Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
I scoot along the floor to get closer, my fingers thread between hers. Her skin is so soft against my calloused hands. Years of playing hockey have made my skin rougher. Somehow, the same isn’t true for Taylor with how long she’s played basketball.
Moving my hands up to her hips, I lift her off the toilet seat and onto my lap. She sits with her long legs across mine, resting her head on my shoulder.
When I dip my head down to press my lips against hers, she moans into my mouth.
“I should have done this when you walked into my house,” I breathe against her lips. “But I didn’t want to break your rules.”
“You don’t seem like the type to follow rules,” she says, laughing. “And you were busy with the skank parade.”
I ignore her last comment. There’s no point in rehashing what didn’t happen between Stephanie and me.
“I’m not much of a rule follower. I kinda do my thing. But with you, I don’t want to fuck this up.”
“If I give this a real chance, promise not to talk to other girls.” She shakes her head as she speaks. “No more dick pics or any other body parts of yours. I don’t want to end up in Dethroned because of you.”
“Me either. You think I want that blogger posting about my life online? I have a career to think about. Plus, my dad will kick my ass.”
She tilts her head back until it’s on my shoulder and smiles up at me. “I have a hard time believing anyone can kick your ass.”
“Wait until you meet my dad. You’ll see.”
“You’re already planning to have me meet your dad? Oh… you must like me more than I thought.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. But I will take you to meet my parents. My mom will love you.”
She will also kill me if I fuck this up with Taylor. I can see them hitting it off. My family will love her. Taylor has a magnetic personality that draws people to her. Her usage of humor in awkward situations also helps. She doesn’t know it yet, but my mom does the same thing when she’s nervous or doesn’t know what to say. I see so many similarities between them, and that makes it easier for me to lower my guard around Taylor.
“I wouldn’t mind meeting your mom. I love her books.”
“You’ll like Chloe, too. She helps my mom write half of her books now.”
She bites her bottom lip as if deep in thought and then sits up in my lap. “Wait, your sister’s name is Chloe? Oh, my God… Chloe Donovan writes the Dark Desires series with your mom? Holy crap, I didn’t even make that connection before when you told me your mom and sister write together.” She covers her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide before she lowers them. “Damn, so everyone in your family is like famous. That’s crazy.”
“Yeah, it kinda sucks, though. Imagine having to live up to my father’s legacy, and my mom and sister are New York Times bestselling authors. My mom’s side of the family is also mega loaded.”
“So, you have money coming out of your eyeballs, huh? What a hard life,” she deadpans with a snort.
I shrug against the shower doors. “I guess. I have a trust fund. Two of them, actually. One from my parents and one from my mom’s parents. My grandparents don’t want me to play hockey like my dad. They think it’s an unsuitable profession. But they also said the same thing about my mom being a writer.”
“So, how did she get into it?”
“Tucker and Trent’s grandfather owned a publishing company about twenty-five years ago. He lost all of his money, though. Our moms were best friends growing up, still are, and that’s how my mom became a writer. She even wrote for a blog with my Aunt Kennedy. But that shit was nasty. You should have seen the stuff they wrote on it.”
“What’s it called?”
I sigh, shaking my head at my mom and the foul words she wrote on her hockey-themed sex advice blog. “Long Sticks Hard Shots.”
Taylor laughs so hard she squeals into my ear. “That’s hilarious.” She slaps my knee. “Oh my God, I seriously can’t wait to meet your mom.”
“Her parents hated that she became, of all things, an erotic romance author. My grandparents are those old rich snobs everyone hates. My grandfather thinks my mom’s writing is beneath the Carroway name, and he still doesn’t like that she married my dad.”
“Why? Your dad was a pro athlete. They make tons of money.”
“Not enough for Grandfather. He comes from a family of Wall Street bankers. The Carroways have private yachts, houses all over the world, and more businesses than I can count. It would take ten lifetimes to spend the money. So, when you compare their wealth to my dad, we’re poor.”