Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
He doesn’t stop touching me. His mouth returns to my neck, leaving small kisses against my heated skin. “Where are you staying now?”
“Room 217.”
He pulls back. “You’re still at the hotel? Why aren’t you staying with your dad?”
As soon as he brings up Dad, I pry myself out of his hold and duck beneath his arm. “His house is being remodeled.”
“Stay with me.”
My eyes widen.
He quickly holds up his hands. “Okay. I can see that idea freaks you out. I just hate that you’re living in a hotel.”
“My apartment will be ready in a few days.” I look at the clock on the wall. “I really need to go. Dad is going to be looking for me.”
Guy lets out a frustrated breath. “Okay. I’ll pick you up in the morning. Ten a.m. Room 217.”
Because I don’t trust myself around him, I shrug. “I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
He doesn’t like it, but he doesn’t argue. He holds out his hand. “Come on. I’ll walk you out.”
I move past him, ignoring his hand. “It’s probably better if I go alone.”
Again, he doesn’t like it, but he lets it go. He places his hand on my waist and pulls me back against him. Then he kisses me again, longer this time, and doesn’t stop until we’re both breathless. Finally, he pushes me toward the door.
I nearly walk out, but turn back at the last second. I fluff my hair. “Do I look okay?”
I swear the man growls. “You look like you’ve been making out.”
My eyes widen, and of course he smiles at me possessively.
I roll my eyes. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Guy.”
“Tomorrow, honey.”
CHAPTER 7
GUY
I’m crazy. That’s all I can figure because I’m sitting outside the Regency Hotel, waiting for Nicole to get back. Now that I know where she is, I don’t want to let her out of my sight. When I see her being dropped off at the front entrance, I pick up my phone and call her.
She stops, digs her phone out of her purse, and smiles when she looks at the screen. She fuckin’ smiles when she sees it’s me.
“Hello.”
“Hey, sweetness.”
Her smile gets bigger as she walks into the hotel. I stay parked where I am. “How were the pancakes?”
“Good. I mean, have you ever had a bad pancake?”
I chuckle. “You’re right about that. Is this a tradition with you and Grant?”
She sighs into the phone. “Yeah. When I was younger, I stayed with my granny a lot, and the three of us would eat pancakes after Dad’s games. Granny made the best pancakes, but after she passed, Dad and I started finding a diner wherever he was playing.”
She’s quiet for a second before asking, “What about you? What are you doing?”
I start my car and put it into drive. “Driving home.”
“Just now?” Her voice rises, but then she quickly adds, “Forget it. It’s none of my business.”
I set my phone down when the call transfers to the speakers. “Go ahead. Ask me what I’ve been doing.”
She groans. “I don’t think I want to know.”
“You’ll only find out if you ask.”
I can picture her debating with herself. Her voice is low and wary when she finally says, “Okay, I’ll bite. What have you been doing for the last two hours since the game?”
I don’t hesitate. “I showered, got dressed, and then sat outside your hotel waiting for you.”
“The Regency?” she asks. “You’ve been here? Doing what?”
“Waiting to make sure you got back safely.”
“You have not,” she accuses.
I shake my head. “What kind of men have you been dating that they don’t worry about your safety?”
“We’re not dating,” she says too easily.
“Ah, ah, ah. We have a date tomorrow.”
“Guy, this is ridiculous. You know that, right?” She lets out a frustrated breath. “What is it about me? Do you think I’m playing hard to get? Because I’m not. I genuinely think this is a bad idea.”
“I know you’re worried about your dad and the team, but I told you, it can be our secret.”
“And I told you I don’t want to be anyone’s secret.”
I shrug, even though she can’t see me. “Fine. We’ll tell everyone.”
“No!” she practically screams into the phone.
I stop at a stop sign. “Seriously, Nicole, you’re not good for my ego.”
I start driving again, and when she stays quiet, I ask, “What are you scared of?”
She huffs out a breath. “You want the truth?”
“Always.”
She sighs loudly and then starts to ramble. “I’m scared you’re going to break my heart. I’m scared we’ll decide this is a bad idea and you and my dad and the rest of the team will have a problem with each other. I’m scared that I moved to Jasper to build a life, and when we end things, I’m going to want to leave. But I can’t because I don’t want to leave my dad. He’s all I have left in this world.”