Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
I think about sex with Ledger. What it would be like. Would I fear it?
You’ve really never had sex?
My cheeks flame hot.
Never.
Why?
I stare at his reply for entirely too long. I could tell him I believe in waiting for Mr. Right. I could tell him it just never felt like the right time, but I deflect once more.
I should get some sleep. I have a busy day tomorrow.
Night.
I don’t have a busy day today, unless sitting with Bridgette and planning a wedding I don’t want is considered busy. As Bridgette goes over the countless options for flower arrangements, I do my utmost to pay attention. Who knew there were so many different types of flowers? Sure, I want my wedding to be beautiful. I envision my father walking his daughter down the aisle, and gorgeous flowers lining the walkway. Just not with Bane. However, as Bridgette presents arrangement after arrangement, my mind keeps drifting to Ledger.
What is he doing at this very moment?
I glance at my phone sitting on the table. No new text message. I want to text him right now. The need to do so is stifling, making me feel like screaming.
Instead, I look at flower arrangements. Instead, I act like the happy bride, wondering what I should say to Ledger.
As it sits right now, I could never text him again, and things could go back to the way they were before I met him.
Before the night I was attacked.
I could live out the rest of my days remembering the time when I texted the elusive man for a few days. Going into my marriage, it’s what I should do.
“Let me see if there are any red rose bouquets in the back,” Bridgette says and I watch as she rises from her chair and makes her way into the back of the florist shop.
The owner of the shop gave us two large binders filled with pictures of flowers and said to let her know if we needed anything else.
I’m all alone, and my fingers itch to type out a message to Ledger. He asked why I was a virgin, and I don’t want to tell him the truth. Will it sound stupid to him?
Instead, I text him something I’ve been thinking about since I met him.
How many tattoos do you have?
Too many to count.
But I’m sure you have counted.
Maybe.
There’s that maybe again. And I’m wondering if his maybe means yes. That would mean that he did miss me. I push the silly thought away and ask him again how many tattoos he has.
A couple dozen.
That doesn’t tell me much. I want to ask about every single one of them, but don’t want to come off as too intrigued, so instead I ask which is his favorite.
I watch as the dots bounce away, and I wonder what he’s doing right now.
You asked me once what I like to do, and the truth is, I like to draw. Every tattoo of mine is an original piece designed by me.
I was not expecting this answer.
Really? So you hand drew all of them?
Yes, and a buddy of mine is a tattoo artist. I wouldn’t trust anyone else. Some are smaller doodles I designed when I was younger, but my favorite is the skull over my chest. It was one of the first real tattoos I designed.
That’s cool. I’d love to see it.
I don’t think about my message until after I hit send. I just asked to see his chest.
I’d love to show it to you.
I read his message over and over, but before I can respond, Bridgette steps up from behind me.
“Here are some red rose arrangements for the wedding flowers,” she says, plopping a binder down in front of me.
My eyes are bombarded by flower arrangement after flower arrangement for the next hour. Then we head back to Bane’s estate to plan how we’re going to transform the backyard into the event of the century.
We walk the length of the backyard as Bridgette makes a list with everything we’ll need. There’s a lot to be done, and Bane wants the wedding to happen soon. Like a few weeks soon. My palms sweat at the thought of marrying that monster.
But I put on a brave face, and smile, because I know what I have to do. I will do anything to protect my father from Bane.
Chapter 9
Ledger
“Ledger, are you listening to me?” Adele asks from the corner of my office.
I glance up at her, feeling like I’m just seeing her for the first time since I showed up to work—late.
I’m never late, so the fact I was late today shows where my mind is at. It’s all over the fucking place.
“Sorry, what did you say?” I ask, wondering why I can’t concentrate today. Maybe it’s the orbit of the Earth. Maybe it’s because Saturn’s in retrograde, or whatever the fuck that shit means. Maybe I can’t concentrate because I need a break. A long one.