Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
He looked at our hands clasped together on the counter and lifted them to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. “You make me ridiculously happy, Magnolia. More happiness than I have ever known. Without a dime. Your smile alone is worth millions to me.”
My breath caught. “Take me to bed, Alex.”
He stood and swept me into his arms.
“And that is priceless.”
BANE
I opened the hotel door, striding into the suite. It was dark and quiet, reminding me of the days when I opened the door of my condo to the same atmosphere. The past few days, walking into the condo was brighter. Alive.
All because of the presence of Magnolia—and the troublemaker we called Hedgy.
Even I had succumbed to the cute name. It suited the little bugger.
I tossed my suit jacket over the chair and grabbed a water from the fridge, sitting on the sofa and letting my head fall back.
I had only been gone a few days, yet I felt a longing I had never experienced before. It never mattered if I was traveling or home. Each place was the same. A room to sit, a bed to sleep, a desk to work at. But this time, I had someone to miss.
And dammit, I missed Myers. And Magnolia.
Even though they were the same person, to me, they each had a place in my mind and my heart. I missed Myers’s presence beside me at a meeting. Her quiet way of handing me the information I needed without asking. Her attention to detail. Her pleasant demeanor. Clients loved her. She was gracious and warm, and she kept me relaxed. Knowing she was there and supporting me was a surprising perk to my working life. She had become indispensable to me. And despite the chaos that occurred on occasion—or perhaps because of it—I couldn’t imagine my office without her.
And on the personal side, she was a gift. I hadn’t planned on her. She was everything I would have avoided. Sweet, warm, loving. Adorable and endearing. She made me feel things. I laughed more than I could recall ever laughing before over her antics. I worried about her. Missed her when she wasn’t around. And I desired her more than I’d ever wanted a woman before her.
I rubbed my eyes, slid my phone from my jacket pocket, and called her. She answered, breathless and sweet.
“Hi!”
I chuckled. “Myers. What are you doing?”
“Hedgy and I were playing hide-and-seek. He’s very good at finding me.” She squealed, laughing at the same time. “You got me!”
I had to laugh with her. “Put me on video.”
We turned on our cameras, and her face filled the screen. Hedgy was on her shoulder, curled up tight. “He’s down for the count,” she said with a grin. “I wish I could fall asleep that fast.”
“You did the other night,” I replied with a smirk. “Once I was done with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Behave. When are you coming home? Did you manage to wrap things up?”
“I will tomorrow morning. Can you change my flights?”
“Hold up.”
I watched as she hurried down the hall into my office and sat at my desk. Her face was serious as she tapped on the keyboard, looking at the screen. “There is a flight I can get you on, but again, there is a stopover. A two-hour one in Calgary.”
“Still gets me home a day early. Change it. Please,” I added.
“How polite.”
“Just get me home, Magnolia,” I commanded. “I miss you.”
There was a pause. “Really?”
“Yes. And book Friday off. I want the whole weekend with you.”
“Okay.”
“How was the anti-bullying meeting?”
“Very informative. And you were right. Verity gave her notice, and she didn’t come to the meeting. Her cohorts were a lot more pleasant.”
“Group mentality,” I agreed.
“Yes.”
Magnolia yawned, and I glanced at the clock. “I have an eight p.m. dinner. You’ll be asleep by the time it’s over. I’ll call you from the airport. I got the new flight information.”
“I’m glad you’re coming home a day early.”
“Me too.” I paused. “Be waiting for me.”
“I will.”
The hours dragged until flight time the next day. The flight was delayed for an hour, and I sipped a coffee and sent Myers a text to pass the time.
I hope you’re ready for me, baby. I’ve been missing you something fierce, I typed.
Oh yeah? she replied with a smiling emoji.
Yeah. My flight lands at 8. I’ll be at my place by 8:30. Be naked and waiting in my bed for me.
I book your flights, Bane. I know what time you land. No way you’ll make it there by 8:30—it’ll be 9. I’ll get warmed up.
DON’T YOU DARE. That pussy is mine.
I should be affronted at your possessiveness. Yet I am not. I shaved.
Thanks for that visual.
E v e r y w h e r e.
Jesus. Now I’m in the airport lounge, sporting a hard-on. I can’t stand, or I’ll scare the nice old lady across from me.