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)
Sam appeared behind me, reading over my shoulder.
“A backpack for a cat? What the hell, Bane?” He sat down, plucking the phone from my hand and reading the screen. “Since when do you have a cat?”
I told him the story after the waitress took our orders. He regarded me over the rim of his glass. “You and the condom girl now have a cat,” he repeated.
“Don’t call her that.”
He held up his hands. “Sorry. You and Ms. Myers now have a cat.”
I nodded, picking up my sandwich and inspecting it. It didn’t look as good as the ones Magnolia made me. I took a bite and chewed slowly. It was okay but didn’t taste as good either.
“So, you’re still seeing her?” he asked.
“I asked her to marry me.”
His eyes widened, and he sputtered into his beer. “What the hell?”
“She said yes.”
He regarded me with narrowed eyes. “So, the girl who tried to kill your dick then junk-punched you is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with?” He slung an arm over the back of his chair, eyeing me up. “You got some weird penis pain fetish I don’t know about?”
I started to laugh. “I have a weird Magnolia Myers fetish.”
“You serious about this girl?”
“I asked her to marry me,” I repeated.
He was silent for a few moments. “You love this girl, Alex?”
“I care about her. I want to spend my life with her.”
“Do you love her?”
“As much as I can love.”
He shook his head. “I think you’re capable of loving.”
“I’m capable of caring. Looking after. Protecting. Providing.”
“And that’s enough for her?”
“She says she loves me,” I admitted quietly.
“How did that feel?”
“Like a gift I don’t deserve.”
“I think you do deserve it. I hope you feel like that someday. If she is the one, then I hope she makes you see that as well.” He paused. “Have you thought about the fact that by denying her your love, it could be hurting her?”
I frowned. “I don’t want to hurt her. She knows I care.”
“But your care has a ceiling.”
“No.”
“Then you love her.”
He was confusing me and starting to piss me off. I glared at him. “She is the right one. She’s the only one. She knows that.”
Sam didn’t look convinced. “You care, so you put a ring on it,” he mused. “Interesting.”
I had no idea what he meant by that, but his words made me curse.
“Shit, no. I haven’t got a ring yet. The proposal sort of slipped out.”
“You are such an idiot.” He leaned back, typing on his phone. A moment later, he grinned. “You’re lucky. My friend Smithy is a jeweler. He’ll meet us in half an hour at his shop.”
“Perfect.”
“And you’re paying for lunch.”
I laughed. “Least I can do.”
“That’s what I thought.”
We came out of the shop, the small box in my pocket feeling too light for what it represented. The ring was perfect for Magnolia, and I hoped she’d love it.
“Celebratory drink?” Sam asked.
I looked across the street, a dark swath of hair catching my eye. Magnolia and Rylee were at a table outside of a small café. Rylee was bent over the table and talking a mile a minute. Magnolia was looking shell-shocked.
“How about you meet the lady instead?”
“What?” he asked. “Where?”
“Across the street.”
He looked over and whistled. “Buddy, if you tell me your lady is the sexy little blonde with the curves, we’re gonna have a problem.”
“Nope. That’s Rylee Jenkins—she works for me. My Magnolia is the dark-haired vixen.”
“Then do introduce me. To both.”
We crossed the street, neither woman noticing us. I stood beside the table, hearing Rylee’s low demand.
“And in bed? How is he in bed?”
My mouth curved at the immediate flush on Magnolia’s face. “Yes, do tell us how I am in bed,” I broke in, startling them. “I’d love to hear it.”
Both women jerked upright at the sound of my voice. Magnolia’s eyes went wide. “Alex, what are you doing here?”
I tutted her and bent, pressing a kiss to her head. “Sam and I had to pick something up across the street. I saw you and thought we could join you.” I smiled at Rylee. “If you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not, Mr. Bane.”
I shook my head. “You’re a friend of Magnolia’s, and we’re out of the office. Call me Alex.” I indicated Sam, who was staring at her. “This is Sam.” I nudged him. “Sam, this is Magnolia. And Rylee.”
He shook Rylee’s hand. “Pleasure,” he rumbled. He turned to Magnolia. “The infamous Magnolia Myers.”
“Infamous?”
He grinned. “Oh, the stories.” He winked. “The, ah, incidents.”
Magnolia flushed, unsure where to look. “Don’t be an ass,” I muttered and sat beside her, pulling her close. “Don’t let him get to you.”
Sam sat next to Rylee, pulling out the chair and straddling it. “So, Rylee, you work for my friend here?”
“Yes.”
“You’re an assistant too?”