Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55171 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“That still doesn’t negate to the fact you’re a barbarian, dating someone fifteen years younger than you. Why, the scum beneath my shoes is better than you,” Laura spits while clutching her pearls. Swear to God, this cliché keeps getting worse and worse.
“Woman, you don’t get your ass gone and leave my woman alone, I’ll air it all, and I know your husband has a wandering eye and dick. It seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She doesn’t like that, not at all. Also, I’d love to know where Griff found out his information because I was not aware of that little tidbit at all. It just goes to show you people truly can hide what they want. The dinners at Zach’s family’s house seemed normal. A little stuffy for my liking, but nothing out of the ordinary. Zach’s dad was always there and attentive, or so it seemed.
All of a sudden, Laura scurries out the door, head held down in shame. I almost feel sorry for her, almost, except for how she’s treated me, past, present, and what I’m sure will be the future. What I’m not prepared for is the round of applause in the salon. My eyes that were once on Griff survey the area. People I don’t even know are cheering, some are laughing, and I’m still standing in the same place I was when Griff walked in.
“That’s the man you marry, honey,” Kitty whispers in my ear as she walks away.
“Thanks, Griffin. Cassidy didn’t want to schedule her, and I didn’t want her in my shop, but money is money. I have a feeling she won’t be back. It was probably a one-and-done type of thing anyways.” Griff was making his way toward me when Kitty stopped him in his tracks.
“Nothing to thank me for. You think I can steal Stormy away for a minute?” He talks to Kitty like I’m not there. I roll my eyes. Marie is one of the easiest clients I have, and she won’t mind a bit.
“Take all the time you need. I’ll entertain Marie for a bit.” Griff nods, closing down the conversation, and prowls. There’s no other way to put it, he’s a lion in sheep’s clothing, and I’m his willing victim.
“Griff.” My voice trembles as he gets closer. There’s bruising along his shoulder where his shirt has shifted down, and this is ten times worse than I first thought. “What happened? Are you okay? Is this the reason you were dealing with paperwork?” The questions come tumbling out in rapid succession, and what does Griff do? He doesn’t respond to a single one of them. Instead, he pulls me to his chest with his good arm and holds me. He’s injured, yet Griff is consoling me. I’m careful not to jar his arm or shoulder, whichever is hurt, when I wrap my arms around his waist. I close my eyes and breathe him in. His scent of oranges, cedar, and oak settles me down.
“I’m fine, Stormy. Accidents happen every day. This one could have been prevented. Shit went down. I turned in my notice, and I’m not going back. I don’t want to get into it just yet. I will tell you my shoulder was dislocated. It wasn’t the first time, but I hope like fuck it’s the last.” He kisses the crown of my head at the end of his explanation, squeezing me one last time. A silent request for me to get it together, I’m sure.
My lips press a kiss against his chest. “I’m so glad you’re okay and home.” I know he’s leaving a lot out. I also know that if he’s done with his time as a boat race medic, it means things went really bad.
“Me too, baby girl.”
“You need to go home and rest, but don’t think you’ll get away with not telling me what happened when it didn’t. You’re injured enough to be in a sling.” He goes to say something, but I cover his mouth with my hand. “Go home, get some sleep. I have stuff set out to make dinner. When I get home, I’ll cook, you’ll relax, and let me take care of you for a change.”
“Who’s bossing whom now?” Griff’s eyebrows lift. A grin full of mischief is spreading on his face.
“I am. Deal with it.” I rock back on my heels with a smile. He’s home in one piece, but the man needs a bed, and soon.
“Kiss your man and get back to work.” His head descends, nose sliding along mine until I tip my head up, my mouth meeting his pillowy soft lips. If I thought I was getting away with only grazing his lips, I was all wrong. Griff’s tongue slides out. A soft whimper leaves me, and he takes over the kiss. I feel his hand holding the back of my head as he deepens the kiss. I’ve missed this, missed him, his scent, his feel, the way he takes care of me. And I convey it in our kiss, going to the tips of my toes, needing to be as close as possible to him.