Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“You heard me.” He flashed a smile that was too charming by half, but the impact was the same as if he was mine. “I want us to date. We should date. We’re already engaged, and we can date and get to know each other while we plan our wedding.”
My gaze narrowed in his direction. I wanted to be flattered by his attention, his desire to date me, but I wasn’t naïve.
“You want to date me so that we can have sex.”
His head fell against my shoulder and he barked out a loud, fully amused—maybe too amused—laugh. “At the risk of sounding like an arrogant jerk, I could probably seduce you without the dates. I’ve been told that I have certain charms. But I want to do it the right way. We can go on dates, and if you want to kiss me or more when the cameras aren’t around, great. If you get to know me and you still don’t want to touch me when the cameras aren’t around, that’s okay too.”
“Ugh,” I groaned and shoved him away from me. “Why do you have to be so reasonable?”
He laughed and bumped my shoulder. “I’m a reasonable guy, or I can be when it’s the right thing.”
I rolled my eyes. This was a bad idea. Everything about dating my fiancé sounded like a bad idea, not the least of which was because he was good-looking and charming and sweet. Did I mention the abs? They were a thing of beauty, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about licking each and every one of them. But that couldn’t happen.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to find a woman who could take the orgasms and walk away without feelings?”
“I’m not opposed to commitment,” he said with a pout.
I laughed, because everything about his dating history indicated a man who was, at least, gun shy about committing to a woman.
“I’m not,” he insisted. “The truth?”
I nodded. “Always.”
He nodded, his gaze fixed on mine as he spoke. “I’m not adverse to commitment, but the women who come into my orbit, they’re vultures. I know what they want, and it isn’t me beyond my body, face and my status. But that’s okay, because I get what I want too. Just because I haven’t found the right woman yet doesn’t mean I’ll be scared when I find her.”
I understood that, and to a certain extent, I believed him. “I doubt I’m that woman, Alex.” Despite my so-called pedigree, I wasn’t wildly beautiful or successful, I wasn’t a diplomat or a princess, or even all that accomplished. I was a simple woman happy with a simple life and Alex was anything but simple.
“Clearly I don’t know who that woman is, but I think that I’ll know her when I see her.”
I roared with laughter, smacking a hand over my face to avoid waking Dixie. “So what you’re saying is that your perfect woman is like porn, you can’t define her, but you’ll know her when you see her?”
“All that matters is that when I see her, I will stop at nothing to make her mine.”
“Lucky girl,” I murmured, certain that woman wasn’t me.
His eyes sparkled and he leaned in. “So, Sasha, what do you say? Want to date me before we get married?”
Did I want to date him? Of course, I did. He was handsome and charming, sexy and sweet. But I couldn’t. He wasn’t for me. “I do, but I also think it’s a terrible idea bound to end very badly for one of us.”
“I don’t know, Sasha. That sweet face combined with these killer curves has heartbreaker written all over it. For all your worrying, you might end up breaking my heart.”
I laughed. “Anything is possible, but not always probable.” Even the idea that he would fall for me and I would break his heart was just laughable, but I shrugged off that not good enough feeling and kept a smile on my face. “But since we have to do this anyway, you have a deal. Let’s give it a shot.” I held my hand out and waited for him to accept it.
Of course, Alex can’t do anything the easy way and he takes my hand, pulling me so close I’m practically draped across his big body. “Deal,” he whispered, his face so close that I felt his warm breath on my face.
The proximity pulled a shudder from me and my breath hitched. “You should probably let Jack know so he can do whatever it is he does about these things.”
Alex’s shoulders drooped and he let out a disappointed sigh though his smile never wavered. “Fine,” he growled. “I can take a hint.”
I laughed. “Yeah? Because somehow I don’t think that’s true.”
With a defiant expression, Alex put some distance between us and stood, walking towards the front door. He turned with a slow smile before he disappeared down the hall.