Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“I didn’t mean for you to leave.”
“It’s okay.” He gave me a smile that didn’t meet his eyes.
I took a deep breath and spoke directly. “I mean, I don’t want you to leave.”
“Oh.” He sat back down. “That’s a different story. Can I at least ask what your major is?”
“Social work.”
“It suits you.” He stretched his long arms out resting them on the back of the couch. And that’s when I noticed it. “What happened to your hand?” His knuckles were raw and red on his right hand.
“I punched a president.” The man from the beginning of the summer would’ve bragged about that. This man didn’t.
“Of the United States?” I asked, just to make him smile.
“No.”
I had a feeling he was waiting for my reaction. Waiting to see if I was frightened. It was odd because at the beginning of the summer, he seemed to like keeping me off balance. Always popping up where I least expected it. But yesterday and today, he’d gone out of his way to make sure I felt safe.”
“Normally, I’m against violence of all kinds,” I began. “But I think I can make an exception to that in the case of your cousin.”
Grant nodded. “He’s an exceptional guy. Or at least my whole family thinks so.”
“Then they’re morons. Is he okay?” I was slightly curious about that, but my bigger concern was if Grant was in trouble.
“He will be. Although maybe not his nose,” Grant admitted.
Was it wrong that that pleased me? Probably. “Do you want something to drink?” I asked him.
“I’m good.” He gave me a wry smile. “We spent enough of the summer making you fetch drinks.”
“And carrying them up the stairs. Don’t forget that part.”
He laughed. “It’s a wonder you didn’t punch both of us in the nose.”
“I couldn’t reach that high.”
It was hard to believe that I could joke like this a day after I’d been so scared. But it was like I’d finally cleared a hurdle with Grant. We were no longer pretending. Posturing.
I got to my feet.
“Did you want something to drink? It’s definitely my turn to wait on you.”
I shook my head although I definitely liked the sound of that. And a drink wasn’t what I’d had in mind when I stood. I walked to his side and sat down on the couch next to him. His arm came around me and I leaned against him. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.
He ran his thumb down my arm. “So what’s next for us nocturnal creatures?”
“I don’t know.” But I liked how he’d said ‘us.’
“Theo and Ian aren’t nocturnal,” he said, and I knew exactly what he meant.
“That’s okay. They’re good for you. You guys kind of balance each other out.”
“What if all four of us do?” Grant said as he stroked my hair.
I drew in a sharp breath. I didn’t know what he meant… and also, I kind of did. I’d had some time to think when I was too comfortable to get out of bed earlier. About Theo. And Ian. And Grant. And strangely enough, about Naomi. Her situation where she lived with her boyfriend—and he just happened to have two best buddies who lived there too—was making more sense to me now. But it was still an unfamiliar concept. I’d never even been with one man. Well, at least not in the way that traditionally marked the losing of one’s virginity.
“Hailey?”
“Yeah?”
“I know you like them.”
“I do. And I like you too.” I leaned against him. His fingers stroking my hair felt amazing. And suddenly, I wanted more. This was my Night Owl. The man who’d given me my first orgasm, albeit in a remote way. But he’d heard me, so it felt like he’d been there. He’d gone from scaring me to making me feel safe. From being a guy I put up with to a guy I wanted. “Wait here,” I whispered.
He watched as I rooted through my duffel bag, but I didn’t find what I was looking for. I picked up a bag he’d set on the dresser, and suddenly, he was on his feet.
“No,” he said.
“What?”
“Don’t put it on for me, Hailey.”
“What’s wrong?”
He looked agitated. That wasn’t the response I’d expected. “It’s okay with Theo. With Ian. They have something to offer you. They’re good men. But I’m not, Hailey. And I don’t deserve anything from you.”
I abandoned my search and went to his side. “Please, come sit back down.”
“I should go.”
“Please?”
He didn’t look happy, but I took his huge hand in my small one. I was about to lead him back to the couch, but it was bright and airy over there—and we were nocturnal creatures. “Will you do something for me?”
He shook his head and looked ready to bolt for the door again. “I should probably—”
“You said you don’t deserve anything from me,” I said, and he nodded. “But what if I deserve something from you?”