Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Hayes leaned forward. “Listen to me and listen carefully.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“It was not in any way your fault and I apologize if I made you feel that way. I was . . . not happy and perhaps I didn’t stop to think about what I was saying and how I was saying it.”
“Wow. I didn’t think you would know how to apologize.”
He gave her a firm look. “But⎯”
She groaned, interrupting him. “Why is there always a but? There should be no but! Let’s just stop with you apologizing for being a jerk and move on, okay?”
“Not okay. And I didn’t apologize for being a jerk. I apologized for not choosing the right words and making you feel like I thought it was your fault that you were attacked. I didn’t think that at all. But⎯”
Once more she groaned.
This girl.
He’d never met anyone in more need of a good, hard spanking.
And then a good hard fucking.
No. Reverse that thought.
That wasn’t ever happening.
“But,” he said firmly. “The fact is that the world is a shitty place and a woman alone at night isn’t necessarily safe. You have got to do what you can to keep yourself safe. Which you did not.”
She frowned at him before groaning. “I don’t like this.”
“What? Being scolded?”
“No. Well, yes. I don’t think anyone likes being scolded, do they? But I was actually talking about you being right.”
Oh, this brat.
Once more he felt his lips twitch. But he put a stop to that. He had nothing to smile about.
I don’t know, baby. I think she’s pretty funny.
Fuck. He tried to ignore that voice. It didn’t feel right that she was speaking to him now.
Not while he was sitting here scolding another woman, admiring her, thinking about putting her over his knee.
Hearing her voice brought him crashing back to reality.
May was his wife. The love of his life. If he believed in things like soul mates, she was it.
And he had no business wanting this girl.
But he fought the urge to push Devi away. To say something nasty that meant she’d never come near him again.
He could do it.
With anyone else, he might have.
But he couldn’t do that to Devi. She didn’t deserve it. Despite her bravado, there was something vulnerable about her. Something fragile that he felt the urge to protect.
And he thought it might break something inside him to hurt her.
Maybe that last piece of humanity he had left.
He’d already been enough of a dick to her. He’d just had to apologize for that. He didn’t need to compound the wrong by adding to it.
“Well, you won’t like being around me then,” he said. “I’m always right.”
She made a scoffing noise. He had no idea why. That was simply the truth.
He was always right.
Sure, sometimes he should watch how he worded things, but he’d never claimed to be diplomatic. However, that didn’t make him wrong.
“Wait . . . you weren’t joking, were you?” she said, gaping at him. “You really think that you’re always right.”
“Don’t think it. Know it.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Lord help me. Is that why you have such big muscles? So you can support your giant head?”
Yep, I like her.
He closed down that voice. He knew it wasn’t really May. So that meant it had to be him projecting her voice into his head.
Which also meant that he’d finally lost it and was completely insane.
Good to know.
He was shocked he’d lasted this long.
Sometimes, he wasn’t sure what kept him going. But he couldn’t seem to give up on life just yet.
Maybe the universe had something in store for him yet.
Perhaps it was this girl.
No. Nope. There was only one woman for him. And he just had to get to the end of this life to be with her.
“Feeling sassy tonight, huh? You wouldn’t be if you could see what’s inside my head.”
“What’s inside your head?” she asked. “Is it how to be mean to poor servers who are just trying to make a living?”
“Poor servers who are just trying to make a living?” he asked incredulously. “Are you really saying that I’m being mean to you?”
“Well, yeah. I thought that was obvious.”
“Again, we can circle back to my ruined americano. That I paid for. I don’t remember ordering a dash of salt.”
“Yeah, it was more than a dash,” she muttered. “I am sorry about that. I’ll pay for your next americano.”
Pay for his next americano? He didn’t think so. He didn’t give a shit about the ruined coffee and she didn’t seem like she had much money.
Plus, that wasn’t what he wanted.
“Hmm. I don’t think so. That’s getting off too easily.”
She narrowed her gaze at him. “Getting off too easily? Exactly what do you think would be suitable reparation?”
“Reparation? I was thinking more punishment.”
“Punishment?” she squeaked.
“Yeah, if my wife had done what you did, she’d find herself getting her bottom reddened.”