Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
"Yes," I grumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
The deep timbre of his laughter sends shivers down my spine. Good lord. It should really be criminal to laugh like that. Actually, everything about him should be criminal. It’s really not fair for him to walk around being so hot and perfect while the rest of us are freaking mortal. Rude, baby Jesus. Rude.
Tipping my head, I meet his gaze, and the laughter dies on his lips. His eyes darken, his expression heating.
I grasp for something to say, and land on what Gemma told me. "Did you really save that elderly woman out in Granite Hills?”
Something flickers in his expression, gone too quickly for me to read. "It wasn’t just me, Heidi. The whole squad deserves the credit."
“You almost died trying to get Rivin out,” I whisper.
“I did what I was supposed to do, angel. We don’t leave men behind, not even our dogs.” His jaw tightens, his gaze shifting from mine as if he’d rather not talk about it.
But in that moment, I see past the silent bravado to the man beneath. A man who would risk everything for his dog, even if it meant putting his own life on the line.
I misjudged him last night. By a lot.
The realization both thrills and terrifies me.
“Alessandro, I…” I grasp for a suitable apology. “I’m a jerk,” I say simply.
“Nah, angel,” he says quietly. “You were right. I should have been keeping a closer eye on him. He could have been hurt, and it would have been on me. You were right to call me on it.”
“I didn’t have to be a bitch about it,” I whisper, feeling guilty.
“You were passionate. There’s a difference.” He narrows his eyes on me. “Don’t insult yourself. I don’t like it.”
“I…”
He pops the lid on the box he set on the worktable, holding out a kolache. The sweet aroma wafts between us. "Peace offering?"
“You brought me kolaches?” I stare up at him, shocked.
“Figured since my asshole dog ate yours…” His dimples flash as he grins. “Here, take it.”
I take it and my fingers brush his, sending a jolt up my arm. He feels it too and mutters a curse. I quickly bite into the soft dough, hoping to hide the way my cheeks burn. Flavors burst on my tongue, and my eyes widen in surprise. "Holy crap,” I mutter around the bite in my mouth. “This is actually good. Did you make these?"
Alessandro's booming laughter fills the bakery. "Surprised?"
"Yes." I take another bite, savoring the taste.
"Good, because I can't cook for shit." He leans in conspiratorially. "I called in a favor and had Dacen at the department make them. An apology for yesterday." His expression sobers. "How's the cat doing?"
"Skeet's fine," I assure him, touched by his concern. And then I frown, glancing around. "Where's Rivin?"
His clenches his jaw. "Suspended. Chief decided he needed a time-out for not listening."
Guilt twists through me. "Oh, Alessandro. I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to get him in trouble!"
“Believe me, Sunshine, you didn’t get him into trouble. He did that all by himself.” He shrugs, a mischievous glint in his eye. "But if you want to make me feel better about it, you can do it by agreeing to go out with me.”
My heart stutters. A big part of me wants to say yes, but the other part is frozen in fear. Instead of saying anything, I just stare at him like a freaking deer caught in the headlights. “I…I…I…”
Great. I sound like a record skipping in the same groove.
"Fuck it." His growl sends heat rushing through me. In one swift move, he wraps his hands around my waist, yanking me into his arms. His lips crash against mine in a searing kiss.
I melt into him with a whimper, my hands fisting in his shirt as his tongue sweeps into my mouth. He tastes like cinnamon and salvation, a heady combination that leaves me breathless and not thinking clearly. At least, that’s the excuse I give myself when I practically climb his body, trying to get closer to his mouth.
He plants his hands on my ass, boosting me up. Somehow, I end up plastered against the wall, pinned between it and his hard body.
“Wet paint,” I gasp.
“I’ll repaint the entire fucking bakery for you,” he growls, bucking his hips into me as he kisses a hot trail down my throat. “Christ, I’ll give you whatever you want if you keep grinding on my cock like that, angel. You feel fucking perfect.”
“I know!” I cry, my nails embedded in his back as I rock against him, chasing some high that’s far beyond anything I’ve ever felt before.
His dark chuckle sends flows of lava directly into my veins. And then I feel his stubble abrading the sensitive skin of my throat. I rock faster, moaning so loud I’m sure the business next door probably hears me.