Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
What the hell did she just say?
I make the mistake of inhaling a sharp breath which lodges the chewed burger in my throat. And then I can’t breathe. I’m choking. Eyes widening, I go into full-fledged panic mode.
I’m going to die.
Death by masticated meat.
My life flashes before my eyes.
I pound my fist on the table and then against my chest, but it does no good. Three sets of eyes stare in horror before Carter comes to life, jumping up from his chair. The motion sends it flying backward. All of a sudden, I’m hauled from the seat. He wraps his arms around my chest and makes a fist, pressing it sharply between my rib cage. He repeats the motion before the food trapped in my throat pops free and onto the table.
My legs give out and I slump in Carter’s arms. They band around me as emotion hits me all at once. I know it’s stupid to say, but Carter just saved my life. I could have choked to death on a Devon’s burger minus the onions and Ashley would have sat there and picked at her salad. Tears well in my eyes before streaking down my face.
Carter presses his mouth against my ear. “Are you okay?”
Unable to speak, I nod.
His voice dips, becoming more of an urgent whisper. One that arrows right to the heart of me. “I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you, Daisy. Not ever.”
I suck in a shaky breath. The guy I tried to poison with laxatives just saved my life. It’s not funny, but it kind of is.
I turn my face until my lips brush the side of his cheek. “Thank you.”
Instead of finding his proximity disconcerting, I want to close my eyes and lean more fully into him.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Why aren’t I fighting this attraction?
“You don’t have to thank me,” his voice turns gruff as his arms tighten around me until their warmth seeps through the cottony material of my shirt. I realize that I don’t want him to let me go. “I meant what I said, I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you.”
Unsure how to respond, I nod but stay silent.
And just like that, everything changes between us once again.
16
CARTER
The alarm goes off and I roll from bed. I’ve been lying here for the last thirty minutes thinking about Daisy. I need to burn off some of the excess energy crashing through my body. I have football practice three hours a day, five days a week and lift weights a couple times a week because I’m trying to stay away from the apartment when I know she’ll be around. You’d think all this physical activity would be enough to diffuse the hot spikes of need that flare to life inside me at the mere thought of her, but you’d be wrong.
She’s all I think about.
In a last-ditch effort, I’m going to hit the pavement in hopes that five miles will be enough to kill my growing lust.
You know what I need?
To get laid.
I need to bury my cock in some sweet pussy and forget all about Daisy Thompson. Forget about her long golden hair and flashing aquarium-colored eyes, and all those goddamn curves I want to get my hands on.
Yeah, that’s not helping.
As luck would have it, today is Thursday. And around here, that’s when the weekend starts.
I yank on a pair of athletic shorts along with a sleeveless T. I lace up my shoes, grab my phone and earbuds, and I’m ready to go. As I head out of my room, I hear someone else moving around the apartment. I stumble to a halt as Daisy comes around the kitchen corner. Her step falters as our gazes collide. She looks just as thrown by my presence as I am by hers.
My eyes flicker over her outfit. What I find doesn’t make me happy. My jaw locks at the shorts that are way too damn short. This girl certainly knows how to put the Daisy in Daisy Dukes. I’m not even going to mention the athletic tank top that molds her breasts to perfection.
Her hair has been pulled up into a ponytail, and there are trainers on her feet. Her phone is in hand, and pink earbuds are already in place. Apparently, we have the same idea. But I doubt she’s trying to work me out of her system the way I’m trying to work her out of mine.
Daisy pulls out an earbud. “Are you going for a run?”
Her eyebrows scrunch together. I get her confusion. Normally, I’m not up this early, but I’ve got a packed day ahead of me and this was the only time I could squeeze in a run. “Yup.”
She nods and shifts from one foot to the other. “Me, too.”
Neither of us say anything more. Instead, we head out the door to the staircase that will take us to the lobby. Thank God, because being alone with Daisy in the close confines of an elevator is dangerous. Especially when she’s wearing something so skimpy.