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)
I lean up and kiss his chest. Guy presses his lips to the top of my head and holds me tighter.
I close my eyes and let myself relax against him. I know we can’t stay here forever. But right now, I really wish we could.
CHAPTER 13
GUY
This doesn’t feel right. I’m driving Nicole back to her hotel, and she’s been quiet the whole way. I reach across the console and wrap my hand around hers. “Hey. What are you thinking?”
Her eyes are wide when she looks at me. “I’m not going to be all clingy or anything.”
My forehead creases wondering where the hell that came from. Before I can say anything, she pulls her hand from mine and turns toward the passenger window. “I mean, I just don’t want you to worry. I’m not going to be clingy or expect anything after last night. It was fun, and we had a good time, but I have no illusions about what it really was and—”
She stops talking when I pull onto the shoulder and put my truck into park. I turn to face her, but she keeps staring through the windshield. “What are you doing?”
I squeeze the steering wheel. “Setting things straight.”
She lifts one shoulder. “What does that even mean?”
My jaw tightens. “You said you have no illusions about what last night was, so tell me what you think it was.”
She swallows hard. “I mean, it was two people enjoying each other. That’s it.”
There’s no hiding the hurt in my voice. “That’s all it was to you? Us enjoying each other?”
She waves a hand between us. “No. That’s not what I mean. I just don’t want you worrying, that’s all.”
I reach over and put my hand on her thigh. “Worrying about what exactly?”
She opens her mouth and then snaps it shut. Her eyes widen before she finally says, “You know what I’m trying to say. I don’t want you thinking I’m going to turn into some stage five clinger because we slept together. Like I got some action and now I expect something from you.”
A growl escapes me before I can stop it. “Okay, let me be clear about something. Last night was one of the best nights of my life. And then this morning waking up with you beside me and all I had to do was crawl down your body to taste you, well, it was definitely the best morning of my life.” I blow out a breath because just thinking about her in my bed makes my jeans uncomfortable. I shift in my seat. “I want more, Nicole. The last thing I’m worried about is you getting clingy. Hell, if anything I’m worried I’m going to drop you off and you’re going to decide you don’t want me.”
Her mouth drops open. “That’s not going to happen.”
I squeeze her thigh. “Good. Then I’m going to talk to your dad today.”
Her eyes widen. “What? No, you’re not. We agreed we were keeping this between us.”
I pull back. “I thought you didn’t want to be anyone’s secret.”
She shrugs. “This is different.”
I’m so confused. “Even after last night you still want to hide this?”
She nods. “Yes. Especially after last night. Look, Guy, it was amazing, but now is not the time to bring anyone else into this.”
My forehead creases. “I don’t understand.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m not ready to tell the world I’m sleeping with Guy Brody.”
I speak slowly, trying to keep myself calm when every instinct inside me wants to claim her in front of everyone. “I wasn’t planning on flying a banner over Jasper announcing we’re fucking. I thought we could start by telling people we’re dating.”
She doesn’t even consider it. “No. Not happening.”
“But—”
“Do you remember what they wrote about me after we walked out of that bar together? Because I do.” She pulls in a breath and lets it out slowly. “I don’t want to deal with that right now.”
I stare at her, and she keeps going. “You want to hook up every now and then? Fine. I’m good with that. But that’s all I can offer right now.”
For a second, I don’t know what to say. Hook up. She’s making this sound like some kind of booty call when nothing about what happened between us felt casual to me. I lean back in my seat and look through the windshield. If I open my mouth right now, I’m probably going to say too much, and she already looks like she’s ready to run. I put the truck into drive and pull back onto the road.
We only make it a few blocks before Nicole speaks. “Guy, I hope you understand. I’m trying to build a life here. I’m applying for teaching jobs, and it’s not going to look good if I’m plastered all over the tabloids as Guy Brody’s latest hookup.”