Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Within seconds, I heard his fork clanking on the bowl out on the porch. It made me smile. Guess he was hungry after all.
Why did men have to be so stubborn? Did he really prefer eating alone on the porch with his food on his lap to sitting in here at the counter with me? Or had he rejected my offer for spite?
It was only because he’d given me so much attitude that I’d snapped. I wasn’t even a temperamental person by nature. Passionate, sure. Feisty? Sometimes. Tenacious? Always. Despite the fact that I was scared to stand up to my label, I wouldn’t have gotten this far without some spunk. But when you had to keep saying yes when you wanted to say no, swallow your opinions, and hold back your real feelings much of the time, they got all bottled up. The pressure built.
Just now, it had exploded.
But darn it, Xander didn’t belong here! I’d wanted to be by myself. He’d let himself into my vacation home like he had the right. He’d announced he was staying like I had no choice in the matter.
He’d seen me naked.
I shivered on the stool, recalling the shock and humiliation of running into him in the living room wearing nothing but my birthday suit. I’d hightailed it back into the bathroom as fast as possible, but there was no doubt he’d gotten a good look.
I wonder how he’d react if I suggested he get naked and let me look at him just to even things out. Then I smiled, figuring he’d probably do it. I’d only known Xander Buckley for a couple hours, but something told me modesty was not his thing.
Still, as I finished my glass of wine, my conscience continued to nag me. I’d been rude, and that wasn’t my style. It wasn’t how Mama had raised me. You don’t need money to have class, she always said. (Although now that we had money, she admitted having both was more fun.)
I supposed she’d be glad to know the lummox was here. So would Kevin, Wags, Jess, Kayla, and the rest of my team. I finished my glass of wine, picked up my phone, and sent a note to my brother.
I know you won’t get this for a while, but your big beardy babysitter arrived and refuses to leave. Congratulations, you won this round.
I also sent texts to my mom, Jess, Kayla, and Wags, filling them in and letting them know that while I wasn’t too happy about it, the guy was staying.
While my phone was still in my hand, I got a call from my dad. I nearly rejected it, but then I felt guilty. Maybe taking his call would serve as penance for telling Xander to bark like a dog.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, Pixie girl.”
It took me a second. “Duke?”
“Surprise.”
“Why are you calling me from my dad’s phone?”
“We got together for a beer tonight for old times’ sake. He said you’re on vacation up north by yourself. We’re both worried about you. Everything okay?”
“You got together for a beer with my dad?” The back of my neck prickled. My father had always been dazzled by Duke’s fame and money and success, and therefore in favor of our relationship, but I’d had no idea they were drinking buddies.
“We’ve kept in touch,” Duke said casually. “He reached out, said he was back in town, and I invited him over. We’ve had a nice time catching up.”
Of course, said a cynical voice in my head. Of course my father would keep in touch with my ex. Duke was probably giving him money for information about my whereabouts.
Thankfully, I hadn’t told my parents my exact location—only Jess knew that. She wouldn’t give Duke the time of day, let alone say anything about where I was. She’d been with me throughout the entire toxic relationship, and she couldn’t stand him.
“What do you want, Duke?”
“I’m worried about you, baby. You should have told me you wanted to go on vacation. I’d have taken you to the farm, or my place in the mountains. I remember how much you liked that house.”
“I’m good where I am.”
“But are you sure it’s safe there, sweetheart? Your dad told me about the trouble with the previous security team. Unbelievable. Didn’t PMG vet those guys?”
“Not well enough, apparently. I have to go, Duke.”
“That never would have happened if I’d been around. And who’s this military prick your brother hired to provide security on your trip?”
My blood simmered. Damn you, Daddy. “He’s not a prick. He’s a friend of Kevin’s.”
“Listen, when you get back, let’s get together, okay? I think this separation has gone on long enough.”
“It’s not a separation. We broke up.”
He laughed. “Come on, Pix. Nothing’s over ’til it’s over, you know?”
It’s over, Duke. It’s been over. But as usual, it was like talking to a brick wall. “Goodbye, Duke.”