Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 102903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
We even exchanged cell numbers, and I’m going to make a point to invite her to lunch with me and Monica from here on out.
Stepping out into the hall, I close the door behind me and make sure it locks tightly for the safety of everyone still inside, and then I make my way down the hall to the stairwell door and push through. Light from outside pours into the narrow space, and my eyes blink and water as they try to adjust. I swear, I work in the equivalent of a cave.
With slow and purposeful steps, to make sure I don’t fall, I make my way down the two flights to the exit door and push through into the fading sun of spring.
And the first thing my gaze comes into contact with is Dom. The van is gone, but he leans against the wall of the building, one cowboy-booted foot kicked up against the brick, his phone in his hand as he scrolls. He’s not in his normal professional-detective-suit attire but, instead, sports the same clothes he had on this morning. Though, with the crispness of his white T-shirt, it appears he’s made at least one alteration.
This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed how attractive he is, but for some reason, right now, it feels impossible not to look. Gawk, actually. Because hell’s bells, Dominic Dunn is . . . handsome. He’s the kind of rugged, magnetic guy who could make any room feel too small just by stepping into it.
I take in the way the sun’s rays bounce off his light-brown hair and the way his blue-green eyes are so damn striking that I can actually see the colors from this far away. My gaze travels slowly down his body, taking in every inch of his muscled-up frame.
He’s not just handsome, Hannah. He’s insanely flipping hot in the most entrancing way.
He’s even got a little scruff on his jawline going today, which he manages to pull off just as well as the clean-shaven look of every other day. And he probably didn’t shave because he was too busy sleeping outside your house so that you’d feel safe. The realization hits me in the chest, a raw, poignant ache spreading beneath my ribs so quickly that I falter a little in my steps.
Dom’s head jerks up, and when his eyes lock onto my face, his mouth kicks up into this attractive-as-hell half smile that I feel from my stomach to my freaking toes. “You ready?”
“Yep,” I answer, practically having to claw the words out of my own throat as I close the distance between us.
He kicks away from the wall and gestures for me to go first, then falls into step beside me as we walk down the sidewalk toward the parking garage three blocks away. We’re silent at first, awkward even, but after we cross the street at the first curb and step up onto the next block, Dom pulls us right out of it.
“By the way, after I dropped you off this morning, I ran to the auto parts store and got you a new battery.”
My head spins to face him at Mach speed. “You did?”
“Yeah,” he says with a nod, his whole face lighting up with a smile. “I’ll put it in for you when we get back to your house. Then you won’t have to worry about it.”
My heart squeezes at the gesture. It’s not just thoughtful—it’s selfless. And something about that strikes me deep. Besides Lovie, I can’t remember the last time anyone did anything like that for me.
“Wow. Thank you, Dom,” I whisper with my whole chest, wanting him to know how much I mean it. “Just . . . thank you.”
“Hannah, it’s no problem.” His easy grin and the playful way he winks at me send an unexpected warmth beneath my skin. “Besides the job, I’m a single guy with lots of free time.”
He’s single? I assumed a guy like him was already snatched up by some beautiful bombshell.
“Seriously.” He reaches out, his fingers grazing my forearm with a touch so light it sends a shiver down my spine. The warmth of his skin against mine ignites a flicker of want. For him. I nearly laugh. It figures I’d finally find the time to feel my vagina when it’s the very least appropriate opportunity I can imagine. I mean, this is Detective Dominic Dunn—the lead police officer on the murder investigation I’m participating in by taking sex calls, for Pete’s sake. “I was happy to do it. I know you have plenty on your plate already.”
I force myself to put him back in the safety of his box for my sanity. He’s doing his job—that’s it.
“Oh yeah.” I nod, laughing sardonically. “Quite the little life I have going, huh? Wake up; do phone sex; come home; talk about NCIS with my mom, who has no idea who I am; go to sleep; repeat.” I snort. “At least Lovie’s there tonight, so I’ll have a little bit of conversation and get a good night’s sleep.”