Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“I disagree.” Of course he did.
I sent the bathroom door flying shut to end the conversation. I said what I said, and meant it, but never received the satisfying sound of the door hitting the frame’s two-by-fours. Dash’s hand slapped against the hard wood, bouncing it back on me.
“Give me ninety days. You’ve said you have no plans yet for the future. Allowing us three months to see if we’re compatible shouldn’t be a problem.”
What? Of course we were compatible. That had always been our problem.
“You can get a job around here. We owe each other a chance at a future.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I shot back, but dammit if he didn’t cut me off again.
“Then you owe me.” The condemning words fell like a gauntlet between us.
Well, dammit. He managed to turn the tables on me again. Compassion, as foreign a feeling as happiness, centered me. Pfft. More like knocked me on my ass. I remembered my last thoughts before falling asleep. I hadn’t considered his well-being. Always only mine. He was my savior, but I was never his.
Shame triple-timed it to the forefront. I couldn’t look him in the eyes, and finally turned my head around, dropping my bag on the bathroom floor. I twisted the shower faucet on the wall. Only a clear half-glass door separated the shower from the rest of the room. It wasn’t a small bathroom. Hell, it wasn’t a small shower.
“Scott’s gettin' married on Wednesday. I need to be there,” I explained. “Monday, I have to be in Mobile to finalize the will and handle the money distribution.” I lifted my hand to the spray, testing the warmth. Of course, it was perfect.
“That’s fine. I need to be back for an exam midmorning Thursday.”
“Dash…” I finally ventured to look at him again.
“No, not going to happen. I have zero faith you’ll return.” He rebelliously crossed his arms as his shoulder hit the doorframe. “Ninety days. It seems a fair deal. If we can’t make it work, then you can go begin a life without me.”
My internal barriers began to crumble. He’d see soon enough. “I’m Scott’s best man. I have to stay through Wednesday night.”
“We’ll fly home early Thursday morning. I’ll handle the arrangements. Is the wedding a formal affair?” Dash asked, pushing off the frame.
“I’ll wear blue jeans, probably a nice shirt if I have one. It’s at Scott’s folks place, next door to where I grew up.”
Dash vanished from view. I dropped my shorts and underwear to the floor then stepped directly under the hot spray. The showerhead and hard spray earned itself a gold star.
“So, a sports coat?” Dash called loudly, drawing my attention through the foggy glass half door of the shower. There he stood, in the middle of the bathroom, staring at my naked ass. Of course he’d have no sense of personal boundaries.
“Or a sweater like you’re wearin’ now,” I said just as loud. My palm slashed across the glass to see Dash’s slightly raised single brow questioning the sincerity of my suggestion. Maybe he found his answer, and pivoted around, leaving me to finish.
Oh man, he had some quirky habits.
I made quick work in the shower then dried off. I placed my bag on the closed toilet seat. Based on the fold of the ones on top, I guessed Dash had washed my clothes from yesterday. They were placed neatly on top of everything else.
To test my theory, I brought the underwear to my nose. A risky move that proved them clean, then I tugged them up my still damp legs. The jeans and a different T-shirt came next. I tossed my toiletry bag on the sink top. From there, it didn’t take more than a few minutes to brush my hair away from my face, shave, and work on my teeth.
A lot of the time, I stared at the hairdryer, the cord wrapped neatly around the base. I didn’t usually use a hairdryer. I barely brushed my hair. Had Dash left it for me? Did he want me to use it?
Hell. I shoved my toiletry bag back into the duffle and placed a pair of socks on top.
“What’s the deal with the truck blocking my entrance to the garage?” The male voice drew my attention like a lightning crash before the thunder. Instant jealousy fisted my hand as I rolled my head toward the voice. A wall separated me from him.
Extreme emotion ripped through the cobwebs where my feelings used to be. If there was any doubt they were back, it resolved itself in this moment.
Fuck whoever was talking to Dash that way.
Rational never entered my realm as I considered that guy out there to be the same one Dash had been unfaithful with.
I left the bathroom like a bull seeing a red cape, rolling my shoulders, loosening the strain as my biceps flexed. Intimidation was the only thing I had on my mind. The newcomer, who was trim and nice-looking, definitely fitting better in Dash’s world than I did, turned that attitude on me.