Total pages in book: 19
Estimated words: 17808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 17808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 89(@200wpm)___ 71(@250wpm)___ 59(@300wpm)
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious. Stop selling yourself short.”
Because it was so easy. I mean, why hadn’t I thought about that before? I’d just stop being unconfident and magically it would happen. Still, I nodded. “Okay…I didn’t have time to plan anything, though. We can do it another time…”
“But I was looking forward to it now.” Ronan playfully fluttered his eyelashes at me, pouting.
“Does that typically work?” It wasn’t as if I wanted to turn him down.
“Yes.”
“Why am I not surprised?” I sighed and looked down at my laptop, nerves suddenly making me seize up. “Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to say yes.”
“I know. And I’m sure. Do you want to just come to my place? I can cook us dinner. I have a great view of the lake.”
I smiled and breathed a little easier. “That would be perfect.” I didn’t trust myself in public with him yet. I’d probably embarrass us both. Plus, it would be a whole lot easier to mention the skinny-dipping if we were alone.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ronan
When I woke up this morning, I definitely hadn’t envisioned the day ending with Mickey coming home with me. Not that I was complaining.
His skin was flushed a pretty pink, which only made his freckles stick out more. I didn’t know what it was I liked about them so much, but I wanted to use my finger to trace them all, then my lips to kiss each and every one—even if it took weeks.
I couldn’t believe he’d asked me on a date. Things like that came so easily to me, but I knew they didn’t for him. But he’d put himself out there and taken a risk. For me. That meant something. “I’ll help you pack up your stuff.”
“No!” he rushed out, prompting me to raise one of my eyebrows.
Maybe he really was a spy or some shit. He was very secretive about that damned laptop.
“You like your secrets, don’t you?” I teased.
Luckily, he just smiled and shook his head. “That won’t work with me. I won’t tell you just because you’re giving me that flirty, sexy look.”
“I was giving you a flirty, sexy look?” Clearly, I knew I was, but I couldn’t let him saying it pass by without a comment.
“You know you were.”
“I tried but I didn’t know you thought I was. Score.”
He blushed.
Fuck, it was adorable.
I waited while he got all his things together, then I said goodbye to my staff and opened the door, signaling for Mickey to step out first.
“Do you have a car here?” I asked him.
“No, I live close. I’m just over on West Sixth, so I walked.”
“I’m actually in Lakewood. We can take my car.”
He nodded, bit his lip, reached for his glasses, then stopped himself.
“Want me to nibble that for you?” I asked, pointing to his mouth.
“Stop it.”
“You don’t like it when I flirt with you?”
“I’m not answering that.”
I laughed and led Mickey to my car.
“Plus, I nibble my glasses and not my own mouth. That would be weird.”
“Yes, but I want to nibble your mouth and not your glasses, which isn’t weird at all.” I winked.
He bit his bottom lip but I didn’t mention it.
“Why Lakewood?” he asked as we got on the road.
“It’s basically Cleveland, but I like having a little more space. I have a studio in my house. It’s where I record my podcast. I don’t know if you listen, but—”
“I love Sex with Ronan!” His eyes went wide, likely at how that sounded. “I don’t love having sex with you—I mean, I’ve never had sex with you. Obviously. I’m sure if I did, I’d love it, and I probably don’t have to tell you I haven’t had it with you, considering you would know if I had.” When a loud, boisterous laugh shot from my lips, he rolled his eyes. “Shut up. Don’t make fun of me.” It was clear by the way he said it that he wasn’t really taking offense.
“I would never do that. You’re adorable as fuck. You make me smile. That’s a good thing.”
He frowned as if I’d suddenly spoken in a language he couldn’t understand. “I do?”
“What are we going to do with you? You don’t give yourself nearly enough credit. I have a few podcasts on that.”
“I know. I’ve listened to them all, and…they do help. You’re really good at making people feel less alone, whether it’s about self-confidence or sexual desires. I love that you don’t shame anyone for their kinks or how much sex they have or don’t have. Everything you say is so positive and affirmative, giving people the tools to live their lives how they want to. Giving them permission, so to speak, to want things they might not want anyone to know about. It’s…incredible, really.”
We were at a red light, so I glanced over at him, my heart thudding, my chest feeling undeniably full. I’d never heard someone talk about my podcast that way. Not with the conviction and passion Mickey just had. Every single word he had spoken, I could tell meant something to him, that he had felt each and every one and he believed them.