Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
With my mind roiling, I pull into the driveway and my heart skips a beat because Hunter’s truck is already there. Oh my goodness. Is Alex here too? But a quick glance around the neighborhood reveals no sign of my stepbrother’s car, so I think we have the cottage to ourselves. I force myself to walk to the front door at a calm, normal pace, and when I enter the kitchen and see Hunter sitting at the table, I force myself to smile nonchalantly. But inside, butterflies flutter in my stomach because even sight of the gorgeous alpha male turns my knees to jelly.
“Hey,” Hunter rumbles without looking up from some greasy spare part he’s working on at the kitchen table. My stepfather owns North Auto, an auto body shop in Allentown, and he frequently brings work home with him. Secretly, I think the older man needs to constantly be busy. Why, though, I don’t know.
“Hi,” I breathe, intending to sound laid-back, but undoubtably failing because Hunter’s so unbelievably hot. His black hair hangs over his forehead as he works, his dark brow furrowed in concentration. He’s still wearing his blue coveralls with the North Auto logo, but the top half is pulled down, exposing a grease-stained wife beater. The muscles in his shoulders and arms ripple as he moves the part to the side with his enormous hands. I see him all the time, but his hulking, masculine frame never ceases to stop me in my tracks, blanking my mind.
My mouth has gone dry, so I set my purse down on the counter and pour myself a glass of water from the tap. This makes Hunter look up at me, his incredibly handsome face making it hard for me to swallow.
“How was your day?” he rasps, his piercingly blue eyes flashing from behind thick, black lashes.
“Boring as always,” I manage to squeak, but his eyes are on my lips and it’s distracting. I can’t help but return the stare, letting my eyes trace his strong nose, those sensuous lips, and the dark stubble along his square jaw. “I see Alex isn’t home yet,” I add quickly, suddenly scared of being alone with Hunter. Scared of my lust for him and that it will make me do or say something stupid.
“Nope,” Hunter growls, and his eyes flash suddenly. “Why? Do you want him to be?” he adds, getting up from the chair. His six-four frame towers above me as he fills the small kitchen space. Do I detect a note of jealousy in his voice?
“Not especially,” I breathe. “Only, I…”
“Only what?” Hunter demands. Am I really going to ask him? Because if I do, there’s no going back. If I don’t, we can carry on like those texts aren’t happening, like it’s not real. As long as whatever there is between us is happening in text form, we could be anybody in the world, and not stepfather and stepdaughter. But if I ask him, I’ll bring the issue out into the open and things will never be the same again. Am I ready for that?
“Only… I…” I stammer, unable to stop myself. “I was wondering…”
“Yes?” Hunter asks, one black brow arched.
“Whether you’d thought of something yet?” I blurt out before I know what I’m doing.
“Thought of something?” he asks, blue eyes flashing. “What do you mean?” But I can tell that he knows what I’m asking. And he’s going to make me say it.
“I mean, have you thought of something to put me in my place?” I whisper, parting my lips as I keep my eyes on his. “Like a good spanking? Or manhandling my curves?”
Oh shit. It’s out. The words have been said and they tremble in the air, filled with promise. I can’t put the genie back in the bottle, that’s clear.
Meanwhile, Hunter’s jaw clenches as his palm, which had been resting on the back of one of the kitchen chairs, turns into a white-knuckled fist. Uh oh. I messed up, and now he’s furious. I watch his eyes rove over the curves of my bosom, my waist, and my wide hips, before he literally growls low in the back of his throat. He sounds angry. Feral, even. Shit, shit, shit. What was I thinking? We had an unspoken understanding, and I’ve just broken it.
“Um, would you like me to make you some dinner?” I blurt out in a bright voice with an insipid smile on my face. “I just bought some tomatoes from the store, and they look really ripe and juicy.” The chatter is inane, but it’s not too late! Maybe if I change the topic fast enough, we can pretend like this never happened.
“No,” Hunter grunts, grabbing his keys off of the table. “I’m going out.” Then without another word, he stalks out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. I stand frozen to the spot as I listen to him rev the engine of his truck, back out of the driveway, and drive off with tires screeching. My shoulders collapse as tears fill my eyes because I know that I’ve just ruined everything.