Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 142214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 711(@200wpm)___ 569(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 711(@200wpm)___ 569(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
“Fine, you could stay involved, but you’d have enough staff to delegate the parts of the job you don’t enjoy. No one loves their job one hundred percent, Wren.”
She did. Even the challenging parts, like investing in ads and figuring out how to get a lucrative return on her investment. Every challenge motivated her to some degree. It was hard, but that made it that much more rewarding.
“Listen, Wren, I love seeing your dreams come to life. We all knew this was your vision since our moms passed. You’ve done what you said you would and made an incredible tribute to honor her life. People from all over the country travel to Hideaway Harbor just to stay at your place.”
“Thank you.”
His praise meant more than he realized. The Haven wasn’t only named after her mother, it was designed to share all the things she loved with the world. She’d lost her life too early and hadn’t had time to create a legacy, but Wren created one for her.
“I respect that you’re an independent woman, Wren. But, if we were to actually do this, nothing would stop me from spoiling you.”
“I don’t need to be spoiled.”
“I realize you don’t. No one does.” He took her hand again, this time not letting her go when she tried to pull away. “I know you can handle the work. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to make your life a little easier.”
Thankfully, the waiter returned before she figured out a response.
After placing her order, she excused herself, needing a few minutes to find her bearings. Unfortunately, the champagne was already hitting her, making the world softer around the edges. By the time she wobbled back to the table in her fancy gold heels, she acknowledged she should probably stop drinking, but there Soren sat, waiting with that same intense stare, so she decided to have another glass.
Soren continued to push her boundaries throughout the meal, holding her gaze a few seconds too long, unapologetically flirting, taking any chance he got to brush his hand over hers. The more the champagne went to her head, the more she found herself enjoying his uninterrupted attention, basking in the heat of his focus like a cat in sunlight.
By dessert, she was completely drunk. “I think I drank too much cham—” She hiccupped. “—pagne.” She giggled and wagged her finger at him. “Don’t try anything funny on the way home.”
“I make no promises.”
“You better. I need you to be Protective-Soren, now.” She cupped her hand at the side of her mouth and whispered a fake cry for help, “Save me! I’m smashed, on a date with a very determined man who thinks I’m pretty.”
Leaning back in his seat like a king occupying a throne, he chuckled. “Very pretty.” Holding his jaw in the V of his forefinger and thumb, he eyed her carefully. “Don’t worry. I’ll always protect you from bad boys.”
“Including yourself?”
“I’m not one of the bad ones.”
She smiled, her face warm and pleasantly numb. “No, you’re not.”
The waiter returned for one final lap to ask if they wanted coffee. Soren lifted a brow in question and she figured why the hell not.
“Two coffees.”
The waiter disappeared, and they fell into a comfortable silence broken only by the distant crash of waves against the cliffs below.
“This is nice,” he commented, studying her the way he had most of the night.
“Yeah. The food was outstanding.”
“No, I meant this—being here with you.”
She smiled as her vision wavered around the objects on the table until it settled unsteadily on him. “I’m actually having more fun than I thought I would.”
“See? We’re good together. Familiar.”
They were familiar with each other, but she didn’t know if she could do this again. The weight of her guilt pressed against her conscience. “You’re really special to me, Soren.”
“I have the same feelings.”
“So special that I don’t think we should go on another date.”
“Wren—”
“Just hear me out.” She splayed her fingers to hold back his objections. “I only have Bodhi and you guys. You’re my entire world. If we go there, and it doesn’t work out, I lose a quarter of my world.”
“You’d never lose me.”
“You can’t say that. People fall in and out of love all the time. Divorce happens, and it can get really nasty.”
“Do you honestly think I could ever be nasty to you? My brothers would skin me alive.”
“Or, they’d take your side, and I’d lose even more of the people I love.” There was just too much to risk.
Once again, he took her hand, his thumb tracing circles against her palm. “That’s not going to happen. I swear to you, Wren. Even if things don’t work out between us, I give you my word that I would never disrespect you in any way.”
She sighed, doubt churning in her stomach like acid. One way or another, someone was going to get hurt. And despite all of his well-intentioned promises, Soren had a short temper and he was known to be a poor loser when he didn’t get his way. “You realize I had a date with Logan.”