Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“And now?”
“Now you’re in town. You’ve got whatever qualification you’ve got, and now, I’m not going to stop in my pursuit of you.”
“With all the ink, it’s kind of hard to take this seriously. Pursuit?”
“Did I tell you since you left, I took up reading?” He stepped up toward her.
“No. You read?”
“Of course I can read.” He pulled out his wallet and held up a little card. “I’ve got my own membership to the library and everything.”
“A lot has changed.”
“Not my feelings for you,” he said.
She didn’t know what to say whenever he brought up feelings, a future.
Tonight had been easy. No one had brought up the past, but it still lingered in the air. However, she had to get over it.
She needed closure. “I didn’t ask you to go dancing with me just for Mom or Eagle.”
He didn’t step away or give her space. It was hard to focus with him so close, but she wasn’t going to be distracted, or at least she kept on telling herself that.
“Then why?”
“Because I wanted to. I mean, I love to dance. I’ve never been dancing before. Not on a date, and well, I know Mom wants me to find my peace with you before she would even consider going on a date with Eagle. Don’t you think we’ve come between them enough?”
“Look, what happened between our parents wasn’t our fault.”
She chuckled. “It was. I can’t believe you don’t see it.”
“I see it. Yes, they didn’t make it because of what happened between us, but you know your mom and I know my dad. If they wanted to make this work, they would have. I don’t think they were ready, and they used us as an excuse.”
“Your dad was head over heels in love with my mom.”
“I know, and it’s exactly my point. He’d spent a lifetime watching her and now he had a chance to have her, but also, not too long after her divorce. I’m thinking he was a little worried about being the rebound guy.”
“You do realize how crazy that sounds,” she said.
“Crazy but true. Dad’s not been with anyone serious, not even my mother. Then all of a sudden, your mom is available. The woman he’s been in love with for all of his life. There was no way he was going to pass that up.”
“What about the last five years?”
“That I can’t answer. Club business has pulled him away. You pulled your mom away. I don’t know. I want to help get them back together.”
“We can do that,” she said. “I don’t think your dad deserves it though. The way he treats you and has treated you, is wrong.”
“Don’t do this. It’s fine.”
“The fact you think it’s fine, is wrong.”
“You still owe me a kiss.”
“Alfie?”
“And you’ve got to promise me you’ll give us a shot.”
“You’re seriously asking me for this?”
He took her hand and placed it over his chest. She felt the rapidly beating pulse of his heart.
“Do you feel that?” he asked.
“It’s your heart.”
“And it’s beating wildly for you. No one else. I’ve been waiting for this chance for five years, and I’m not going to pass it up, not for my dad, not for anyone. You’re the one I want, Chloe.” He sank his fingers into her hair, tilted her head back, and she didn’t have time to fight the rush of heat as he slammed his lips down on hers.
It was an all-consuming kiss.
One that told her he meant business and wasn’t going to stop until she felt the spark. For Chloe, the spark had never gone. It hadn’t even faded; it just held a horrible memory.
Rather than push him away, she wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him back.
It had been so long since she’d been with him. There hadn’t been anyone else. Reginald had wanted to take her back to his place and show her how a real chef fucked, but she’d turned him down flat. The thought of being with anyone had never appealed to her, until Alfie.
He pressed her up against the wall. The hand on her hip slid up to cup her breast. She let out a moan as he broke the kiss, trailing his lips down to her neck.
“I’ve only ever wanted you, Chloe. You’re not the first woman I’ve slept with, but you will be my last.”
“You’ve got to stop saying these things,” she said.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to start believing them.”
“I want you to believe them.” He hovered over her pulse, and as he bit down, she couldn’t contain her scream as it consumed them. “They’re the truth.” He flicked his tongue across her pulse, soothing out the pain.
It felt amazing being in his arms, having his touch.
“Please,” she said.
“What are you asking?”
“Don’t stop. I need you.” Her face heated as she realized what she was asking him.