Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“It hasn’t ruined anything. Not yet.”
He exhales roughly.
“And fuck—all the rumors around me could smear you, too. You’ve got a life and a career.”
“What rumors? That we’re dating?” I smile unevenly. “And we’ll worry about my career when my designs give me one.”
Still, I’m so confused.
“Goddammit.” His eyes glaze as he stares into space over my head. “We never should’ve come here.”
Ouch.
My heart shatters like a frozen ball of ice.
“Now you’re being ridiculous.” I reach up and pat his cheek. “Look at me. Look at you. We’re cool. We’re not at anyone’s mercy besides ourselves.”
He shakes his head severely.
“I can’t have my shit affecting you.”
“How am I affected, Kane? Am I missing a limb?” I reach up, fingers tangling in his scruff until he looks at me. “Dude. I’m more resilient than you give me credit for. This isn’t the end of the world. We’ll just keep a low profile until it’s time to go.”
“Time to go,” he repeats bitterly. His fingers fold around my wrist and he slowly pushes my hand away. “You make it sound so simple.”
I don’t like the bite in his voice.
“It is simple. The only thing this crap ruined is having lunch at the diner. We just need to be careful hopping around town. Here, we’re safe.”
He levels a look that reminds me how unsafe we might be in this house.
Me and my stupid mouth.
But finally, his lips curl, though his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I should’ve been more careful.”
“Stop that. No more blaming yourself. This is what fame is, and I’m sure the kids know it. We got them out of there ASAP. Plus, you set the cameras up, so it’s not like any ballsy reporters will show up creeping around the house.”
Too optimistic, maybe.
Some people definitely could trespass for a big story or a few candid photos, but I’m hoping we’re not worth the risk.
His eyes harden.
I wish I could take back trying to make this bear of a man feel better.
“It’s complicated with the kids,” he says. “And with you. Shit.” He’s still holding my wrist like he’s forgotten he has it. “If it wasn’t for the stalker crap, we’d probably be on our way back to New York right now.”
My veins turn to ice as the reality of what he said sinks in.
The only reason he’s here is to keep me in one piece.
Not because he wants to stay, necessarily.
He’s just too worried about leaving me alone, in danger.
Oh, I should be relieved that he’s this good. But all I can feel is my hurt heart pounding and my brain going dizzy.
I’m used to being the summer girl. The temporary fling.
But holy shit, I’m not good enough for him to say it?
To tell me he stayed because he loves my company? He loves—
Oh my God, no.
He doesn’t love me, and I have no business thinking he might.
I stagger backward.
“You know what, don’t bother. If that’s how you feel, maybe we should all leave.”
His eyebrows lift.
“Margot, that’s not what I meant.” He growls, raking a hand through his hair. “I just meant—look, cutting and running would only be worse.”
Worse than hanging around out of pity?
Out of obligation?
I don’t think so.
“I can be out of your hair by tomorrow,” I say.
“No, wait.” He takes my arm, stopping me as I’m heading for the door. “I can’t keep making stupid decisions. You hear me, woman? I can’t fuck things up again.”
“Again?” I rip myself free from his hold.
So in his mind, I’m one more item on his long list of mistakes.
“Where are you running? Will you stop taking everything I say the worst way possible?” he snarls.
“I’m not running anywhere, Kane Saint,” I say, stopping at the door. “Maybe you should stop running and figure it out.”
Nothing will ever take away the peaceful nights.
It’s one of those rare fall nights where the wind sings, the trees creak with whispers, and the stars wink down from moving curtains of clouds.
Below, muffled voices float through my open window, softly bruising my heart.
Mostly the kids.
They’re talking and Dan’s drumming—just a soft patter. I’m sure he’s trying to keep it down.
Occasionally, Kane’s deep voice cuts in with encouragement and stories about the constellations crisscrossing the sky.
He knows a lot about stargazing.
I wonder if he’s had it for years or if he just looked up the myths so Sophie would have a little help from her loving dad.
That’s totally Kane.
An explosive human contradiction who can shift from tender to torrid in ten seconds flat.
Our argument stings.
He never came up to find me since I stormed out, and I’ve been sitting in my room all afternoon, only sneaking down for food after I knew they’d eaten.
Of course, he left me a plate.
Of course, this rich beef stew with thick broth served over delicious sticky rice hit the spot.
He’s murdering my low carb routine along with my better senses.