Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“That’s rich coming from you.”
“If you want to be a thief, then do it in my casino. No one was bothering you.”
“Except you.” I take a sip of my milkshake. He only smirks at my response. My antics do roll right off him.
“You’ll have to get used to it because I’m not going anywhere.”
“So, you’re just going to kidnap me?” I know it shouldn’t, but the thought excites me. Which I know is totally crazy, but this man is making me that way. He has me feeling and doing things that I never have.
“Call it what you want.” I tense when I hear the bathroom door open. The sound of the heels clicking again. How can she work in those all night? Mine kill me, and I get to sit down most of the time when I have them on.
“Bowen.” She comes to stand next to our booth. A pang of jealousy hits me out of nowhere at the sensual tone of her voice toward Bo.
“It’s Knight.”
“Really?” She lets out a small huff. Her bottom lip pops out. She glances back and forth between Bo and me. He’s still got his eyes on me. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.” Nikkie reaches out to touch his shoulder. He lifts his hand, making her pause for a second before dropping her hand. “You’re really going to be like this? Because of—”
“Don’t finish your sentence.” He finally turns his head toward her. The cold indifference his expression gives has her stepping back. “Get back to work or you won’t have a job much longer.” Anger lights up her face, the sad pout falling away to show how she truly feels. I make a note to myself to keep her on my radar. Women like her don’t like being told no.
“Whatever.” She turns to stomp off.
“I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.” I push my milkshake away. I can’t help but wonder what the story is between them. Do they have a romantic past? I know I’m being ridiculous, but the thought of Bo with anyone else makes me feel sick.
“You’re eating.” He pushes it right back.
“You’re a jerk.”
“I’ve been called far worse.”
“Just so you know, if you’re trying to get into my pants, maybe don’t bring me to where your ex-girlfriend works.”
“She was never my girlfriend. I don’t have girlfriends.” I roll my eyes.
“Fuck buddies.”
“Never fucked her.”
“Then, why is she so upset?”
“Because she wants me to fuck her. Probably put a ring on her finger or some shit. Who knows.”
Becs returns, loading our table up with the pile of food I ordered. I wait until she’s gone to ask my next question.
“What am I to you?”
11
BOWEN
“I don’t think you’re ready for that answer yet.” Her nose scrunches, not liking my lack of answer.
“Whatever,” she mutters, picking up a mozzarella stick and biting it in half. How is everything she does entertaining to me? I watch her eat, taking a few bites of my own food. Thankfully, Nikkie stays the fuck away from our table.
I hadn’t thought about her when I decided to come to the diner. Nikkie has always lived in this neighborhood. Her mother and mine were tight at one time. It was why I let her get away with as much as I did. Her games haven’t bothered me before. But now that I have something to lose, I won’t tolerate her nonsense.
Nikkie has daggers for nails. In the past, it has fared well for me. She kept a lot of the girls away that I didn’t want to be bothered by. It worked—or it used to. To me, she’d always been like an annoying stepsister I had to put up with. Hopefully she got the message. Soon everyone else will get it too. I’m sure word is already spreading like wildfire.
“I want to go home after this.” Ace says. Her mood has changed. It’s strange how easily I can read her already. As sappy as it sounds, I feel connected to her. If someone would have told me I would be thinking that about a woman a month ago, I would have laughed in their face.
“You’re not going home. Not to yours at least.”
“I’m not sleeping with you.”
“You’ll be in my bed tonight. That’s not up for discussion.”
“You know what? Screw you.” She tosses her napkin down on the table and gets up. I stand, blocking her path. I let her walk out on me once, but that won’t ever happen again. “People are watching.”
“No, they’re not. They know better.”
“She didn’t know better,” she hisses, showing her hand. She’s jealous.
“I told you. She means nothing.” This is really coming to bite me in the ass. I’ll have to handle it if I ever want to come back here again.
“And I’m sure next week I’ll mean nothing.” She pushes at my chest. I’d smile if she wasn’t so pissed off. Her jealousy wasn’t what I wanted, but I’ll take it. I shouldn’t take pleasure in it, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I fucking love it. Ace hates the idea of me with another woman. That suits me just fine because she’s all I can fucking think about or want.