Total pages in book: 203
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 998(@200wpm)___ 799(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
His eyes pan the room. “What I really want is to experience the joy Bailey’s crush on me promised because I’ll see in her eyes that I make her happy.” He swallows, staring at the ceiling for a second before his eyes return to my face. “Yeah, that’s what I want – I want to make you happy, Bailey. But…”
I swallow at his but and it feels like I’m trying to gulp broken glass down my throat.
“If you really can’t get past all that has you sure this isn’t what you want…”
I wait for him to land a final blow and walk out. And if he does, will I try to stop him? I’m so stubborn, I probably won’t. But will I regret it?
He says, “I want time to prove myself. And I don’t want you to try to sever our bond until you give me an actual chance.” He’s looking at Dani now. “I want Bailey to have the final say. Lift the spell. I’ll make myself wait to claim her until she gives me permission.”
His expression softens as he looks back at me, looking at me for my reaction.
I’m in utter shock.
I hear mutters of male approval and a female sound of surprise, but I can’t focus on any of that. My heart is beating too fast, too hard.
He keeps going. “You didn’t get to sow any of those wild oats everyone talks about. But believe me, it means nothing when the time comes that you know you’ve found the person you want to spend your life with. Nobody else matters. And you won’t get to sow them, Bay, because no – not only can I not have that, it’s also not who you are. But you’ll get to date. You get to date me. I’m taking you out tomorrow night. If we come to an agreement here, that is, but I’d like to take you on a date, Bailey. Our first date. Date me.”
A phone is ringing with the same ringtone as mine. Jase pulls two phones from his pocket and frowns at the screen before he sets them on the table in front of me. He had my phone.
Lucinda Walsh is calling. I stare at the screen as it continues to ring. It stops.
“Sorry about your phone, Bailey,” he says. “And I’m sorry I left you there the other day. Can’t even tell you how sorry.”
Another phone rings. Erica is answering her phone, saying Lucinda’s name. But I can’t take my eyes off Jason’s face as he looks at me with questions in his eyes. With pain on his face. With all those words he said bouncing around in my mind, in my chest.
There’s almost a humming in my ears, a buzzing of sorts.
And again… that puppy!
“Do you hear that?” I ask him.
Jase frowns. “Hear what?”
“The puppy.”
His brows draw together. He probably thinks I’m just glazing over everything he’s just said.
I look around. “Do you guys hear that?”
Everyone is looking at me strangely, except Erica, who is walking out with the phone to her ear. I feel lightheaded right now with all these eyes on me, with all I’m feeling, and I’m overstimulated, I think. The pup sounds stop.
Jase asks, “Puppy?”
“Never mind,” I whisper, looking at Dani and Vivi who whisper to one another.
Dani speaks up. “It’s very likely a side effect of denying the mate bond. You’re flushed and shaky, Bailey. Drink some water.”
She passes me a bottle.
I take it. My hands are sweating. I can’t seem to get a grip on the lid to open it. I wipe my hand on my dress and see Jason’s open hand extended in front of me. I stare at his hand for a minute, then take it.
His other big, warm hand closes around mine. And he doesn’t get zapped.
Our gazes connect and his eyes are even warmer. He looks happy as his two big hands dwarf mine.
“Did you want me to open that water for you, Bay?” he asks in a soft, low voice.
I blink away a daze and pull my hand back.
His expression drops.
I pass him the water. He uncaps it and hands it back, not looking me in the eyes now.
I down over half the bottle, gulp after gulp, before setting it on the table. Now I’m shaking harder. Trembling all over.
What do I say? Jason has had his say and when Erica comes back she’s probably going to have me say my piece. And I don’t have a clue what to say. What to feel. What to think. What to do.
And Lucinda called me and is probably talking to Erica right now and it must be because of my effort to change the law. Will she say something that helps extend the spell?
I think I’m having a complete meltdown. I’m also grappling with my mind going over all the things he’s said today, all the things the girls in my book club group chat said after I requested their help. The things Jase said to me in my car the other day.