Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Why was she crying? What did she expect? He was her boss. This wasn’t really going anywhere. They were just having a little fun.
****
“What was that?” Axe asked, looking toward Dolly and Susie as if they would have the answers he sought.
Running a hand down his face, he looked toward the open door. Both dogs were in the bathtub, in need of getting out. He reached for Dolly as she was closer and then went for Susie. Both dogs attempted to shake the water from their bodies, and he had a towel draped over them in order to prevent too much of the doggy water from spraying everywhere. This was next to impossible.
Axe kept looking toward the door, and he just couldn’t shake this feeling from his core. He checked to make sure the bathtub was empty, and then he took off, heading out of the bathroom and straight to the stairs. He made his way to the kitchen, where he found Clarissa. She was standing at the porcelain kitchen sink, her fingers clenching the edge in a tight grip.
He went to her, grabbed her arm, and spun her around, shocked to find tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?”
She pressed her lips together. “It’s nothing.”
“Clarissa, don’t lie to me. You know I can’t stand it when you lie to me. Just tell me the truth.”
She let out a chuckle, which looked more on the verge of hysteria.
“You think you want the truth, but I can promise you, you don’t.”
He cupped her face and tilted her head back, staring into her brown eyes. She was so incredibly beautiful. He loved this woman so damn much.
“I love you!” Clarissa yelled the words at him. “That’s right. I love you and I’ve been terrified to tell you the truth, because I didn’t know how to say it or what to do. I mean, what do you say to a guy that has everything? Look around you. You have it all, Axe. Your life is perfect, and I want to share all of it. I want to have children with you. I want to marry you, and you don’t want me to lie to you, well, fine, I think I might be pregnant.” She nodded her head. “There, I’ve said it. I think I might be pregnant with your baby, and I’m in love with you.”
Axe looked into her eyes, and then slammed his lips down on hers, kissing her passionately. Clarissa had no idea that those words were exactly what he wanted to hear. Sinking his fingers into her hair, he ravished her mouth.
She loved him. Loved him! It was insane, but everything he fucking wanted to hear. She was his life.
Clarissa pressed on his chest and broke away from the kiss. “Why did you kiss me?” She had this cute little frown across her brow.
“Don’t you know?” he asked, stroking her cheek.
She shook her head.
“I am in love with you, Clarissa. I love you so much, and I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time, but you’re so young. Twenty-five years old, and you have your whole life ahead of you. I’ve not got a lot to offer you. This life is long and hard, and there is always something to do. I know a lot of people don’t want this.”
She cupped his face. “But I do. I want this life with you. I can see our children running around our feet, begging for attention, making us laugh.” She gave a little chuckle. “I love it here. I feel at home, and I don’t mind hard work. Trust me. I want to take care of you and take care of this house. I want to grow old with you.”
He didn’t let her finish, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. “Please tell me this isn’t a dream,” he said.
“It’s not a dream.”
And to make sure he knew it wasn’t a dream, Dolly and Susie both barked and he glanced over at them, to see them still a little damp.
He groaned. “I’ve got to go and take care of the dogs.”
Axe didn’t leave Clarissa, though. He took her hand and made her follow him, as he scooped up both dogs. He placed Susie in her arms and then carried Dolly back upstairs to the bathroom. He was supposed to close the door to keep the dogs inside.
Reaching into a cupboard underneath the sink, he grabbed the hair dryer and the dog brush. Working on each one, with Clarissa close to him, he finished grooming the dogs. Once it was over, he turned to his woman and looked into her eyes.
“Marry me,” he said.
“Yes.”
There was no hesitation, just a smile on her lips, and he also saw tears.
“Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I’m so happy. They’re happy tears.” She pulled him close, kissed him hard, and he heard her sigh. “And I might also be pregnant. You did hear that little part, right?”