Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Is that why you won’t say you miss me when I tell you I miss you?” I asked, and she huffed a laugh, shaking her head.
“No. I did miss you. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to say it.” She locked on my eyes again, and my heart pumped a little faster. I took her hand in mine and lifted her knuckles to my lips to kiss each one.
“You don’t have to worry about me falling through the cracks, D. I’m not going anywhere. Hell, I’ll be the glue to piece it all together again, if that’s what you need.”
“You’re really sweet, Deke.” She sighed, studying her bare thighs.
I tipped her chin so she could look at me. “Next week. Take that trip with me.”
“Where?”
“I share a rental property with Whitney near Santeetlah Lake. It’s not too far from Charlotte. I told Whitney to leave next weekend open for me. I want you to come.”
“Is it a lake house?” she asked.
“It is, and I think you’ll love it. Whitney designed the whole place. It has really nice water views. A dock. We even have a boat. I’ll have it all planned out. All you gotta do is show up.”
She bit a grin. “How do you know I won’t be busy next weekend?”
“Make room for it. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
She bumped my shoulder. “What exactly are you expecting from this trip to Santeetlah, Deke?”
I pressed my lips, giving the question some thought. I wasn’t going to tell her that I wanted her at that house so I could fuck her in every position, or to spoil the hell out of her with food, wine, and attention.
Sure, I wanted that . . . but I also wanted to get to know Davina for who she truly was. I wanted to catch her while her guard was completely down and understand what was in her heart. And, if she was open to it, I’d tell her what was in mine.
But instead of saying all that, I said, “There are no expectations, D. I just like your company.”
At that, she put on a broad smile, and because I couldn’t help myself, I collected her chin in my fingers, leaned in, and kissed her.
She lay back, and I climbed on top of her, grazing the ridge of my semihard dick through the slit of her pussy. I kept skimming up and down while taking shallow dips inside to tease her.
Her breaths thickened, and her eyes pooled with heat and desire. She ran a gentle hand across my shoulder as I slipped into her with ease.
When I was all in, I claimed those pouty lips and kissed her like I meant it. Because I did. I meant it when I said I wasn’t going anywhere.
FORTY-FIVE
DAVINA
By the time Monday rolled around, I felt like a new woman.
I walked into my office with a burst of energy and a pep in my step. It was as if the thick gray cloud that once hovered above my head and blocked my vision was slowly lifting. And as the cloud lifted higher and higher, it soon began to drift, so I could witness the world before me again.
I could see that things weren’t all so bad and that I could live my life despite all I’d been through.
I wanted to attribute most of it to Deke, but it wasn’t just him who checked on me, brought me out of a funk, and made sure I was okay. I had my sister, my best friend, and even some of my employees, who checked in whenever they caught me in the warehouse.
It was nice knowing there were people who cared and people who accepted me for who I was. No one tried rushing me into a happy place. They all just let me be what I needed to be in the moment and embraced it. I was shocked Deke did too.
I sat behind my desk, completely zoned out as I thought about my time with him. We’d eventually found the will to leave the hotel room and sit at the hotel bar, where we sipped on those waters I had rain checked him for. It was his turn not to drink that night. He had team training coming up and wanted to keep his mind and body clear.
It was amazing how disciplined he was, and I was curious who’d instilled that discipline in him, because a man like Deke Bishop wasn’t just born. He was raised and molded to be the person he was. Though a part of him was clearly damaged (something he never talked about), he still seemed like a good man with good morals and hella patience.
It made me feel bad that what I had with him would only be temporary. I knew one day he’d grow tired of seeing me for brunches. He’d find another woman to catch his eye, and I’d hear less and less from him.