Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
“You likes it?” He beamed like I’d just paid him the greatest compliment. His soft brown hair curling around his ears and wisping down his neck.
Cheeks chubby and pink.
“I do.”
“I is one,” he told me with a bob of his head.
He’d come clad in black jeans and a white tee and Converse on his feet. He had a fake tattoo of a heart that was beginning to peel on the back of his hand.
Hands down, he was the cutest little rebel ever. Hopefully his father’s bad behavior didn’t rub off on him.
“Almost two,” Elena clarified. “And I am twenty-two.”
With a slight laugh, she shimmied her shoulders, sending her ponytail swishing.
Elena was clad in a pink tank, high-waisted jeans, and sandals.
Definitely not dressed like the few women I’d seen hanging out around the bonfire last night.
She dipped down and scooped up Kai.
“You probably didn’t actually want to know that.” Self-deprecation rolled out of her as she inched closer to the high counter that separated us. “But just in case you see me sipping on a beer, I didn’t want you to run over and snatch it away from me like some of these punks like to do!”
She raised the last portion like the handful of men working in the bays attached to the office would overhear.
“I swear to God, they treat me like I’m ten,” she mumbled under her breath.
She leaned against the countertop, a tease all over her face. “Or maybe you did want to know because friends know these things about each other, right?”
It sounded almost hopeful.
My head spun. I was having a heck of a time trying to keep up with what in the world was happening.
“Um, yeah, I guess they do.”
Silence wafted around us before her brows lifted to her hairline in a prodding question.
Wait, what?
Is that what she was suggesting?
That we were supposed to be friends? And if so, then clearly I was supposed to reciprocate.
“I’m twenty-six.” I choked out the words.
I was surprised she didn’t fist pump the air with the way she grinned. “I feel like that’s perfect. I mean, there are a lot of women roaming around here, but I don’t think they really like me.”
Okay, I thought it was impossible not to like her, and I hated Silas Mercer even more for it.
I bet he treated her terribly.
I bet he lied and manwhored and complained and left her waiting for him at night.
That was if he didn’t treat her really, really badly, as if all of that wasn’t horrible enough.
Rage blistered through my insides at the thought.
If he did, I’d take her with me when I left. I’d figure out a way to get her and that adorable little boy out of here to someplace safe.
Maybe I’d take this whole freaking place down when I went.
Set it on fire.
“And how in the world could someone not like you?” I couldn’t help but give her the truth.
“Right?” She tossed her head back with a tinkling laugh, then she was back to looking at me with a cheeky smile.
“And maybe they don’t not like me. I think maybe they’re just leery of me or something? You know, because of my position?”
She whispered that part like it was a secret.
Right.
Her position.
Being with Silas, their president. I was suddenly burning with a thousand friendly questions.
Like how long had they been together and how on God’s green earth did she put up with his pompous ass?
But I didn’t let any of them go, and her smile was softening as she peered at me. “What do you think of your room? I know it’s small and everything, but I wanted to make sure it was cute and comfortable.”
Surprise jetted free. “You’re the one who decorated my room?”
She shrugged a self-conscious shoulder. “I hope you like pink. It’s my favorite, obviously.”
“What kind of weirdo doesn’t like pink?”
I had to admit I was feeling a whole lot better about that pink knowing where it came from. Thankful that room wasn’t some sort of strange kinky torture chamber.
“Right?” She giggled, swaying Kai before a bit of shyness ridged her demeanor. “I knew I was going to like you.”
I felt a gush of emotion roll out of her.
Not loneliness.
Something similar but different.
Isolation, I thought. Like maybe she was trapped.
Another rush of worry blustered beneath the surface of my skin.
Concerned about how she’d ended up here.
I had no idea who these men were or what they were like, but I’m sure they were capable of deplorable acts.
She snuggled Kai closer, and her voice dropped in gentle emphasis. “And I want you to know if you need anything at all, you can come to me. I know Silas probably told you to keep away from me, being the grumpy boss that he is, but as far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t get to control everything.”