Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“I found two. Now, will you take something if I bring it to you?”
“Yeah,” he says, and I wiggle my hand in a silent demand for him to let me go, but he doesn’t. “Were you okay with Haylee?” His eyes search mine, and I shake my head, caught off guard by the concern in his tone.
“Of course.”
“All right.” He releases me, and I walk around the end of the bed and into the bathroom, where I grab the bottle of Tylenol out of my toiletry bag.
“Do you get headaches a lot?” I ask, shaking out two pills as I go back to the bed.
“On occasion.” He holds out his hand, and I drop them into his palm, then pick up the bottle of water he had on the bedside table.
“How’s the deal going?”
“It’s stalled,” he answers after swallowing down both pills.
“Stalled?”
“It’s all part of negotiations. It’s like a game of chicken. We have to wait to see who is going to crack first.”
“That sounds annoying,” I mutter, and his lips tip up.
“It is.” He lies back down, and I shift on my feet, at a loss for what to do with myself. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s something.”
“Fine. Now that everyone is here, I don’t feel comfortable going outside, and your grandma is around, and I don’t really want to be alone with her.”
“So hang out in here with me,” he replies easily, and I look at the bed, then him. “I won’t bite.”
“You need to rest.”
“So rest with me.” His hand shoots out like a snake, making me squeak, then the next thing I know, I’m tumbling over his big body and lying next to him with my head on his bicep. “Better?”
Absolutely not. I try to move, but his other arm wraps around me.
“I just need to lie here until the pills kick in, and then we can go out on the jet skis.”
“Can you let me go?” I huff, trying to push his heavy arm off, but it doesn’t budge.
“Will you stay if I do?”
“Yes,” I give in, and he releases me.
“Everyone is here?” he asks as my heart starts to slow, and I roll to my side, taking my pillow with me so I don’t have to use his arm.
“I don’t know if it’s everyone, but it’s a lot of people. I met your aunt Eva. She seems really nice.”
“She is.”
“She said she’s psychic and knew you’d find me.” I can’t hide my smile, and he dips his chin down to look at me.
“She said that?” His lips tip up again.
“She told your mom that you were going to find someone and that they’d bring you back to life.”
“Damn, so I’ve been dead?” he asks with a chuckle, and I laugh.
“Apparently.”
“No pressure for you then.”
“None at all.” I study his handsome face, and then ask quietly, “Have you missed being here with everyone?”
He doesn’t answer for a long time, so long that I start to think he won’t. So when he quietly says, “Yeah,” my chest gets heavy. Without thinking, I reach out and touch his jaw, and as I start to pull it away, his hand captures mine again, and he holds it against his chest as his eyes close.
I think about pulling away, because I know that’s what I should do, but I don’t. I leave my hand where it is and close my eyes as the beat of his heart thumps against my fingertips.
This situation is getting sticky—at least for me. I didn’t think it was possible to like Jace, but I’m starting to enjoy his company and his sense of humor way more than I should.
Chapter 14
That’s Worse
“How long does it take to put on a swimsuit?”
At that question shouted at me through the bathroom door, I turn and glare at the wood between Jace and me.
“Do not rush me,” I bite out while I untie my hair from the bun I had it in, and it falls over my shoulders and hides the tops of my breasts, making me feel a little less exposed.
“It’s been over fifteen minutes,” he complains, and I roll my eyes at my reflection as I pick up my folded clothes from the counter next to the sink.
“It hasn’t been fifteen minutes.” I push open the door and step into the bedroom.
“Oh fuck, it’s worse,” he groans, and I swing my head toward the bed, where he’s sitting. “You are not wearing that.” He stands in all his shirtless glory while I rest the pile of clothes on the dresser. At least I’m getting used to seeing him half-dressed. “You said you got two suits. Where is the other one?”
I narrow my eyes on his, which are roaming over my chest, the strip of exposed skin between the bikini top and the high-waisted bottoms, and then down to my thighs that I know are not perfectly toned, dimpled in spots instead. “Do not look at me like that, Jace. I already feel self-conscious enough without the help of your comments and the look on your face.”