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)
He closed the distance between them again, pushing against her back. “You sure about that?”
Her entire body shivered and he wanted to experience that again.
“I’m sure that we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.”
Linc leaned closer to her ear. “If it helps, this one doesn’t run on batteries, so no need to worry about that. And you won’t have to run to the store to pick more up.”
God, he’d replayed the conversation he’d overheard from her with her friends a million times in his head. How she used vibrators. A thought which pushed him to envision her spread out on his bed, using one with him. Him using one on her.
He swallowed down his animalistic grunt.
Her whimper thundered through him. “Dinner,” she gasped. “We have to get to dinner.”
He walked her to his truck and helped her up. “Just wanted you to know.” A wicked grin. “In case you were curious.”
Emma sat and didn’t say another word for about five minutes, fingering her clutch and the wrap which was on her lap as well.
“Is there anything I need to know before we get to the restaurant?”
Her nerves were obvious.
“Not a thing.” He patted the file on the seat between them. “You’ve done the hard part, Emma. It’s all been gathered, proofed, and organized. I’ve looked over this twice since you locked it in the cabinet and I can’t find a damn thing wrong with it.”
“You did the hard part,” she praised. She glanced at him, angling her body slightly. “Why didn’t you have someone write it for you? Is there a reason you want this done by your hand?” She flattened her lips. “I’m sorry, that was rude.”
He laughed. “No, I understand. For a lot of people, it’s easier to delegate this kind of thing.” Linc turned down the music. “I’m a bit of a control freak.”
“Nooo,” she drawled. She slapped her hand over her chest and watched him with exaggeratedly wide eyes.
He shot her a glare. “Watch it, Freckles.”
Her smile would have brought him to his knees had he been standing. As it was, all she did was kick his heart rate up triple and make his palms sweaty. Christ, he hadn’t been this nervous for his first pro game.
I really don’t want to share her with anyone tonight.
Okay, so it wasn’t only tonight. He wanted to keep her to himself for always. Her and the little girl he had become to think of his own.
“My point,” he said, once again focusing on the road, “is that I like writing that kind of thing, being able to pour my heart into something I created. I did the one for Mitchell as well.”
“His gaming company?”
“Mine and Tully’s gaming company.”
A sage nod. “So she can’t get her claws into it.”
“Sounding mighty protective of Mitchell right now, Freckles.”
“If he gets to claim me, then I get to claim him right back.” An indulgent sniff. “Both of them.”
Emma was perfect.
He pulled into the restaurant parking lot and saw the Stevensons waiting by the door. Linc shoved down his insecurity. There were so many ways this could go wrong.
When he helped Emma down, she didn’t immediately step away from him but cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs moving gently against his skin.
“You’re going to do fine, Linc. Trust yourself.”
Closing his eyes at her words, he rested his forehead against hers. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go.” A brush of her fingers against his neck. “Do I call you Slugger?”
His lips twitched. “That’s a name for another part of my body.” He pulled back after brushing his lower half against her and sought her gaze. Amused but heated.
“Incorrigible.”
“Again, I’m hearing adorable.” He laced their fingers and led her toward the door as he locked his truck behind them.
“Perhaps a doctor is what you need. To check your hearing.”
“Nope, I’m perfectly fine with that, thank you very much.” He kissed the back of her hand and repositioned it on his arm.
Mr. Stevenson was in a dark suit, much like Linc, and his wife—unlike Emma, whose dress highlighted while not revealing everything—wore something more suited for a night of clubbing. Beside him, Emma tensed and he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Good evening, Mr. Stevenson.” He barely glanced at the wife. “Mrs. Stevenson.”
The man grinned and held out his hand. “Thought you may have changed your mind.”
“Not at all.” He wrapped his arm around Emma, tucking her into his side. “I mean, I was tempted, how could I not be, but we’ve been looking forward to getting this deal done and signed.”
“Let’s grab a table and eat. We can discuss business later.”
Mrs. Stevenson gave him a look that nearly had him ducking behind Emma for protection. “I think, honey, you should escort the lovely Emma in while I walk with Mr. Conner.”
And he’d thought she’d been tense before. Emma didn’t say anything, however. She smiled when Mr. Stevenson held out his arm for her.