Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
When I enter her guest bedroom, I undress and lie down on the bed. Maya’s scent envelops me, and I groan as I bury my face in the pillow and inhale. This is torture, but the sweetest kind. Instead of counting sheep, I’m counting the minutes until I see Maya in the morning. It’s going to be a long night.
8
MAYA
After an awkward morning filled with silence, I’m riding in the passenger seat of Legend’s rental car. I tried to tell him I could drive myself, but he wasn’t having it. He insisted on going with me, which made my plans for the day even more awkward.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
I point at the road in front of us. “We’re almost there. We may need to stop at the grocery store while we’re out too.”
He nods and is frowning. It’s obvious he’s used to being in control, and he doesn’t like that I won’t tell him where we’re going. He keeps checking the rearview mirror.
“Are you okay?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “It’s easier to protect you if I have a plan. I like to map out escape routes, how many entry doors there are, if there are any cameras in the area, nearby stores that could provide other escape routes.” He blows out a breath and runs his hands through his hair. “This flying by the seat of my pants is a new concept for me, and it’s a little unsettling.”
I look out the window. I’m having him drive us into Jasper, so we have thirty minutes to fill. “Do you want me to tell you where we’re going?”
“Yep,” he answers.
“Okay, well, I need to do some research for the book.” I clench my eyes shut. “This is so embarrassing.”
I peek a look at him, and he’s gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles are white. I can only imagine what he thinks of me. After last night, he probably thinks I’m some kind of sex fiend or something. Which reminds me… “I need you to promise me you won’t tell Maverick about this. I don’t need my big brother giving me crap or making fun of me.”
Legend looks at me curiously. “Okay, I promise. Now where are we going?”
I put my hand to my face and shake my head. Just say it. Just blurt it out, Maya. “I’m going to do some research at a sex shop.”
He jerks the wheel when he turns to look at me, and he has to jerk it back the other way to straighten up. I have my hand on the dash and am holding on to it until he gets us back on the road. “Geez, Legend. You sure you don’t want me to drive?”
He’s staring at the road in front of us, his face grim. “A sex shop? What exactly does that mean?”
Oh God, does he want me to go into detail? No way, I can’t do it. “You know… a sex shop.”
He stops at a stop light. “No, I don’t know. Is it a place to have sex? Is it movies? Toys? What are we talking about here?”
I gasp and pull back. “Geez, Legend. I’m not having sex with someone I don’t know. It’s a toy store. I wanted to research some toys, that’s all.”
He lets out a breath, and it’s like I can see the tension leaving his body. “Okay.”
I give him the name of the store, and after he puts it into the GPS, we ride the rest of the way in silence. When he pulls into the parking lot, I unbuckle my seatbelt. “I’ll be in and out.”
“I’m going in with you.”
I gasp. “Uh, no you’re not.”
He ignores me, pulling the keys from the ignition and getting out. He’s looking around the parking lot as he comes to my side of the car. I’m still sitting here, stunned. There’s no way I can go buy a toy with Legend hovering near me.
He opens the door. “It’s safe. You can get out.”
He thinks I’ve been waiting on him to open my car door when in fact I’ve been sitting here, stunned. Instead of getting out, I shake my head. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going in.”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re going in. Come on, I’ll be right by your side.”
I throw my hands up. “That’s the problem. I’m not going in there to buy a sex toy while you hover over me, judging me. Can you just sit in the car? I’ll be in and out.”
He squats down next to me. “What’s going on here, Maya? Talk to me.”
I shake my head, refusing to talk. What can I say? I feel like I can’t describe how something feels so I’m going to get some toys to test it out. He’s going to think I’m pathetic.
He puts his hand on my knee. “Okay, so first of all, there’s no judgment on my part. This is research… it’s part of your job. And I can’t let you go in there on your own. Not while your stalker is on the loose.”