Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78603 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
She doesn’t say anything, but I can see it in her eyes—she’s feeling it too. The pull. The desire.
She takes a small step back, the moment breaking, but not completely. We’re still standing there, a hair’s breadth apart. I want to reach for her, to close the distance between us, but I know I can’t. Not like this. Not when she’s confused.
“I should... go get dressed,” she says, her voice quieter now, like she’s trying to steady herself, just like I am.
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yeah. I’ll...I’ll make us some lunch.”
But as she walks away, I know I’m not getting out of this feeling. It’s only getting stronger. And the worst part? I have no idea how to stop it.
Chapter 14
Aubree
I walk quickly toward the bedroom, my heart still racing from the way Boone looked at me. The way he stared at me, his eyes heavy with something I couldn’t name but definitely felt. It was like he wanted me. And that thought makes my stomach flip in a way I’m not sure I can handle.
I shut the door behind me once I get inside, leaning against it for a moment, just trying to catch my breath. What’s going on with me? I don’t normally get like this, especially not with someone who’s here to do a job. He’s my bodyguard, and I’m supposed to keep my distance, but everything about him makes it hard.
I shake my head, trying to clear it, and I move toward the dresser. I need to get dressed, to focus on something other than Boone’s gaze and the way my pulse raced when he looked at me like that.
I grab a pair of leggings and a loose sweatshirt, pulling them on quickly. I don’t want to dwell on what happened. I can’t. The kiss, the touch, the tension between us—it all feels like too much.
After taking a few steadying breaths, I leave the room and head toward the kitchen. The air feels thick between me and Boone, and I know it’s because of everything that happened last night, and this morning, and honestly, everything that's been building up since I got here. I try to shake it off, but it’s hard when he’s in the room, standing there looking... like he’s still trying to figure me out, just like I’m trying to figure him out.
“Hey,” I say as I step into the kitchen, my voice sounding way too casual. “What’s for lunch?”
Boone glances up from the stove, where he’s plating something that smells way better than I expected. “Just a simple grilled cheese sandwich. Hope that’s okay.”
I force a smile. “It’s fine. Thanks.”
He sets the plates on the table, and I sit down across from him. The food looks delicious, but the atmosphere feels strained, like we’re both unsure of how to act now. I can feel the awkwardness thick in the air, like a tangible thing I can reach out and touch.
Boone picks up his sandwich and takes a bite, clearly trying to break the silence. “I can make you something else.”
“It’s fine.” I take a bite of my sandwich, but the tension doesn’t fade. Every bite feels mechanical, like I’m just going through the motions. My mind keeps drifting back to the way Boone looked at me earlier—how I could feel the heat in his gaze, how badly I wanted him to kiss me again.
“I should’ve never... I mean, last night was a mistake,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. I feel foolish, but I have to say something.
Boone’s eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see the flicker of something—regret? Frustration?—before his face goes unreadable again. “It’s not your fault, Aubree. I just... we can’t let things get complicated.”
I nod, even though it feels like the wind has been knocked out of me. I try to smile, but it feels forced. “Right. I get it. No complications.”
We both fall quiet again, and I focus on my food, not looking at him, not knowing what to say. I’m sure he feels it too—the awkwardness, the tension—but neither of us seems to know how to break the ice. I just want to get through this meal without making it worse.
“So,” he finally says, his voice a little rough, “what do you want to do for the rest of the day? We can keep things low-key, or I can keep monitoring the area.”
I pause, thinking for a moment, then shake my head. “I don’t know. I think I just need some time to myself. Maybe a walk or something. Get out of my head for a bit.”
He nods. “I’ll stay close. But yeah, I get it.”
I nod, trying to offer a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I feel like a mess, trying to act like everything’s fine when it’s not. The words are there, but they feel like a heavy weight I can’t lift.