Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
She could do this.
Emma patted her pockets and pulled out a hair band, quickly putting her hair up into a haphazard ponytail.
Please don’t let me embarrass my little girl by doing this.
She pointed at the backboard. “The ball goes in the hoop thingy, right?”
A tall kid holding the ball grinned at her, his numerous freckles dark against his pale skin. “We’ll get you set right, Miss Emma.” He tossed her the ball and she caught it, heart beating hard as he too pulled his hair away from his face, using a band to turn it into a manbun.
They gave her a quick rundown of the rules and it was game on. Out of shape and not the best athlete anyway, she was exhausted after a few moments on the court but she wasn’t giving up.
When she actually made a basket, she squealed and laughed with the guys as they cheered her on. All gave her high fives or hugs.
With a bit of encouragement, they got her to do a dance on the court with them. Laughing, sweating, and exhausted, she looked up and saw Linc standing beside Mitchell. An amused grin tipped up Mitchell’s lips but that didn’t hold her focus for long. Linc did.
Great googily moogily. How did one man manage to look like her favorite dessert topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry on top? Even the artificial light didn’t detract from his dark skin, or the tattoos, or his chiseled expression.
I have to stop this.
His intense stare sent a different kind of pulse through her. Did I do something wrong? Did I fuck it up?
She smiled, even as her insides rebelled and tried to crawl up and out of her throat. Linc moved toward her, his steps purposeful and fucking hot. It wasn’t right how good he looked. Around her, the gym fell quiet as he neared. She flushed, for once in her life grateful that her skin was already tinted red from being active, so no one would think she was flushed because Linc approached.
The man didn’t stop, just moved right up into her space. The guys beside her shifted out of his way.
The second his hands cupped her jaw, her breathing hitched, only to flee as his mouth landed on hers. His touch was gentle, and she moaned as he dragged his tongue along the seam of her lips. Opening, she whimpered and gripped his wrists as he slipped his tongue in.
Sweet Jesus, no one had ever told her kisses could be like this. Not even the man who’d given her Greer had managed to pull a reaction from her like this man was doing. He slid one hand around to the nape of her neck, gripping it in a purely possessive move—one she wholeheartedly approved of.
He tasted of coffee and mint. Beneath that, though, was something she had a feeling was distinctly Linc.
The whistles and cheers finally sank in, for both of them, and he drew back, not far, just enough to rest his forehead on hers. She still held onto his wrists, fairly certain if she were to let go, her body would be on the floor. Her face heated again and he shook his head.
“No.”
She blinked. “No?”
“You don’t get to be embarrassed by that kiss.” His words were low but she wasn’t sure how private they were, given how close the boys were. “You’re my fiancée and I don’t want to hide it from everyone.”
Right. The show for Mr. Stevenson.
As the announcement spread, the whispered comments from everyone were nothing more than a hum to her and she nodded, not sure she could speak at the moment. His large hand flexed on her neck, reminding her how different they were.
“We’re having dinner with the Stevensons tonight.”
Words. She needed to make the words.
“What about my daughter?” The daughter she should have told this morning about the engagement.
“She’s welcome to come. I don’t know how excited she’s going to be about sitting with us, though.”
Fury surged. “I’m not sure I can make it. I have to see if someone can watch her.” She stepped away from his touch, hating how she missed it the moment she no longer had it. “I should get cleaned up and back to work. You don’t need me for the rest of the tour.” Forcing a smile, she looked at the boys who’d made her enjoy getting sweaty and thanked them.
“Come back and play anytime, Miss Emma. You’ll be giving Mitchell a run for his money soon enough.”
She waved over her shoulder. With farewells to the Stevensons, she went to the office after stopping off at the bathroom to clean herself up. The moment she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she realized Linc’s announcement meant Greer would hear about the engagement from someone else if Emma didn’t get her ass out to the baseball field.