Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Because they were always safe.
Three weeks had passed since Lacey’s wedding and this was the third date he’d been on. The other two dates had come from some matchmaking site that Clay had signed him up to. They’d been fucking disasters. So he’d figured he’d try a date with a friend of a friend.
It was winding up to be a disaster as well.
Not through any fault of hers.
No, this was all on him. All because he couldn’t get a certain woman out of his mind.
Fuck.
Who knew that every glimpse of pink and orange would get his heart racing and having him instantly on alert?
Ridiculous.
He needed to focus on what this woman was saying . . . Jocelyn. On what Jocelyn was saying.
“I’m sorry, I’m rattling on about my job and I haven’t even given you a chance to talk.”
God. Even her laugh was perfect. Like twinkling bells.
Light and sweet.
Not raucous and loud. She didn’t laugh with her entire body.
Fuck.
He was not becoming obsessed with Caren Stanford. That could not happen.
There was no room for that crazy, rude woman in his life. He’d barely seen her the day of the wedding, even though he’d found himself looking for her.
Something else that had annoyed him.
He admitted that most things annoyed him. Maybe he was turning into a grouchy old man.
That subs ran from.
He’d never noticed it before Clay pointed it out. But a lot of the subs at Whip It did tend to back away from him. At least the ones who weren’t masochists. And he wasn’t even a fucking sadist.
So what did that say about the state of his mind?
He was pretty sure that he didn’t want to know.
“I wouldn’t say you were rattling on.” He forced a smile. “It was interesting stuff.”
“You sure about that?” she asked dryly. “I’d bet that you didn’t hear anything I said.”
“You’d lose that bet,” he said firmly. “I heard what you said.”
She leaned forward. “It’s all right if this isn’t working out. You can just say and we can call it quits. I don’t want to waste either of our time.”
Yeah. She was a seriously smart, nice woman.
“Sorry if I have been off my game. I just . . . I haven’t really done this before.”
“Done what? Dated a stranger?”
“Dated at all,” he said dryly.
Her eyebrows rose and she let out a surprised laugh. “Wow. Okay. I wasn’t expecting that. You’re a date virgin.”
He grimaced. “Don’t think you should really put me and the word virgin into a sentence together.”
She grinned and that perfectness slipped slightly. “Fair enough.”
“Sorry this hasn’t been the best date. I have been told I’m not great company. Sitting around and making small talk isn’t my thing.” He waited for her reaction. The other two dates he’d been on, well, those women hadn’t appreciated his blunt honesty.
Jocelyn’s eyes danced. “Understood.”
“You’re perfect, you know,” he blurted out.
She paused and to his surprise, she stared at him like he’d said something she’d never heard before.
But she had to know how beautiful she was, right?
“I’ve never heard that from a guy at the end of a date,” she said.
“Seriously? You should hear it all the time. You’re perfect. None of this was about you.”
“Right,” she said, still looking slightly confused. “This was a strange date, but you seem like a decent guy. Tell you what, if you decide you want to chance another date, call me. I promise, no small talk. You can choose the activity. You don’t call, no hard feelings. Okay?”
“Yeah, that sounds fair enough.”
She stood and he went to stand, but she waved her hand at him. “Don’t get up. I can see myself out.”
“Are you driving?” He glanced down at the single glass of wine she’d had. “You should get a taxi. I’ll wait with you while one comes.”
“I’ve had one drink, I’ll be fine. I got myself here on my own and I can leave safely on my own. I’ve lived in this city a long time.”
Even though his protective instincts didn’t like letting her walk out into the dark on her own, he knew he couldn’t force himself on her.
Something else that his brothers had drilled into him.
According to Tyler, he had no idea how to date or treat a woman. Which was ridiculous.
Although his last date had ended with her actually running away from him.
After paying the bill, he stood and turned. His gaze went to her immediately; he wasn’t certain how anyone could miss her. Tonight, she was wearing a neon pink silky shirt that dipped down in the front to show far too much cleavage for his liking.
Not your business.
But what the hell was she doing here? How did she end up in the same restaurant as he was in? New York City was enormous. This couldn’t be a coincidence, could it?
Although, it didn’t seem like she was following him. She wasn’t even on her own. There was a huge ass motherfucker sitting across from her.