Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
I walk over to the liquor cabinet and pour myself a drink. “What is she studying? It’s not like she wants to take over the hotel.” I know that because her brother and I have already split the daily operations and control of the Granite hotels, and now the added casino next door. She has no interest in such things, but she does reap the benefits of its success.
She has four brothers, but only Milo is old enough and wants to be a part of the business. Julio is in college in New York, Miguel is currently in high school, and Daniel is just a kid still.
“You’re going to laugh when I tell you.” I raise my eyebrow, waiting to learn what ridiculous path she chose. She loves dogs, so maybe she’s going to be a vet. That would suit her. “Criminology.”
“Are you serious? She picked that. Would you care for one?” I ask, waving my glass.
“No, it’s off-limits for me for a bit.” Damn. I needed more than a drink when it came to that news.
“Fine, I’ll drink for the both of us. She does know that not everything in our world is always aboveboard.” We aren’t criminals per se, but we aren’t squeaky clean either. Okay, we were dirtier than most, but not for the sake of being dirty. We got our hands filthy when necessary.
“Yes, but she’s difficult.” I need to have a talk with the spoiled little princess. She’s already got more than most girls will ever have, and she is on the verge of losing her father, but the little brat wants to learn ways to catch bad guys. Does she suddenly detest her father?
A rapid knock on the door comes, and I go to open it, only to nearly be steamrolled by a five foot three little fireball. I catch her before she falls, but I’m assailed by her scent and the insane pounding in my chest. “Oh my goodness, Miles. I hadn’t… I didn’t see you there,” she stammers.
“What’s up, Princess?” her dad answers as she tries to untangle herself from my arms, but I have a strong hold on her. A hold that locks into place as if our lives depended on it.
My mind didn’t make up the brief encounter last year. Damn it. Little Elsa has grown into a beautiful woman with captivating caramel, tiger eyes. My heart is racing like it has never done before. She’s shockingly more perfect with her stunned expression. Foolishly, I want to drag her lips to mine.
Even with the news that my godfather needs surgery and that life is going to get a little more difficult with the troubles, nothing compares to the way she looks up at me with her lips parted, her hands on my forearms. Even through my suit, I can feel her touch burning me, marking me.
“Excuse me,” I cough, releasing her so I can breathe. When was the last time I’d seen her? Was it her eighteenth birthday? God, that was so long ago. She looked breathtaking then, but an emergency came up and I had to leave before even greeting her.
“There’s someone here to see you,” she says, looking right past me toward her father.
“Okay. Do you know who it is?” I’m surprised she didn’t already tell him who it was; unless she didn’t want to say it in front of me which is strange.
She smiles and rolls her eyes. “Oh of course, sorry. It’s the doctor. Mom told me to come get you.”
“I’ll accompany you,” I offered, needing to get some air and space between me and the sweet temptation that’s my little godsister.
“Actually, you could probably discuss Elsa’s plans for college. You two haven’t seen each other in, what? A year or more?” he suggests, raising his brows. I’m not sure his motives. Can he tell I’m interested and he’s trying to torture me before he actually tortures me, or does he want me to talk her out of criminology?
“I don’t think he cares. He has better things to do with his time,” she mutters, clearly offended, and I can’t blame her but it was for her own good. He gives me a warning glance to make this right before walking out the office door, closing it behind him.
That might not have been the wisest thing to do. The temperature doubled in the room instantly. “That’s not fair, little princess. I apologize for neglecting you, but I have time, and I am quite intrigued about your major.”
“Are you really?” She raises her head, and for a moment I see the hesitation before she turns a snarky smile on me. Fuck, there’s the reaction I knew my body would have if we spend time together.
“Yes. Tell me all about it.” I lean on the edge of her father’s desk with my feet out in a relaxed pose, arms crossed.