Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55599 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
I’ve never done anything to her, and she’s acting like this is the moment she just conquered her greatest nemesis.
Dane meets my gaze, his mouth set in a tense line. We’re beat and we both know it.
“I need to pack my stuff,” I say.
Monica gives Dane a fake, sweet smile. “I can stay behind and lock up when she’s finished.”
He narrows his eyes. “I trust her alone in my house. You, not so much. Go to the arena and I’ll meet you there.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but Dane cuts her off.
“You’re not my fucking boss. I’ll meet you at the arena.”
Monica widens her eyes and then leaves without another word. Something tells me that tiny victory is the only one I’m getting today.
Dane follows me into the guest room, where most of my stuff is still stored. I pick up Mr. Darcy, who is curled up on the bed, and sit down, putting my cat on my lap.
“Well, this sucks,” he says, sitting down beside me.
“She’s going to try to get you in bed.” Tears well in my eyes. “I don’t know why she still has it out for me. She got the promotion.”
“Hey.” He puts his thumb and forefinger on my chin, turning my face so I’m looking at him. “She can try anything she wants and it won’t work. I’m with you.”
I’m embarrassed by my inability to stop the tears that spill over. My own aunt, the only family I have left, seems to enjoy hurting me.
“You have to trust me, babe,” he says, putting his arm around my shoulders.
“I do. It’s not that.” I take a deep breath. “I have to accept that my aunt is never going to like me, don’t I?”
“I’d do a hell of a lot more than that if I were you. Tell her to fuck off. You don’t need the money from that job. I’ve got you.”
I lean against his shoulder, grateful for his strong, steady presence.
“You may not be able to travel with the team anymore, but I still want you here,” he says. “You’re not packing anything. My bed is your bed now.”
I look up at him. “It’s really soon for that.”
He shrugs. “Your aunt forced our hand. You’re not leaving.”
“I’m glad we decided that,” I say wryly.
He kisses my forehead. “You know you want to stay. We’re good together.”
“So you’re saying you, me and Monica will all live here together?”
“Yep. And I’ll do my best to make you scream my name in bed at two a.m. because fuck her.”
I laugh at the mental image. “This is going to get awkward. You know that, right?”
“Awkward for her. Not for us.”
“I don’t want her seeing you in just your boxers.”
He grins. “Jealous?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll make sure I’m dressed outside the bedroom.”
I cringe. “You’ll have to share a hotel room with her when you’re traveling.”
My heart pounds at the thought of Monica in skimpy pajamas, alone in a hotel room with Dane. I’ve never been the jealous type, but nothing like this has ever happened to me.
“It’ll be okay.”
I scoff and meet his gaze. “How would you feel if I was going to be spending multiple nights alone in a hotel room with a single, attractive man?”
“I mean...I’d fucking kill him.”
“Exactly.”
“But Monica’s not attractive.”
I glare at him, but his expression remains serious. “She’s nowhere close to you, Jo. You’re so sexy you make me crazy. You’re the only one I want.”
Warmth pools in my stomach despite the crummy Monica development. I take his hand and squeeze it, grateful for his reassurance.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go,” he says. “Come in the usual entrance for the game tonight, I’ll make sure your name’s on the list.”
“I may find something to wear in your closet.”
His lips curve up in a smile. “Good. I’ll see you there.”
With a final kiss, he leaves. I cuddle with Mr. Darcy for a few more minutes before finally facing reality.
I have to go into the office and talk to my aunt.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Josie
It feels different here. When I stepped off the elevator and into the offices of JG Publicity, I used to feel like a true professional. Part of a highly regarded team. A woman who might have been a hot mess on the inside but who could put aside her financial woes and lackluster love life from eight to five every weekday and get shit done.
Now, though, I just see a bunch of coworkers who could do better than this place. There’s Tom, who works late often and was only allowed to take one day off when his wife had a baby because Jane said she couldn’t risk losing the account he was in charge of. And Linda, who spends money from her own pocket to cover the difference when my cheap aunt doesn’t give her enough cash to pay for the gourmet coffees and lunches she sends Linda to pick up for her.