Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 93(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
“He’s got it rough,” he shoots back, the corner of his mouth lifting in that way that makes my stomach flutter and my girly parts wake up.
“I work hard so my dog can have a better life.”
He lets out a laugh, and the darn sound sends a shiver down my spine. “He’s one lucky little shit.”
Just then, the playful banter shifts. His dark brown eyes pierce through me, looking right past the surface and into the depths of my soul. Every time we share these moments, I feel like the world around us fades away. The way he’s looking at me right now, it’s enough to make my pulse race. There’s a breathless tension I can’t ignore, and every instinct in my body tells me to close the gap between us.
“Lennox…” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.
Then, right when I’m about to do something reckless, Chewy decides this is the perfect moment to burst from his slumber. The little furball suddenly jolts upright, barking wildly at nothing.
“Chewy!” I exclaim, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a laugh as he scampers over, all floppy ears and wagging tail, completely ignoring the tension hanging heavy in the air around us.
Chewy rushes right up and plops his little butt at Lennox’s feet. When the little traitor stares up at him with those wide, adoring eyes that say, “You’re my new favorite person,” I can’t help but roll my eyes.
“Looks like I’ve been replaced,” I say, gesturing dramatically as I cross my arms, leaning against the doorframe and fighting back a grin.
“Not a chance,” Lennox replies, bending down to scratch Chewy under the chin, and the fondness blooming on his face makes my heart flutter again. “We can share him.”
I take a step closer, folding my arms and watching him with a playful smirk. “You might regret your decision when he takes up your whole bed.”
“I’m willing to share my bed.” He grins, looking up from the little dog. The heat shining from his dark eyes is beyond dangerous to my heart.
Chapter 5
Lennox
I can’t fucking resist her another goddamn second. Standing, I step close and lean in, needing to claim Willow. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, and I can feel the electricity crackling between us like a live wire. Her eyes are bright and inviting, and the way she looks at me sends my resolve tumbling.
“Lennox…” she whispers, and the desire shining from her eyes makes my heart pound. I can’t think about anything else but how close I am to tasting her. With my pulse racing and the tension rolling off us, it feels like the entire universe hinges on this single moment.
But just as I lean in, intent on finally closing this maddening gap between us, my phone buzzes viciously in my front pocket. The jarring sound cuts through the heavy atmosphere like a knife.
“Shitty timing,” I mutter under my breath, frustration slamming into me as I pull away slightly, desperately trying to shake off the annoyance. I reach for my phone, recognizing the unmistakable alert stating there’s someone at the front gate. I’m torn between wanting to stay close to Willow and checking who the hell has chosen right now to come knocking.
“Hang tight for a sec,” I say, trying to keep my disappointment under wraps as I check the security feed. I switch to the camera view and find Stone pulled up to the gate, holding up Willow’s black purse like it’s some trophy he just won. The irritation spikes. Seriously? Why now?
I turn back to Willow, who’s watching me with curiosity. “We’ve got a visitor,” I say, forcing a casual tone despite the way my insides churn. I’m suddenly hyper-aware of the buzzing chemistry coursing back and forth between us, but the timing isn’t right. I open the gate and watch as he drives up to my home.
“Who?” she asks, her brows knitting together in mild confusion.
“The agent who interviewed you the other day.” I move toward the door, frustration gnawing at me. “The fucker has the worst goddamn timing.”
I open the front door and Stone walks in with a smirk on his face. “What are you doing here?” I don’t attempt to hide my displeasure as the little Shih Tzu rushes over to growl menacingly at our visitor. With strangers around, the little shit has my back.
Too bad, he forgets all that when it’s just the three of us at the house. Once he realized I’m not going anywhere, he started acting out a little. Nothing horrible, but he’s definitely been a pain in my ass.
“I thought Willow might like to have her stuff back.” Stone steps around the small dog to hold the purse out to her. “Here’s everything except the memory stick.”
I catch Willow’s bright smile lighting up her face when she reaches for the purse. A twisted knot of possessiveness fires in my gut. All her goddamn smiles belong to me.