Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“I can tell the difference, baby. You’re just crappy at impressions.”
She huffed out a breath, insulted by that. “But I guess I can work on helping you with those.”
“You won’t change my stubbornness or convince me to ever let you pay,” he told her firmly.
“But I can still teach you about what a proper pirate voice sounds like. Noted.” She rubbed her finger up and down her glass. “I know that I look forward to you coming into the bakery every morning, and I was upset when you didn’t come in this morning.”
He took hold of her small hand in his much larger one. “You missed me?”
“Yeah. And I was worried. I didn’t know how to contact you to make sure you were all right.”
“We’ll remedy that,” he promised.
Her breath hitched.
“I want you, Gracen. I like you. My life is dangerous and it’s complicated and for your own safety I should walk away.”
“I don’t like the idea of you being in danger.”
“No? I don’t like the idea of you being in danger either.”
“I’m tougher than I look.” She straightened her shoulders. “You don’t know, but I could be a closet badass.”
“Are you?”
She sighed. “No. Damn it, sometimes it’s a curse being so honest.”
“Not for me, it’s refreshing. I don’t have many honest people in my life.”
“Well, you can have me.” She winced. “I just offered myself up on a platter, didn’t I?”
“I like that you want me. Because you have no idea how much I want you. I just have to figure out a way to keep you safe.”
“So, you’re not walking away?” she asked hopefully.
“Right now, it would be impossible to leave you. But once you know the full truth about me, you might run.”
“I’m not going to run. Don’t really have the body for it. Obviously.” She gestured at her body.
He moved in close once more, his mouth brushing her ear. “Told you what I think about you putting yourself down. And what I expect. Do it again, and you’ll learn how you’ll be punished.”
Drawing back, he stared down at her, studying her. She got the feeling he expected her to fight back.
If only he knew what was going on in her body right now. He’d know that getting away from him was very, very far down the list.
She licked her lips. “Was that supposed to turn me off?”
“Fuck, baby. Keep saying stuff like that and I won’t ever be able to let you go.”
“I’m like red wine. I get better with age. Well, some red wines. There’s some that I swear taste like cat piss. And wow, I wish I really hadn’t said that.”
Urgh. What was wrong with her?
“Look at your menu. You need to eat. What would you like?”
No one had ever told her that she needed to eat before. Jacob had been on the Anita-train of thought when it came to her weight. Meaning he thought she was overweight as well.
Honestly, it was refreshing. And the way he warned her off talking badly about her body?
Delicious.
She squirmed on her seat and his hand went back to her thigh. “Still.”
She drew in a sharp breath but froze in place.
“Good girl.”
Warmth flooded her at his words.
“What would you like to eat?” he asked.
“I was thinking of the Cobb salad.”
He raised his eyebrows, staring down at her. “That’s really what you want? Or are you choosing it because it’s the second cheapest item on the menu? What’s wrong? Couldn’t stomach the garden salad?”
“Damn it, you’re observant.”
“There’s very little about you I don’t notice.”
“That could be a good thing or bad thing, I guess,” she muttered.
“Good for your pleasure,” he told her. “Bad for your ass.”
“W-what? Why?” And could they go back to that pleasure thing?
“Because you won’t get away with much and that means that if you do something you’re not supposed to, then your ass will pay the price.”
She leaned into him. “Are you threatening to spank me?”
He stared down at her. “Scared?”
“Nope. I don’t scare easily.”
“Need you to remember that later.”
Well, that wasn’t ominous or anything.
6
Victor gestured for the server. The man rushed over, nearly tripping over his own feet. She winced in sympathy. She understood how Victor could look intimidating if you didn’t know him. Hell, even once you did know him.
She was under no illusions that anything would last. She doubted that she was like any of the other women he’d been with. Frankly, she was shocked that she kept his attention at all.
But she had. So, who said she couldn’t reap the rewards while she had it?
“C-can I help you, Mr. M—”
“Yes,” Victor told him. “We’ll both have the filet mignon, I’ll take mine rare, no sauce and . . .” He looked at her.
“Oh, I’m allowed to choose?” she asked dryly.
“I can order it for you if you’d like.”
“No, nope, that’s okay. I’ll have it well-done, thanks. With mushroom sauce.” She’d never had mushroom sauce with her steak. It sounded rather delicious.