Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“No, Uncle Denver. I’m not. We broke up a month ago.”
“Good. You need a good man, not a little boy.”
“Thanks. I’ll do my best to stay away from little boys.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He nods with satisfaction as he pulls behind my car outside the bakery.
“Thank you.” I give him a hug and then I get out.
“Drive safe. I won’t be far behind.” I nod and say goodbye. I also say a silent goodbye to the bakery.
The second I get into my car, I turn it on, plug in my phone, and then pull out of my space. I don’t look back at the town I’m leaving behind because it’s too much to handle. As I get on the road that leads to the expressway, my heart aches, knowing I’m pulling away from any hope I had of Anthony falling in love with me.
Chapter Two
Blade
I’m not sure what the hell happened back there at the bakery, but I almost let my feelings slip and kissed Jules in the kitchen. For the past month, I’ve been fighting the urge to make her mine. Today has been the closest I’ve been to her. It felt like heaven to have the heat of her body against mine.
I’m glad I didn’t, because I wouldn’t have let her go. She has no idea how much I held back from pinning her to the counter and stuffing her with my own filling so deep that she’d never leave me. It took all of my willpower to refrain.
I want Jules. I crave her, but I’m not going to fuck her and let her run away, and she’s too young for the serious relationship that I need from her. I was in basic training at her age, and unsure what I wanted out of life. She still has a life to live that doesn’t include being trapped in our home with my babies all around. Besides, there’s danger on every fucking corner in Steeleville these days, and I’d never forgive myself if something happened to Jules.
I should be focused on the asshole in front of me, but all I can think of is the woman in the other room. Would she want to be mine forever, or is it merely a physical attraction? After our business is concluded, I step out of the room and look for my woman, but she’s being guided to the door by Denver. My sister frowns, watching me as I watch Jules leave with Mr. Banks instead of me. I grit my teeth, holding back the urge to claim her. “I knew it. You’re interested in her, aren’t you?” She shakes her head as if she disapproves.
“No. I’m not,” I lie. It’s none of Roxie’s business how I feel about Jules.
Roxie nods, but I can see in her eyes that she doesn’t believe a word of my denial. “Well, that’s good because she wants nothing to do with our lives here and the violence. She made that point very clear to me when I asked her if she was okay earlier.”
Even though I know it’s for the best—and one of the main reasons I fought my attraction to Jules—it tears at my heart. “It’s not safe for her. I wouldn’t expect a sweet girl like her to want to deal with such violence. You’re a part of this, and I still worry that something bad could happen to you.”
“I’m cool with this. Unlike Jules,” Roxie reiterates like she wants to pound it into my brain like a power hammer.
“You don’t seem to like her at all, do you?” I question, trying to understand my sister’s motivations.
“I did, until a little while ago when she let her disgust show. You men are incredible, and if she can’t see how amazing you all are, then she’s better off quitting and staying far away from my remarkable brother.” I understand her point of view because I’d crush any fucker’s skull who hurt my little sister, but we’re talking about my Jules here and I don’t like it.
“Tell me how you really feel,” I hiss, hating that my sister hates the woman I’m obsessed with. I love Roxie, but I can’t stand anyone saying anything bad about my girl. “Enough. Let me take you home now. Everything’s all cleared up. It had nothing to do with the cartel, and the fuck is going to jail. Some people just hate cops a lot.”
“Well, that’s semi-good news. Let’s go. I need a good book and some greasy food,” Roxie says, rubbing her belly dramatically.
I chuckle because Roxie can bounce back from any negative mood in a flash if food’s involved. I drop her off and go back to my home. It’s not late, so I have a full day to stew over what Roxie told me and the memory of Jules’s body against mine for a brief moment. I should have stolen a couple more seconds.