Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
It takes everything I have inside to keep my voice casual. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh. I thought I heard something.” Her voice is deep and raspy with sleep. It arrows straight down to my—
“Nope.” I shake my head. “Didn’t say a word.” I’m wondering if there’s anything she could do that wouldn’t turn me on.
Sadly, I don’t think there is.
She frowns but doesn’t argue. Which must be a first. Apparently, we really have turned a corner.
Yeah, I am so screwed. And not in a good way either. All my good intentions disappear.
“It’s late. What are you doing up?” I want to stand here and drink in how gorgeous she looks with her disheveled hair tumbling around her bare shoulders.
“Couldn’t sleep.” She shifts, and her breasts bounce with the movement.
My gaze dips. My breath catches as her nipples stiffen into turgid little points.
Look away, jackass!
But I can’t. I’m mesmerized by the sight.
Obviously noticing my creepy stalker stare, she clears her throat and folds her arms across her breasts blocking my view. A growl rumbles up from my throat before I quickly choke it back.
Seriously? What the hell is wrong with me?
I’m playing with fire and can’t afford to get burned. I need to get out of here before I cross a line. Before I do something that I can’t come back from.
I force my eyes away. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
Just as I’m about to brush past, she says, “Carter?”
I stop and reluctantly meet her gaze. “Yeah?”
She sucks the fullness of her bottom lip into her mouth before nipping it with her teeth. Desire rushes through me, trying to break free. I’m so close to wrapping my arms around her body and biting that sexy lower lip myself. But I don’t. Somehow, I manage to keep it together.
Barely.
When she doesn’t say anything more, the desperation finally gets to me and I snap without meaning to. “What, Daisy?”
Her eyes widen at the sharp tone of my voice and she takes a quick step in retreat before shaking her head. “Nothing.”
Before I can apologize for acting like an asshole, she withdraws from the kitchen. I close my eyes because the urge to give chase pumps wildly through me.
But I can’t.
I can’t do anything but let her go.
15
DAISY
Noah knocks on my bedroom door and pushes it open enough to stick his head inside. “Food’s here.”
“I’ll be out in a minute,” I say, not bothering to glance up from the book I’m reading. “I just need to finish up this section.”
“Don’t take too long or your burger will get cold.” His stern voice has me glancing up with a grin on my face.
“Okay, Dad.”
“No problem, honey. Just, whatever you do, don’t call me daddy.” Noah smirks. “That would be a scarring experience for both of us.”
“Ewww! Gross!” I pick up a pillow from my bed and throw it at him. With a chuckle he slams the door closed.
It takes at least ten more minutes for me to highlight the passage I was reading. Even though I have a test coming up in sociology, it’s not the reason I’m dragging my feet.
Carter.
I’ve been doing my best to avoid him since the incident at my aunt’s house. Everything has changed between us and I don’t have a firm handle on it yet. Before, when I’d see him, the attraction was always there humming under the surface, but it was buried deep beneath the aggravation and annoyance. You take away the animosity and what are you left with?
Yeah…just attraction. The kind that buzzes unwantedly through your system before settling uncomfortably in your belly, doing all sorts of disconcerting things to your senses. Making you long for things you should definitely not be thinking about.
It feels safer to hide out in my room.
“Daisy!” Noah bellows at the top of his voice. “Get your ass out here.”
I huff out a breath and slam my book closed. Apparently, avoidance isn’t going to be a possibility with big mouth out there. I guess we’ll have to go with plan B which is hoovering up my food before escaping to my room again.
I straighten my shoulders like I’m going to war and head out to the small dining area attached to the living room. We have a breakfast bar with three stools, which is where we normally eat our meals. With Ashley joining us, there aren’t enough seats. So, the bags of food have been spread out on the table.
Carter, Ashley, and Noah have already dug into their food. I take my time grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge before lowering myself onto the only available chair situated between Noah and Carter.
My eyes dart to Carter before I can stop them. The attraction humming between us has only grown stronger over the last few days. As much as I try to ignore it, that feels like a herculean task.