Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“Maybe.”
“Anyway, I need to tell Hollin that we need to hire someone else. We could bring Tessi on full-time and get a few more assistants since the wedding business has burgeoned so dramatically.”
“Do that,” he said automatically. “I don’t like to see you this stressed.”
“I’d be less stressed if I wasn’t going to be late to this game.”
“We’re going to make it,” Weston said. “And I called Harley earlier when you said you’d be late. She played in high school. She was excited to cover for you. She might already be there.”
I blew out a breath of relief. That did make me feel better. But I detested being late for anything.
West’s phone beeped as we turned off the loop toward the indoor complex. “That’s Harley. She said she’s there. Isaac gave her Annie’s uniform. So, you can breathe.”
“Fine. Fine. But it’s the championship game.”
He reached across the dash and took my hand. “It’ll be fine.”
“With my luck, Harley will be better than me, and they won’t want to sub me in.”
I wasn’t that bad, but I’d only gotten into soccer for The Tacos. Originally because August was so good at soccer that he wanted to play on Hollin’s team. I’d agreed and worked hard to be good enough to be on the team. I’d once told Hollin that my breakup with August was worse for the team, and he’d scolded me. Not because I was better than August, but because we had gotten Eve out of the situation, and she was way better than him.
Still, I didn’t want to miss the final game of the indoor season.
West pulled into the parking lot three minutes after the game started. My fuzzy pink dice swinging dangerously from the rearview window.
“We made good time,” I said, dropping out of the passenger seat and hurrying around to the driver’s side to grab my bag from the back.
West stepped out next to me. “Before you go.” He snagged my arm, pulling me toward him.
“I don’t have time.”
“I know,” he said as he pushed my back against the SUV.
My heart rate accelerated as he took control of my body. His lips descended on mine, and I gave in, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting him kiss me breathless. He was distracting me from my nerves in the same way I’d done for him in New York City. He could kiss me here without anyone around to see.
And I wanted this. God, I wanted this.
The kiss turned feverish, and for one delirious moment, I wondered if we had time for a quickie in the parking lot. It couldn’t possibly happen. Not with the game beckoning. But it was a glorious fantasy.
“West,” I groaned.
“I know. I know. You have to go.”
“I really do.”
And then I kissed him again for good measure.
The crunch of gravel under feet should have been the indication that someone was getting nearer, but I was lost to West’s lips.
It wasn’t until a throat cleared and someone said, “Nora?” that I pulled back.
I’d know that voice anywhere.
“August?” I gasped in surprise.
He froze, looking between me and West in shock. He saw straight through what was happening here. West’s arm was still around my waist. My back braced against the SUV. I stumbled forward.
I didn’t have to justify myself. August had hurt me in the worst way possible. He’d demolished my heart and then kept right on rolling over it. He had no right to look at me as if I were the person doing something wrong.
“What are you doing here?” I forced out.
“I…I came to talk to you.” He glanced back toward the indoor facility. “I knew you’d be at the championship game.”
“And why would you think I’d want to talk to you? I told you that I didn’t want to see you anymore. Multiple times actually.”
He nodded. His eyes shifting to West, who still had said nothing, and back to me. “Can we have a moment…alone?”
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” I said at the same time West growled, “No.”
I put my hand on his chest to stop him. I could handle this. I could handle August.
“I said all I needed to say to you. Go back to your fiancée,” I said with venom in my voice.
He swallowed. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do. I’m not the same girl that you abused, August,” I told him.
“Abused?” he asked in a straggled gasp. “Nora, I would never…”
“The woman said what she said,” Weston said.
“Why don’t you stay out of this?” August snapped at him.
“I don’t think I have to do that. You heard her.” West straightened to his considerable height and crossed his arms over his chest. “She doesn’t want anything to do with you.”
August looked ready to argue, but since when did he fight for what he wanted? When had he ever fought for me? No, he gave me one more pleading look and then slunk away.