Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
It was why he was at the bar, I realized.
Sighing, I kissed Atticus on his temple. I did know what he meant, but it didn’t change our situation. Genny couldn’t ride and I wouldn’t. We were entering a new era. “I’m heading to bed,” I said, then backed away, saying, “If I don’t see you before I leave, good luck in Mexico City.”
“You’re going home to England?” Atticus asked, still looking a little sad.
I nodded. I had to get back. I couldn’t . . . I couldn’t stay on the circuit and be around Hallie. It would be fucking torture.
Atticus cast me a sad smile, then Vivian Cross, an interviewer for Horse & Rider TV, grabbed hold of my cousin’s sleeve and began pawing at his chest. Atticus seemed only too happy to be touched and got back to his first love: women.
I headed up to my suite, Will taking his spot by the elevator once we made it to our floor. “’Night, Will,” I said with a wave, then headed to my room. As I passed by Hallie’s suite, my feet slowed. I checked my watch. It was well past midnight. She was probably in bed.
I tried to make my feet move, to leave her alone, but I stared at her door and wondered whether I should say goodbye to her. I was taking a commercial flight back home tomorrow, leaving the team with my jet to get to Mexico. And I wanted her to know I was proud of her. That she was a great addition to the team.
I’d keep it professional. I’d just say goodbye. I could do that.
Before I knew it, I’d knocked on her door. My heart pounded against my chest as I waited for her to answer. “You fucking idiot,” I told myself under my breath. Then Hallie appeared, and I bit my lip, holding in a groan . . .
Her dark hair looked freshly washed, flowing down to her waist, and she was dressed in a matching cream silk tank top and shorts. Her long, tanned legs seemed to go on for miles, her toned arms glistened with some kind of oil or cream she’d applied, and her tits . . . fuck, the top barely held them in.
“Jasper?” she said, surprise in her voice, searching the area around us.
I was stock still, dumbfounded. My lungs had stopped working, and my cock began to twitch. She was fucking stunning. No makeup, flushed cheeks. Bright-turquoise eyes framed by long, thick dark lashes. She lifted her hand and nervously ran it through her hair. I fought back a deep, guttural groan when I glimpsed the faded marks of where I’d hung her up by the reins as I’d fucked her until she’d screamed just nights ago.
Hallie followed what held my attention and a blush burst on her cheeks. But her eyes grew leaden too, like she was remembering the trailer as much as me.
“I . . .” I said, gruffly and cleared my throat. I leaned on the doorframe just to stop myself from pushing her back into the room and throwing her on the bed. “You were great this weekend,” I finally managed, then clenched my jaw.
Hallie’s responding smile nearly knocked me off my feet. “Thank you,” she said, and she cast me a shy look that almost knocked me on my arse. Hallie was not shy, and her sudden innocent appearance was like a hit of Viagra to my cock. In her white nightwear, with her hair down and that sweet smile, she looked every inch the angel I’d believed her to be that night in the barn. “You know, coming from you that means the world to me.” Hallie dipped her head. “These past few days . . . They’ve been a dream come true.”
Every word she spoke was sincere, but when she ran her right hand over her left wrist, over the fucking marks I’d put there, I gripped the doorframe so hard I feared the wood would splinter.
I needed to leave. I couldn’t take the scent of rose and vanilla that was flooding my nose. I couldn’t take her glistening skin, those fuck-me eyes, and her mouth that was just begging to be kissed.
“I’m leaving,” I said, finding my voice. Hallie froze. “Tomorrow.”
“Oh,” she said, her body tensed and her happiness faded away.
I stepped back from the door. I had to leave. “I just came to say well done, and goodbye.” I nodded and went to turn away when Hallie’s fingers wrapped around my forearm. I stared down at those fingers. Her nails were natural but neat, and her touch made a million fucking nerve endings spark to life. I looked up at the girl that was wrapping me around her fingers as much as her fingers were wrapped around my arm.