Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 599(@250wpm)___ 499(@300wpm)
“Hey.” She stood in the doorway, still in that dress. He was certain some women would look nice in a dress like that, but on Kenzie it should be fucking illegal. She was the sweetest treat, with her breasts offered up like fruit by the corset-like bodice, and those long legs highlighted by the high slit in the gown.
“Hey.” His cock was already hard as a rock, and they’d barely gotten back to her place. “Is your roommate okay with me staying?”
A brilliant smile crossed her face. She’d been a bouncy ball of sunshine all night. She’d held his hand and introduced him to all her friends and family, and his lonely ass had soaked it all in. Had been stunned that she could be this open and happy after what she did for her job.
But then maybe the difference was why they did the job. She seemed to do it because she believed.
He had joined up to take down Manny Huisman.
Where the hell would he be if he managed to do it? What would the rest of his life look like?
He shoved the questions aside because Kenzie joined him, sitting down next to him so close their hips touched.
“Bri? She’s cool, though you should be prepared to get grilled in the morning. She’s already got a list of questions for you. Just so you know she is not super into the whole ‘it’s classified and I can’t talk about it’ excuse.”
“Uhm, why does she want to question me?”
“She’s an author. Well, she’ll tell you she’s trying to be an author, but she’s written a couple of books so I say she’s already an author.” Her expression turned serious. “Are we going to talk about it?”
He didn’t want to talk. “How about we chalk up the whole lying to me thing to a professional problem and move on.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Just like that?”
He shrugged. “Just like that.”
She’d see it as proof that he wanted her.
Her eyes closed and she sniffled. When she opened them again, she stood up. “Then you’re not really here for me.”
“What are you talking about? This has all been about you.” What was she trying to do? Manipulate him, almost certainly.
She stared at him for a moment, and Ben realized she had a hell of a dumbass-said-what face. “Let’s see if I can get this right. I’ve been thinking about it all night, and there’s a piece of me that wants to ignore it and be happy you’re here and be in love for a while.”
He would argue with the word love, but that was a battle he didn’t want to fight tonight. “And you’re choosing not to why? Was I not attentive enough? Did I not tell you what a goddess you are in that dress?”
“Yes, but you wouldn’t listen when I wanted to talk about Nepal.”
He stood and put his hands on her arms, staring down into that exquisite face of hers. “I want to move on. I don’t want to argue. I want some peace between us.”
She stepped back. “Then you’ve probably got the wrong girl and we’re in the wrong line of work. You know I’ve considered it from time to time. I’ve considered quitting and seeing if that helped. I decided my job is nonnegotiable. I’ll step down at some point, but not now.”
“I never asked you to quit.”
“What if I asked you to,” she began.
“Why would you want that?”
“Because I worry this obsession with Dr. Huisman will kill you, and that will kill me, too.”
He sighed and moved into her space again. He could save this. “I’ll be fine because we’re going to take him down together. I’ve got a whole plan laid out with the new intel we have from Nepal. I’m presenting it to your father tomorrow. We’re going to deal with the situation and then we can talk about how to proceed. I will consider moving here, but I’m not quitting until Manny’s in jail. Kenz, if you want me to tell you I’m mad at you, I am, but I’ll get over it, and I’ll get over it a hell of a lot faster if you kiss me. Way faster if you take off your clothes and let me spank your pretty ass.”
She stared at him for a moment as though contemplating her next move.
Or trying to figure out if he was worth the risk.
“I’m going to need help with the corset.” She turned and offered him her back.
“Just like that?” he parroted back to her.
Her shoulders shrugged. “Not really. I’m making a calculated move since I’m worried you’re viewing this as a chess match rather than seeing if a relationship between us can work. I think you decided collaborating with my team is the best way to get Huisman, and we all know you’ll do anything to achieve that particular goal.”