Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“What’s on your mind, Scott?” I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral.
He takes a deep breath and locks eyes with me. “I want to talk about Jack Kingston.”
My heart skips a beat as his words send a chill down my spine. “What about him?”
Scott leans forward with his elbows resting on his knees, like he’s trying to convey something important. “Willa, I’m worried about you. He’s so young and a professional athlete. These guys are always traveling and they’re not known for being faithful. You know about the puck bunnies, right?”
“I’ve heard the term.” Kiera’s words ring in my ears and I remember the female fans throwing themselves at King that night at Mario’s.
My fears about the age difference have always centered around me being much older than King, so much so that I never considered his youth being an issue, nor did I ever pair that with any thought as to the potential consequences of his profession. Still, I’m skeptical of Scott’s motives. “I appreciate your concern, but King isn’t like that.”
He shakes his head earnestly. “I’m not saying he is, but you can’t be sure. These men… they have temptations all around them. I know how much I hurt you by cheating, and I don’t want to see the same thing happen to you again. Just something to think about.”
His words strike deeper than I’d like to admit. The doubts and fears that have always lingered in the back of my mind now come roaring to the surface. Can I trust King? Are all men cheaters, especially when they’re constantly on the road? There’s no way for me to know.
“I appreciate your concern. What else did you want to talk about?” I ask, convinced he’s going to ask me to let him out of the alimony and the concerns about King are either just a cover or a mean-spirited attempt to make me doubtful.
But Scott shakes his head and stands. “Nothing else. That was it.”
I don’t like that at all. I want the Scott that is usually hell-bent on demeaning me but all I’m seeing is someone who appears legitimately concerned for me without asking for anything in return. It makes my guts twist up tight, my emotions in overload.
“I’ve got to get going. Plans with Allison tonight.” Hearing her name—his former mistress and now girlfriend—used to cause me pain, but the fact that he referenced her in such a blasé manner infers that he’s moving on with his life. It actually brings me comfort and God help me, lends credibility to his visit.
And the consequence of that makes me doubt King.
When he’s gone, I head up to the primary suite to shower. My mind is filled with doubts and fears brought on by Scott’s words. I think of the bouquet King sent, the joy they brought me now marred by suspicion. Did he send them because he feels guilty about something?
“Stop it, Willa,” I growl out loud to myself.
But as much as I want to trust King and believe in what we have, Scott’s words have left a mark and planted seeds of doubt that I can’t ignore. The only way to prevent those seeds from taking root is to talk to King.
CHAPTER 21
King
The small droplets of water from my shower still linger on my shoulders and back as I hastily tug on a T-shirt and workout shorts. My mind races with thoughts of spending the day with Willa, my heart beating a little faster at the thought of finally seeing her again after a few long days apart. I hope she feels the same way but sometimes it’s hard to tell with her. Willa tends to guard her emotions but I’m also enjoying finding ways to open her up. We have a full day and night together with no other obligations and I intend to make the most of it. While we’ve got some loose plans, my first order of priority will be to drag her into the bedroom and give her a proper hello.
One that involves multiple orgasms.
As I make my way to the kitchen, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue from my red-eye back from Los Angeles, there’s a knock at the door. A sudden surge of excitement pulses through me, knowing that beauty is on the other side. I had unlocked it before I jumped in the shower as Willa usually just lets herself in, but she was going by the grocery store on the way here and I’m sure her arms are loaded.
I hustle to the door and swing it open, a wide smile already spreading across my face… only for it to fade when I see Emily standing there.
I am stunned speechless by her unexpected visit and can only stare mutely at her.
“Hi, Jack,” she says softly.
Emily always called me Jack while all of my friends—and eventually my family after I’d earned the nickname in hockey—called me King. She used to say it made her feel special being the only one who held on to my real name, and yet… I always thought it spoke to a distance between us.