Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 804(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Two guards walk behind him. I feel like I am watching this in slow motion. He’s wearing a navy suit and pale pink shirt, navy tie. His height and stance dominate the men around him. His dark chocolate hair is super short which only accentuates his strong jaw line, dark skin and beautiful large lips…Dear God! My eyes close in pain and I drop my head.
I had forgotten how beautiful he is.
He walks gracefully down the corridor without noticing us tucked in the corner. My heart has stopped as I watch him from across the room. How can any human being hold so much sexual energy? It’s unfair.
I am immediately overcome with a wave of affection for him and my eyes fill with tears. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. Ben sees us and heads in our direction. I don’t know if I am going to wet myself or jump up and down and scream like a groupie. Bridget is now sitting sleepily in her chair and her eyes are about to bulge from her head as she looks at me. Yes, Bridget, I fucking see it. They walk over to us and Cameron immediately cuddles his mother and kisses her cheek. I am overcome with emotion as I scramble to my feet. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I stand at the back of the group like a child waiting for my turn. Joshua then turns and kisses my mum who has come out of the hospital room. He pulls her into an embrace and then Bridget, then Margaret. I stand still, frozen. My turn, my turn.
Cameron walks over to me. “Hi Tash,” he whispers as he kisses my cheek gently and puts his arm around me, but my eyes are firmly set on Joshua who hasn’t even looked in my direction. The family collectively hold their breath as I walk over to him. His hands are in his pockets and he is looking down at the ground.
“Hello, Joshua,” I whisper as I lean up to kiss him on the cheek.
His cold eyes meet mine and he turns his head to avoid my kiss.
“Don’t touch me,” he whispers.
CHAPTER 12
Natasha
I step back from him in shock and Bridget puts her arm around me gently in pity, as my heart drops. Don’t touch him…he told me not to touch him. I look at the ground immediately as I try to pull myself together, my world spinning on its axis. Robert, Joshua’s father, enters the room and laughs out loud at the sight of his two sons. He embraces them both. Bridget grabs my hand in support. I stand still, head down. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that. Wilson and Scott walk over and the family start talking. Cameron is asking Robert about the prognosis when I see something catch Joshua’s eye over my shoulder. He runs his tongue over the front of his top teeth.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he snaps as he brushes past me. I turn to see what he is doing, and I see him marching towards Max on the other side of the large room. Oh shit. I take off after him and catch up just in time to hear him snap, “Leave, before I kick your ass.” Max narrows his eyes and glares at Joshua.
“Joshua, don’t speak to him like that!” I gasp.
He turns on me like the devil himself. “I will speak to him any damn way I want to, Natasha. I will not sit here in the same room as this,” he looks him up and down, “traitor.”
“Joshua, just because Max helped me get home to Australia does not mean he is a traitor to you. He tried to get me to go back to you continually,” I reply nervously.
He steps back in disgust and Ben walks over. “Is there a problem here?” Ben asks as he gently grabs the back of Joshua’s elbow.
Joshua runs his tongue over his front teeth again as he glares at Max, then he turns back to the others. “Get rid of him,” he snaps as he walks off.
Max glares after him.
“You had better leave,” Ben remarks quietly to Max as he scratches the back of his neck.
Max’s eyes flick to me for approval. I can’t believe he just said that. I look over to Joshua who is blatantly furious. His hands are in his pockets, his legs wide, still glaring at Max while his brothers try to talk to him.
My eyes flick nervously between the two men. “Max, maybe you should go, there is enough security. I don’t need any more drama than I’ve got. Sorry,” I whisper.
Max bites his lip and nods. “Make sure Natasha has a guard with her till she gets home,” he says to Ben.
Ben nods and shakes Max’s hand, “Good to see you man.” He smiles.