Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
What the hell have I just gotten myself into? Am I about to be mauled by a bunch of thirsty women?
“A round of applause for our eager contestants,” Bessy’s voice comes over the speakers, and I scoff. Eager is a bit of a stretch.
The crowd cheers for their favorite event, getting into the zone for the most athletic race this town has ever seen, and when Oxley’s voice sails over the crowd, my cheeks instantly flush. “HELL YEAH, B. WHOOP THESE BITCHES ASSES.”
Holy shit.
More of the other girls start looking at me, suddenly wondering if I’m going to be a threat to their Christmas date with the town’s most eligible bachelor.
Speaking of, I wonder who it will be. Knowing Bessy, she’ll be hitting up every available guy in town, but in the past, she’d used this opportunity as some kind of match-making program. I remember back in my college days, three years running, the winners of this event ended up a real couple who are now married and settled down with babies.
No wonder these other girls look so competitive. They think this eligible bachelor could have the potential to be their future baby daddy.
“Alright, alright. Settle down,” Bessy says as the crowd continues to go insane, getting into the spirit of the event. “Why don’t we go ahead and introduce this year’s most eligible cowboy?”
The crowd loses it, and I roll my eyes as Bessy is forced to wait. Not even the microphone could lift her voice over this noise. When the crowd finally begins to calm down, Bessy starts her usual over-the-top introduction. “Coming in at six-foot-four with a smoldering, deep blue stare and a grin that could knock any woman on her ass, please welcome to Blushing’s favorite arena, Nicholas Carter Stone.”
What. The. Effing. Fuck.
Nick strides into the arena wearing a pair of old jeans, well-worn chaps, and a pair of cowboy boots that make my mouth water, but it’s the bare torso that really makes me squirm. I knew he’d gotten bigger since the last time I saw him. That was evident the minute I laid eyes on him, but the sharp ridges of his abs are insane, matched with the big, wide shoulders and defined pecs . . . fuck.
I’m a goner.
He struts through the arena, and judging by the way his chest seems to glisten in the fading sunlight, I can only assume that Bessy slathered him up in baby oil, and I bet the old bag enjoyed it too.
He’s simply delicious.
And I’m clearly not the only one to notice.
The other girls around the arena eye him up like a bunch of wild animals. Their casual stares become hungry, and suddenly it’s no longer just a race to get to him first, they’re out for blood. They all want him and will stop at nothing to win their date with Blushing’s most eligible bachelor.
My heart races as my game plan begins to shift. For some reason, I don’t think I’ll be hanging back and letting some other woman win this race anymore. Three seconds ago, I didn’t give a shit who won. I was in it for the charity aspect, but now, I feel as though I’m fighting for what’s always been mine, and this time, I’m not willing to lose.
I want that fucking date and a million more after it.
Nick casually glances around the arena as if putting on a show for the eager crowd and enticing his hungry suitors, but it only works me up more.
Over my dead body.
They’re not having him.
Nick takes his position in the center of the arena and does a slow turn for the crowd, eating up the attention, but as he comes to a stop, he faces me front on, that wicked blue stare locked on mine. The corner of his lips twists into a smug grin, and I realize he’s done this on purpose. He knew Bessy entered me into this damn competition, and the fucker didn’t say a damn word.
That bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing, and his little plan is working because not only am I going to be running for him, I’m going to win.
“Come and get it,” he mouths, holding his arms out wide, welcoming me in.
My jaw clenches, and my hands ball into fists at my side before risking a glance at my competitors. They look as though they’ve been training for this all year. How the hell am I supposed to beat out nine wild women who are all desperate for the one prize?
I think about the chances of me not winning, how Nick would be forced to take the winner out on a date, and how she would probably do anything within her power to seduce him. I see red.
My blood boils, pumping rapidly through my system.
I will not lose.