Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
For tonight, though, I would take it. As soon as I was sure he was asleep with his rhythmic exhales and complete relaxation, I pressed a kiss to that spot behind his ear and murmured the words.
“I love you so fucking much.”
In the morning, he was gone, as I’d known he would be, and I was back to my lonely existence, completely at the mercy of his mercurial moods.
Which was why I decided to shake it up a little.
And accepted a date with the pretty outsider who’d shown up in Legacy for his hashtag holidates.
Unfortunately, before I could enjoy my bonfire date with Adrian Hayes—which I knew wasn’t really a date—the state fire marshal called to inform me in the politest of terms that I should pop into “that restaurant” for an inspection focused on their holiday decorations.
Since I was in the mood to needle him—and make sure Juni had replaced the K-class fire extinguisher—I headed to Timber during the lunch rush.
“Hi, Mali,” I said in a cheerful voice. “Happy holidays. How are you?”
She flashed me an uncertain smile. “Uh, okay? You here for lunch, Chief?” she asked hopefully.
“Nope. Here to check on Juni and her beloved fire extinguisher.”
She let out a little puff of air. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to come back in two hours when Alex is at a dentist appointment, could I?”
I grinned at her. “Not a chance.”
She hesitated. “Wait here.” And then she hustled to the back.
I waited patiently, waving hellos to people I knew and thanking several others who wished me a happy holiday. By the time Mali returned with Alex, I was actually feeling the holiday spirit.
“No,” he said upon greeting me.
“Ah, you’ve chosen to be the Grinch today, I see,” I said with a big grin. “Come on, why not embrace our new season of fire safety inspections? After all, I gave you an out, and you chose not to take it. I actually think you like getting… inspected from time to time.”
His eyes blinked rapidly as his lungs filled with hot air, ready to spew vitriol at me. “W-what? I most certainly do not!”
I shrugged. “Welp, might as well get it over with. I want this even less than you do, so let’s go.”
Alex followed me into the kitchen, still sputtering. Thankfully, the fire extinguisher was back where it belonged, even if it did have a framed photo of me above it with devil horns and a goatee scribbled on it in black Sharpie marker.
I took a similar marker out of my bag and leaned in to autograph it over the glass without saying a word. Juni actually let out a snort of laughter, so I winked at her.
Alex was not amused by any of it.
“Show me clear egress,” I said. “And I’ll be out of your hair.”
When we got to the back door, which was clear and passed the inspection, Alex poked a finger into my chest. “Stop coming here.”
I leaned in and brushed my lips over his ear. “Did you wake up hard and aching in my bed this morning, Firebug?”
His body shuddered. “N-no.”
I brushed my nose across his cheek and noticed he didn’t pull away. “Liar. I’ll bet you woke up with my morning wood pressed against your hole, and you thought about it. Thought about stripping us down and backing up onto my cock, didn’t you?”
His eyes fluttered closed. “I didn’t.”
“Didn’t do it or didn’t think about it?” I teased softly. “Either way, it’s too bad. I would have enjoyed waking up buried in your hot, tight ass.”
Two could play at the torture game.
And when I left Timber a minute later, I felt like I’d finally at least gotten myself on the board.
31
ALEX
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Two days after the random fucking fire inspection—which had honestly become even more of a pain in my ass than the dental cleaning that came right after it—one of my beer taps broke and sprayed expensive IPA all over me.
I headed to Sullivan Hardware in hopes of finding what I needed to fix it without having to call the equipment company up in Billings.
As the bell over the hardware store door tinkled, I spotted Maddox’s sister chatting with the usual contingent of Legacy gossips… which apparently now included Adrian Hayes, the influencer I’d skipped out on “dating.” We’d met finally, and I had to admit I liked the guy. But not like that. He was nice, but a little too fancy for me.
“Maya,” I pleaded, throwing myself on her mercy, “please tell me you have something that can fix a broken beer tap.”
“O-rings and gaskets are right over there, plumbing section,” she said, pointing toward an aisle.
Adrian threw out a friendly smile. “Alex, what’s your favorite Christmas movie?”