Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101466 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
I wasn’t sure I was capable of love. Not the kind he deserved.
Why did he have to fall in love with me?
I felt a wave of sadness when I asked myself why I couldn’t love him back.
I realized I wouldn’t be able to stay once he knew that.
And that made me want to weep.
I slipped from his bed as early as I could without disturbing him. He was used to my odd schedule the same way I was used to his. He knew clients called and texted at all hours. That I was often up early to fix problems—there were emergencies I handled in the middle of the night sometimes, although I tried to keep those to a minimum.
I headed downstairs, making coffee and carrying a cup to my desk. I had a few things I had to take care of, but I found myself unable to concentrate. I flipped back and forth between emails, halfheartedly attempting to work on one particular problem. I heard the sounds of Jesse next door and braced myself for him. Then I laughed under my breath. It wasn’t like he was going to waltz in and declare his love in a loud voice. Knowing Jesse, he would mull it over, overthink it, and with any luck, realize he was simply reacting to the events of last night and keep his little words to himself. We’d carry on as if I’d heard nothing. But I knew my time here might have to be shorter than I planned.
And once again, a rush of sadness hit me. Leaving here was going to be hard.
Possibly the hardest thing I had ever done.
Jesse came in, carrying his coffee. He shook his head when he saw me at the desk, bending and pressing a kiss to my head. “Always working.”
I forced a smile to my face. “You know it.”
He sat down. “I have to take the truck in for an oil change, then go meet with the chief to get my new schedule. I assume you’ll be busy with your usual stuff—hacking into people’s private lives, conquering the world one program at a time?” he teased.
I relaxed. He was just Jesse. There were no heart eyes, no declarations. Maybe he’d been dreaming and I’d thought he was awake.
“Yep.”
“Do you have time for breakfast first? I was going to make pancakes.”
Jesse made great pancakes. His repertoire of recipes was limited, but his pancakes were stellar.
“I could be persuaded.”
He lifted his mug to his lips, a sexy smirk on his face. “Any preferred method of persuasion?” he asked, his voice low and sexy.
I laughed at him. “The word pancakes did it.”
“Dammit,” he said with a grin. “Losing my touch already.” He stood. “Pancakes coming up. If you want bacon, though, that’s your job. I burn that shit every time.”
I followed him—because what were pancakes without bacon?
He threw a wink over his shoulder. “Thought so. We make a great team, Pix. The best.”
Somehow the way he said it made it feel as if he were saying something else. Something more profound and personal.
My heart sank.
Breakfast was normal, and I told myself to stop reading meanings into words that weren’t there. He was Jesse. Slightly grumpy when I added too much syrup to my stack of pancakes and stole the last piece of bacon. He drank three mugs of coffee then muttered about too much caffeine. Snuck pieces of bacon to both Barney and Miller, pretending that he hadn’t. Asked about dinner, a hopeful gleam in his eye when he did.
“I’m going out with the girls tonight,” I reminded him.
“Right. I forgot. I think I’ll order in pizza. If you’re lucky, I’ll save you a slice.”
I stood, carrying my plate to the sink. “Sounds good.”
He tilted his head to the side, studying me. “You okay, Pix? You look tired. Didn’t sleep well? Was I snoring?”
I waved him off. “I’m fine.”
He leaned on the counter across from me. “Did what happened last night upset you?”
For a moment, I thought he meant what he’d said. Then I realized he meant the run-in with his family.
“Only because they were awful to you. I can’t believe your parents just stood there.”
He shrugged. “I’m over it. I really am. But I will never forget what you did for me. How you stood up for me.”
I swallowed at the intense look in his eyes. The serious tone of his voice.
“Please don’t,” I whispered in my head. “Don’t do this.”
“I’m lucky to have you in my life,” he began.
I had to stop him. I couldn’t have him say the words when I couldn’t say them back.
I slapped his chest, forcing a laughing tone to my voice. “Damn right you are, Thorne. You’re lucky I put up with you. Even if it is temporary.” I winked at him. “Good thing your grumpy ass is so sexy.”