Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112917 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 565(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
I reached out and grabbed his hand to stop his fiddling. “Zane.”
Honey-brown eyes peeked at me through his eyelashes. “You probably think I’m the world’s biggest loser.”
“Fuck no. I was proud of you confessing your truth in front of that kid the other night when it clearly made you uncomfortable around your cousins.”
“I didn’t want him to think all rock stars are out there sleeping with tons of people.”
I let go of his hand but turned more fully to face him, nudging his chair back so I could see him better. “Second of all,” I continued carefully, “any man would be lucky to be with you.”
Including me, I added in my head, but the air between us immediately began buzzing like I’d spoken the words out loud.
Zane twisted his lips and took a breath. “Any man?”
“Hell yes. Every man,” I insisted, not fully realizing the road I was going down.
“I mean… I’m sitting right here, Bear.”
Caution signs sprang up, and warning lights flashed.
“Wanting it very badly?” I teased, trying to break the tension and failing utterly. “Very, very badly?”
The edge of his mouth quirked. “Very.”
I felt my heart rate kick up. “Except now we’re stuck on an isolated peninsula on a Norwegian fjord.”
Zane’s cheeks rounded with a big grin. “With a hundred percent too few sex opportunities…”
I opened my mouth to make a joke about there still being one, but I quickly snapped it closed. It was bad enough I’d introduced this topic with my principal, kissed my principal. I wasn’t going to joke about sleeping with him, too.
He glanced at me through his dark lashes again. “But a hundred percent too many temptations,” he murmured before looking away.
His words sat between us, still and dangerous as an undetonated bomb.
“Zane,” I said in a low voice.
“No, sorry. Forget I said that. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position. The only thing worse than a sex video would be an actual sexual harassment lawsuit.” He didn’t look at me but let out an awkward laugh. His cheeks were mottled red, and the tips of his ears were crimson.
“Zane,” I said again. I was unsure what I wanted to say, but I knew I didn’t want him to feel awkward or uncomfortable. Not around me. Not ever.
He glanced at me and then away again.
I took a breath. “I would never, ever consider sleeping with you—”
“I get it!” he cut in. “Christ, Bear, I know you wouldn’t. I… I don’t even know if you’re into guys, and even if you might be, that doesn’t mean you’re into me. I’m sorry I said anything—”
I reached out and grabbed his hand again. It was warm and clammy and shook a little bit. “Let. Me. Finish.”
Zane’s eyes widened.
“I would never consider sleeping with you… as anything other than a dream and a goddamn privilege. I certainly wouldn’t consider it harassment of any kind.”
He blinked, his breath coming in fast, choppy little pants. “You… you’re joking?”
“No,” I said firmly. “That’s the furthest thing from a joke.”
“You’d have sex with me?” His voice squeaked on the last word.
I closed my eyes and inhaled to keep from laughing. “If I wasn’t in charge of protecting you? If I didn’t think you’d regret it? In a skinny minute. I’m definitely into guys, and I’m very definitely into you.”
“Oh, god,” he breathed like Christmas had come early. Then he blurted, “I wouldn’t regret it. Are you kidding? Who could sleep with you and regret it?”
My brain scrambled to do the calculations, which was exponentially harder with his hand in mine.
Technically, I didn’t work for him. Violet’s contract was with Zane’s record label.
But what if things became awkward? Would I still be able to do my job properly?
And what if things didn’t become awkward? Would I be able to keep a level head?
Who was I kidding? I wasn’t able to keep a level head now. I’d been in love with the man for longer than I cared to admit… which meant I would get my heart smashed to pieces.
Because there was no way a man like Zane Hendley—talented, kind, and open-hearted—would ever want to settle down with someone whose talents were skiing and shooting targets with bullets. I’d never been described as kind. I certainly wasn’t open-hearted. I was guarded and gruff, suspicious and easily annoyed.
A bear, exactly as Zane called me… and bears were solitary animals.
Zane deserved better.
“It’s not a good idea,” I said, desperate for him to accept my weak attempt at stopping this before it became unstoppable.
“Yeah, no. You’re probably right.” He sighed and reached for the front of his onesie, pulling it in and out to fan himself. “Is it hot in here, or is it just you?” he murmured.
“Open it up,” I said with a laugh, reaching out to yank the zipper down an inch. “You’re obviously roasting.”