing and star in a comedy show.”
Lucy saunters closer, tucking her phone in her back pocket. “I’m serious. You look…unnervingly pleasant. Should I be worried? Did someone slip happy pills in your coffee?”
“I didn’t have coffee yet,” I mutter.
“Ohhh…so is this about the pretty little YouTuber who was in here making fuck-me eyes at you yesterday?”
My jaw tightens. “Was she?”
“Yeah. Duh.”
“You met her for five minutes.”
“So?” She shrugs. “She’s my new favorite person. Turned you into Mr. Sunshine. It’s a miracle.”
I scrub my hand over my jaw and stride past her toward my station. “I’m not sunshine.”
“Mm-hmm.” Lucy pivots, following me as if she’s my own personal deranged duckling. “You’re practically glowing. Don’t tell me, you broke your vow of celibacy.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “And did the dirty?”
“What’s wrong with you?” I drop into my chair and shove a sketch pad between us as a barrier. “No one got dirty.”
“Suuure you didn’t,” she singsongs.
“Not your business,” I growl. “Shut up.”
She leans over the back of the chair, peering at me upside down. “You shut up. Your hair’s doing that weird cowlick thing that says you were too busy getting nookie to run a comb through it.”
I flick my fingers against her forehead. “Go do literally anything else.”
She straightens and kicks the leg of my chair. “Fine. Be all mysterious and stuff. But if Emery walks in here later with hickeys on her—”
“Out.” My voice rattles the walls.
Lucy raises her hands in surrender, grin wide. “Oooh. Protective. Gross. I love it.”
She finally disappears into the front room, humming obnoxiously off-key. I exhale slowly, silently shaking with laughter I can’t let Lucy hear, otherwise she’ll never stop tormenting me today. I rub my eyes hard enough to spark lights behind them.
This might end up being the longest day ever.
Not because of the intricate back piece I’m inking. Because in every moment of quiet I have, I’ll be replaying the feel of Emery’s body against mine. Or catching her scent on my shirt. Wanting to hear her voice, her laugh, feel her lips on me again.
My phone buzzes. I pull it out. A picture of Emery smiling on the front porch of the inn fills my screen.
Made it here in one piece. Showering, then breakfast.
I should get groceries so I can make her breakfast tomorrow morning.
I text back: Good girl.
She responds with a heart eyes emoji.
My pulse kicks like she reached through the screen and touched me.
Lucy’s right about one thing—I feel lighter today. That’s Emery’s doing. She brightens everything without even trying.
Which means when the darkness returns, it’ll crush me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Emery
Steam curls around me while the water beats down, loosening muscles I didn’t know I’d used last night. Every time I blink, I see Declan’s mouth on my skin. Feel his hands on my body.