Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Tell me about your family.” She fucking reads my mind.
I can’t help grinning. “You sure you want to open that can of worms, sweetheart? There’s a lot of us, and we’re all a little crazy.”
She meets my eyes over the rim of her wine glass, her mouth twitching like she’s trying not to smile. “Try me.”
I squeeze her hand tighter, feeling the delicate bones beneath her soft skin. "Okay, but you asked for it." My thumb traces slow circles on her palm. "I've got one sister and three brothers, all annoying as hell in their own special ways. Our parents died in a plane crash several years ago, and Hudson, my oldest brother, stepped in to take over running the family. The big asshole is big on rules and responsibility and has a stick up his ass the size of Texas. But he’s all about family. I'm next in line, the better-looking one." I wink at her, loving how the vein at the base of her throat pounds away. "Then there's Tanner, the real Carrington smart ass. Next is Silas, my youngest brother, who thinks he's God's gift to the world, but he’s really just a pain in my ass. And Maggie—" My voice softens despite myself. "Silas' twin, the smallest thing you ever saw, but twice as fierce. She married her old high school crush. After my brothers and I tortured him a little bit."
Reine lets out a snort loud enough to make the couple in the next booth glance over. “I bet you did. You look exactly like the kind of brother who’d haze someone just for asking your sister to the prom.”
I can’t help it—I start laughing, for real. “We gave Todd hell, but the fucker survived, but barely.” I shake my head, thinking of the time Silas slipped ghost peppers into Todd’s breakfast tacos. “He’s a good guy who fucking loves my sister. Maggie gives him hell and he loves it.”
She’s watching me, blue eyes sparkling, like she can’t decide if she wants to roll her eyes or kiss me. Fuck, I hope it’s both.
I lean in closer, still holding her hand under the table. “That’s the thing about my family. We’re a mess, but we’re loyal. You get one of us, you get the whole pack. And if anyone ever messed with you…” I trail off, letting the threat hang thick between us. I squeeze her hand, just tight enough to let her feel it. “I’d make them regret it. Nobody fucks with what’s mine.”
Her cheeks go pink, but she doesn’t look away. Damn, she’s got guts. I love the little tremor in her jaw, like she wants to tell me off and crawl into my lap at the same time. I want both. Hell, I want everything.
She gives me a look, blue eyes sharp. “That’s big talk, Mr. Carrington.”
I grin, slow and dirty, and squeeze her hand tight enough that she can’t pretend she doesn’t feel it. “It’s not just talk, sweetheart. I mean every word.”
Her cheeks flush even deeper. She tries to glare, but her mouth quirks at the corner, and I know she wants to smile. Fuck, she’s so damn cute I want to bite her. “You’re insane.”
I squeeze her hand, heat pouring off me. “Only for you, sweetheart.”
Her blue eyes go wide for a second, like I just knocked the wind out of her. Oh, shit. Did she think I was kidding? Not a fucking chance. I want to tattoo my name on her soul and make sure every man in Montana knows she’s off the market for good.
The food arrives, and I barely register the perfectly seared steak in front of me. All I can do is watch Reine as she takes her first bite. Her eyes flutter closed, lips parting around the fork, and fucking hell, my cock nearly rips through my pants. She moans, just a little, and the sound shoots straight through my chest and lands low in my gut.
I want to drag her out of this booth, right now, haul her into the alley, and pin her against the wall until she’s screaming my name.
Instead, I grip my whiskey hard enough to crack the glass. Every move she makes is torture. The way she licks a drop of red wine from her lip causes my heart rate to triple. I want to taste it off her mouth. Off her skin. Fuck, I want to devour her.
There’s a lull while the waitress brings dessert menus, and Reine surprises me by ordering the chocolate lava cake. “My favorite,” she says, unapologetic.
“God, you’re perfect,” I blurt, then want to kick myself for sounding like a Hallmark reject.
She laughs, this cute little sound that nearly knocks me out of the booth. Her smile is bright and messy and real, and all I want is to lean over and devour her right here.