Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but not long. I decided to go pro soon after I started college.”
“You were good enough,” my father says proudly.
Is this what my father looks like when he genuinely feels proud of someone? The inside of my chest feels like someone is running a knife inside me. I hold back a sob as I will myself not to cry.
“You didn’t finish college?”
“I didn’t.”
“I had no idea. Did you want a degree? Not that I use mine, but hey, maybe I will someday.”
“College wasn’t in the cards for me. I had other responsibilities and expenses. I needed the money only going pro would give me.” Another small piece of the puzzle is given, yet no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to see the big picture. Who is Dane Sinclair, and what makes him tick?
45
DANE
Aiden: I have tea.
Hudson: I hear snake wine is better for fertility.
Mason: Aiden’s trying to knock up Cassidy?
Dane: Makes sense. She’s out of his league. He must be antsy to hold her down.
Aiden: We’re already engaged, asshole.
Mason: Means nothing these days.
Aiden: Do you guys want the tea or not?
Dane: I thought you trying to knock up Cass is the tea?
Hudson changed the name of the chat to Nannies of Redville.
Aiden has left the chat.
46
DANE
It’s been a few weeks since I started to see Josephine. It hasn’t gotten any easier, yet I can’t seem to let her go. My need for her can’t be diminished, no matter how much I will it to be, which is a real problem.
Originally, I thought that she was an itch I needed to scratch—that once I had my fill, I’d be able to walk away—but I’m finding the opposite.
The more time I spend with her, the more I want her. Every time she’s around, I tell myself this is the last time, that we are stepping deeper into dangerous territory, yet I can’t stop myself from seeking her out. Even now, as I wait for her to arrive at my house, I look down at my phone and type a text to cancel our date, but I can’t send it. I’m fucked for this girl.
It’s not just about the sex either. No, that would be easy to call off. It’s how she makes me feel weightless. Nothing can harm me despite all the concerns that hang over me when she’s around.
I feel lighter.
I feel more like the boy I was before my parents died than the man I had to become after—scruples and all—so I could take care of Molly.
Changing the past can never happen, nor would I want to lose Molly, but I do miss the guy I was before I had to make a decision that changed the whole trajectory of my life.
A light knock raps on the door.
I drop my phone on the side table, abandoning the text calling this night off.
I stroll over to answer it, throwing the door open and looking at the woman who refuses to stop occupying my thoughts.
It’s not her fault you’re obsessed.
Before she can even speak, I loop an arm around her waist and drag her toward me, sealing my lips over hers. So much for all the good intentions of ending this.
Her slender arms wrap around my neck, fingers finding a home in my hair. We kiss with abandon. Like nothing in the world matters, and in truth, right here, right now, despite all the obstacles against us, it’s the truth. Or at least it’s our truth. I nip at her lip, pulling a moan from her mouth, and she giggles against me.
“Hungry?” her question tickles my skin.
“Ravenous.”
When I pull back, Josephine whimpers a protest, and a laugh bubbles out from my mouth.
“I love that sound.” She takes a step back, tilting her head up to meet my gaze.
I incline my head. “What sound?”
“When you laugh.” She leans up on her toes and places a soft kiss on my jaw. “You don’t do it often, and when you do, you get these cute little lines on your face.”
“Are you saying I’m old?” My lip twitches.
“Oh, just do it already.”
“Do what?” I feign ignorance.
“Smile. You know you want to.”
“I don’t.” Another twitch. I start to turn around, but before I can, Josephine jumps up on the long bench that sits adjacent to the wall of my foyer.
“You sure?” She walks, and I shake my head at her antics. Even if I could stop myself, at this point, I won’t. A full belly laugh erupts from inside me at how ridiculous she always looks when she tries to tightrope walk.
“Oh, Dane, aren’t you forgetting something?” I lift a brow at her question. “I need help.” She winks, wobbling, because if this were her actual chosen career, she would be fired right away.
She’s awful at it.
I swoop in, bracketing my arms around her as she falls into me.