Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 115763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Actually, that’s not true. She would’ve offered that easily when we met. What I wish is that I could’ve accepted her friendship and reciprocated it instead of shutting down any and all potential relationship we might’ve had, friendship or otherwise. But I chose Dom then, and though I’ve questioned that choice a million times since, I can’t go back to unring the bell on years of asshole behavior now.
Could this ring deal be the start of that? A chance to turn a bad situation into something good?
The hope that lights inside me at that idea is a dangerous thing. It’d be too easy to let it grow into an inferno of something much more than friendship. At least for me.
I tamp down my feelings the way I have so many times before, deliberately hardening my face into barely controlled annoyance as I approach her. “Penny?”
She turns light-filled amber eyes to me, her smile bright and her whole body relaxed until she sees me and my stony expression. The light dims, her smile fades, and her shoulders inch up toward her ears. “Hey! Thanks for coming.” She turns back to the dog, “Sorry. This is my friend I was telling you about, so I have to go. You’re such a good boy. You have a good walk and a good day, and make sure you get two yummy treats when you get home.” The dog wags his tail like he understood every word, and I realize she wasn’t talking to the owner, offering friendship I greedily wish I could have, but rather the dog.
Meanwhile, the dog’s owner is eyeballing me like I’ve interrupted the meet-cute with Penny that he’s going to wax poetic about at their wedding reception. I meet his glare with an unveiled threat in my cold eyes, silently ordering him to get the fuck out of here. Little does he know, I’m saving his life. Because if he doesn’t leave, and take the admittedly cute dog with him, I’m going to kill him.
But he heard Penny’s dismissal and has taken in my considerably larger size and hostile warning and wisely, albeit with disappointment, walks away.
“You couldn’t sit here for thirty minutes without flirting with some rando?” I accuse. I know I sound jealous as fuck, but I can’t help it. I am jealous . . . of anyone who gets the relaxed, happy, vibrant version of Penny that I want. Especially when I get the bratty, annoyed version. It’s what I deserve, but it still stings.
“Clover came up to me,” she replies, throwing her hands wide.
“Not the dog. The guy.” I’m assuming the guy’s name wasn’t Clover, though, these days, who knows? I went to school with a guy named Pine. He was a hell of a math whiz who helped me cheat my way through trigonometry, so who am I to judge? But seriously, that guy’s name isn’t Clover, like the weed, right?
She looks down the sidewalk where they disappeared like she’s only now realizing that the dog had a guy holding the other end of the leash. She has no idea how gorgeous she is, how her radiant spirit shines out of her, attracting the attention of every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Clover in a one-mile radius.
Most of all, she has no idea that I see that beauty in her.
That’s how it has to be. It’s for the best.
When she looks back at me, I see how tired she is, and I twist inside. I should be helping her, and instead I’m a fucking vampire, sapping her strength. “This was a bad idea, wasn’t it? Never mind. I’ll be fine. You can go back home or wherever you were, to whatever you were doing. Just return to your regularly scheduled programming, and I’ll figure this out on my own.”
I snort out a humorless laugh. Fine, I’m a vampire, but I won’t let that continue. I need to fire her up again. “If you think for one second that I’m letting you talk to criminals by yourself, you’re crazier than I thought.”
“Letting me? Nobody lets me do anything.” She stands up, bowing up to me in the fiery way that is such an unbelievable turn-on. “And I’ll take crazy as a compliment, thank you very much. Capable, relentless, awesome, zesty . . . um, yee-haw’er. Okay, that last one needs work, but you put me on the spot, so give me a break.”
I stare down at her, my breathing too quick for the short exchange, and consider my options. Whether I’m leaving or staying isn’t up for debate. Instead, I’m pondering how to get her to let me stay by her side for the sketchy shit on her agenda today.
“You’re right. You can do whatever you want, but I would like to help. Please,” I force out, the conciliatory tone foreign and difficult to fake.