Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 72(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 72(@200wpm)___ 58(@250wpm)___ 48(@300wpm)
It makes me feel even more powerful.
“Unlike you, old man, I have no desire to control Roxie or to make her choices for her,” Ronan comments, not shouting unlike my father, but with a cool, calm threat in his tone all the same. “I want to support her, to show her just how incredible she is, to free her from the ridiculous weight of expectation you’ve shoved on her shoulders.”
I could cry at that declaration, but I refuse to let my father see any more of my tears. Ronan makes me feel like I really do have control here, like I can do anything I want.
“How dare you—” Dad starts, but I interrupt him. I’ve never dared to speak over him in my life, but as I stand there with Ronan at my side, I can feel the ties to this town, to the life I’ve been forced to lead all these years, falling away from me.
“I won’t marry Abe,” I declare, thoroughly enjoying the anger that flashes through my father’s eyes as I stand my ground. “I won’t marry anyone you try to set me up with. I’m not a pawn you can use to your advantage, Dad. I’m sick of trying to be good, of doing what I’m told even though it makes me miserable. I deserve better. I always have.”
Ronan looks down at me with pride shining in his gaze, and I burn with love and desire and admiration under his gaze.
“Don’t be ridiculous Roxie!” my father seethes. “You’re a good girl—”
“No,” I say with finality, shaking my head as I straighten my spine. “I’m not.”
Ronan’s hand flexes on my waist. “I think you should leave,” he says coolly to my father, raising a brow at him. “Before I have to defend my girl with more than words.”
The thinly veiled threat makes Dad’s face pale. He looks between us again, and I stand my ground.
“This isn’t over,” my father spits, sneering at Ronan once more before he turns on his heel and storms away.
Ronan kicks the front door closed on my father, and immediately I jump into his arms, winding my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.
I don’t give a single fuck what my father says or tries to do. I’m not his little girl anymore. I’m not the Roxie who tries to fit into the good girl mold this town has always tried to shove me into.
Now, I’m ready to learn who I really am.
And that starts with being Ronan Ross’ girl.
5
RONAN
Ionly meant to stop for a night, but three days later, I’m making Roxie tea in the kitchen while she checks last night’s guest out of the Airbnb.
There’s no fucking way I’m leaving without her. My brother laughed at me when I called to tell him the delay, but said that he’d been handling business for an entire year since I was arrested and that another few days was hardly going to be an issue. Before we hung up, he made me promise to introduce to him the girl who managed to capture me in just a day. I miss my brother and can’t wait to finally be home again, but I know deep in my very bones that nowhere will feel like home again unless Roxie is with me.
I’m stirring the sugar into her tea because my girl likes things sweet when she pads into the kitchen on slippered feet. Immediately, all my attention hones in on her. Nothing else exists when Roxie’s near. Nothing else matters.
I slide her mug across the counter, and she smiles at me with sparkling eyes.
“He’s gone,” she says, meaning the other guest, as she leans against the counter and wraps her hands around the warm mug.
“Good,” I answer, smirking at her. “I much prefer being alone with you.”
She giggles. “The feeling’s mutual.” Something crosses her expression, and she frowns, shifting on her feet. “I suppose I’ll be checking you out of here soon, too.”
“Only if you’re checking out with me,” I tell her quickly.
Her eyes snap back to mine. “You’re serious. Is that … I mean … could I really leave with you?”
I step closer to her, my arm sliding around her waist possessively. “You’re mine, sunflower,” I remind her. “Nothing and no one could force me away from you now.”
She melts against me, exhaling heavily. “I want that,” she says softly. “Take me away from here, Ronan.”
“Go pack then, Roxie.”
She pulls away with a grin that quickly falls. “Most of my stuff is still at my parents’ house,” she admits, pulling a face that tells me just how much she hates the idea of going near her father.
But there’s no way in hell I’ll let that pathetic pastor wreck my plans.
“Then we’ll go get it,” I decide, showing Roxie just how much I mean it. “Get whatever you need from here, and we’ll go get the rest of it on the way.”