Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
My Escalade rolls to a stop at the top of the circular driveway, right between Austin’s Range Rover and Aspen’s white Corvette—her twenty-first birthday present from her parents. I can’t help but grin as my gaze sails over the car. There’s no denying it, it’s a nice car. It’s been Aspen’s dream car since before I can remember, and the day she got it . . . fuck. My ears are still ringing from the way she screamed. I still remember her face-splitting grin. I’ve never seen anyone light up like that.
Getting out of my car, I make my way up the front steps of the Ryder estate, making a point to glance at Angella’s roses, knowing damn well she’s going to ask me what I think. She’s been obsessed with those damn things since the day they were planted when I was a kid, and though they’ve thrived in her garden, they look the same to me as they did ten years ago.
When I get to the front door, I walk straight inside and follow the noise. I hear the familiar sound of plates shifting around in the dining room, and I spare a glance at my watch, double-checking that I’m not late, but it’s still a quarter to twelve. I’m right on time.
Striding into the dining room, I find Aspen with plates piled high in her arms, and I pause, taking her in, my breath caught in my throat.
Fuck, she looks good in that green dress.
My gaze sails over her, taking in the way her short sleeves rest low on her shoulders, showing off her creamy skin, but the way it dips down in the back . . . fucking hell.
I avert my gaze. What the fuck am I doing? I can’t be looking at her like that. She’s practically a kid. If Austin caught me checking out his little sister, he’d castrate me.
It’s no secret that she’s had a crush on me since she was a kid. I always thought that as she got older and hit her late teens, she would have grown out of it, but she never did. Instead, she learned how to disguise it . . . not very well, but I appreciate that she’s always tried. I’ve watched over the past few years as she slipped a mask into place every time I walked into a room. She’s too careful around me, not the carefree kid she used to be. She watches what she says and is careful not to get too close.
I’ve never reciprocated that crush or looked at her as anything more than Austin’s little sister, but if I ever did make a move on her, Austin would never forgive me. Not that it matters. Despite how fucking gorgeous she is, that’s a line I would never cross. I’m always on my best behavior, never letting my hands or eyes linger too long, and I certainly don’t hide the details about the women I’m with. I notice the hurt in her eyes when she overhears my conversations with Austin, and I fucking hate to hurt her, but it’s important that she knows where the line is drawn.
Austin’s protective of her, and though we’ve never spoken about it directly, he’s made it clear that I’m not good enough for her, and I agree with him. She’s a shy girl, quiet and timid. While she likes to have a crazy night out of wild drinking every now and then, she prefers a quiet night at home in her ridiculous Grinch pajamas with a pint of ice cream and a good series to binge-watch. On the other hand, I live for my work. I spend my days dreaming of how I can expand and my nights living it up in my clubs.
Aspen and I . . . we’re not the same.
We’re not compatible.
Striding into the dining room, I act as though the very sight of her doesn’t blow me the fuck away. Just because I don’t want to get in bed with her doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed how fucking breathtaking she is.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, watching how she stacks dishes high, balancing them as best she can, and while I might not know much about hosting fancy lunches, I’m almost damn sure she’s un-setting the table that hasn’t been eaten at yet.
Aspen’s head snaps up at the sound of my voice, and a dazzling smile cuts across her face. Fuck, she truly is gorgeous.
I continue around the large table toward her, unable to keep from noticing that there’s something different about her. Something different in the way she carries herself. There’s a glow—a happiness that screams of confidence, and it looks fucking good on her. She’s always been on the shy side, but not today. She looks as though she’s broken out of her shell, and for just a moment, I’m caught off guard, rendered speechless.