Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
He yanks hard on my arm, making a sharp pain shoot up to my shoulder, and it has a wave of intense panic slamming into me. A memory of Trent yanking me around flashes through my mind, and it paralyzes me for a few seconds.
My body begins to tremble, and my breaths explode over my lips.
“Please,” I whimper, instinctively knowing the kicks and punches are next.
They always come next.
“Nova!” I hear Easton shout, and it rips me out of the haze of panic and has me wrenching my arm from the man’s hold.
I fall to the side, and the smoothie splashes over the sidewalk.
When the man tries to grab hold of me again, Easton growls, “Get your fucking hands off her.”
The next second, Easton darts past me to shove the man backward before swinging around to crouch by me.
Not wanting to cause more of a scene, I hurry to say, “I’m sorry.” When I try to climb to my feet, Easton’s arms slip beneath me, and I go airborne as he lifts me bridal-style to his chest. I quickly wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face against him.
Sucking in desperate breaths of his scent, I try to stop the trembling in my body so I won’t cause Easton any more worry.
“Is everyone okay?” I hear a woman ask.
“I want that fucker fired,” Easton snaps angrily before he stalks away with me.
I have no idea where he’s taking me, but a minute or so later, he sets me down on my feet so he can open a door, and then I’m ushered into a massive trailer.
In the few seconds I get to glance around, I see gleaming wood, a table with a big mirror and bright lights where he probably gets his makeup done, brown leather couches, a small kitchen, and a bar area.
Easton yanks the door shut behind us before lifting his hands to my face. Framing my cheeks, he forces me to look at him. “Christ, Nova, are you okay?”
“Yes,” I whisper, a little stunned by what just happened.
Letting go of my face, he glances up and down my body, but then he lets out a growl. He grabs hold of my hips, and I’m pushed backward until my legs bump into one of the couches, and I land with a plop on the soft leather.
I watch as he gets a first aid kit from a cupboard before he sinks down on his knees in front of me.
Seeing the anger on his face, I say, “I’m really okay.”
His eyes flick to me, and without a word, he cleans the gash on my knee. I didn’t even realize I hurt myself. I look at the palm I caught myself with and brush the gravel off my skin.
When Easton sticks a Band-Aid over the raw spot on my knee, his eyes flick to my face again. “I’m so fucking sorry that happened to you.”
I shake my head. “Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” I glance at the door. “Won’t you get in trouble for being away from work?”
He lets out a chuckle while he moves to sit beside me. “If I say we take a break, then we take a break.”
His eyes lower to my arm, and the lines around his mouth tighten even more as he gently takes hold of my bicep, brushing his fingers over the angry red marks. “I’m going to kill the fucker for hurting you.”
“Don’t do that, and don’t fire him either. He was just doing his job.”
“Like hell he was,” Easton snaps. “Your name is on a list of people who have access. If he did his job, none of this would’ve happened. And even if you’re a fan, yanking a woman around doesn’t fly with me.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to the marks on my skin. “I swear, if this leaves a bruise and you have to wear a fucking cardigan again, I’m going to lose my shit.”
Lifting my hand to his face, I rest my palm against his jaw. Locking eyes with him, I give him a comforting smile. “I’m okay. I promise.”
He lets out a harsh breath before crushing his mouth to mine.
God, this man makes me feel so protected and loved.
Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door, and a woman calls out, “Easton, is everything okay?”
He lets out a groan as he breaks the kiss. “Yes. I’ll be out in five.”
“I’m leaving Nova’s handbag by the door in case she needs it,” the woman says.
“Thanks.” Getting up from the couch, he helps me to my feet. I watch as he walks to the door to grab my handbag, and bringing it to me, he says, “There’s a restroom through that door. I kissed off all your lipstick.”
“Thanks.” I walk into the restroom, surprised at how luxurious everything is. There’s even a big shower.