Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
If I’d met him through the app, I’d have enjoyed the random hookup, no doubt, but I’d have gone back for more. He’s the kind of guy that had I permitted myself to date, I might’ve finally allowed myself to let go of all my hang-ups.
In another life, maybe.
In this one, I’m forced to be with him as we fight for our lives, but nothing will ever come of the attraction I feel. Hell, he probably sees me as a water-fearing dinosaur who needs saving every time he turns around.
Pathetic.
I still can’t believe what an asshole I was to him just hours ago. He’d only been doing his job, got stuck in an elevator, and then took the brunt of my stress. Tyler is worried about his brothers and has managed to hold his shit together. It’s admirable.
As far as my brother goes, I’m trying not to worry about him. He’s done well for himself over the years, helping with the ranch and making a name for himself in my hometown. If any of these weather happenings or catastrophes are affecting Texas like it is here in California, Knox will know just what to do. He’ll probably find a way to save everyone in town and all the livestock too.
Please, God, let him be okay.
Tyler’s hand squeezes mine, letting me know he’s awake. It’s dark in the stairwell with the door closed behind us now that it’s nighttime. My watch isn’t working anymore, but if I had to guess, it’s probably well after midnight. We haven’t had any water surges or boat crashes in hours. Maybe the worst is behind us.
“You awake?” Tyler murmurs, his head turning toward me. Hot breath tickles over my cheeks, sending heat blooming in my chest. “This is uncomfortable as hell.”
I can hear Gerry snoring the loudest above the others, who appear to still be asleep.
“Not for Gerry,” I tease, greedily inhaling Tyler’s hair that brushes over my nose. He smells like lingering shampoo and salt water. I like the scent a lot. “Gerry could sleep anywhere. I’ve caught him napping at his desk many times.”
Tyler softly chuckles. “So even big corporate zombies have slackers in their group too?”
“Corporate zombies?”
“Yeah, you know the type. Mindlessly going to their tower in the sky, working their nine to fives over and over again until they die.”
“Hmph,” I grunt out. “My job is a little more entertaining than that.”
“Not Gerry’s, though.”
We both snicker. I don’t pull my hand from Tyler’s. In the darkness, I can cling to him, pretending for just a moment everything is normal and it’s not the end of the goddamn world.
“What are we going to do, Kellen?” Tyler asks with a defeated sigh. “We’re trapped with nowhere to go.”
“Help will come,” I assure him. “It will.”
I don’t know how or from whom, but it has to.
“Yeah,” he mutters. “Maybe.” His other hand blindly fumbles over my chest, sending a thrill straight to my dick. “How’s your wound?”
“It hurts,” I admit through clenched teeth as he roves his fingers over me. “Not much can be done about it, though.”
He locates my injury and then slides his hand beneath my shirt to check the bandage. Lightly, he presses his fingers to it. “I don’t think it’s bled through. That’s something.”
“Could’ve been worse,” I say with a shudder. “I could have got sucked deeper into the stairwell and drowned.”
“I would have saved you.” His hand remains on my stomach under my shirt. My heart hammers wildly in my chest. Of all the times to decide I’m interested in a guy, now is definitely the most inopportune.
“It’s kind of our thing,” I joke, unable to keep from grinning. “You saving me over and over.”
Kind of our thing? Close your mouth, dumbass. You sound like an idiot.
What if my employees are awake? None of them even know I’m gay, much less stupidly crushing over the food delivery guy who, hours ago, I was massively bitching about. I’m an embarrassment, just like Dad always thought.
Tyler doesn’t make me feel like a loser, though, because he laughs, brushing his teasing fingers over my abs before removing his hand. “And to think, you almost sent me away. I’m growing on you.”
That he is.
If we ever get out of here, I’d jump at the opportunity to take him to dinner to show him my thanks. I can think of a lot else I could do after.
“Good thing you’re hot,” Tyler continues, voice low and near my cheek. “It makes you easier to put up with.”
He thinks I’m hot?
Are we flirting?
Heat surges through my chilled body, warming me from my chest to the end of each of my limbs. The last time someone told me I was hot was back in high school. I’d met some guy at the mall who let me practice my new blowjob skills on him in a dressing room. Since then, I’ve been told I’m successful and sugar daddy material, but never hot.