Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Okay, that could also be her banging body, because damn. Her slight curves are just too damn delicious. I want to palm her ass in my hands, want to sink my teeth into her inner thighs right before I sink my tongue into her pussy.
Whoa. That escalated quickly.
I do my best to ground myself before I head out onto the balcony, not wanting to be showing off a hard-on, but damn, she definitely gets me going.
“This a girls-only party or can I join?” I ask.
“You can always join,” Blakely says, grinning at me as I head over to Reese.
I slide an arm around her waist, leaning in to plant a kiss on her forehead like it’s the most natural thing in the world. There isn’t a camera rolling, which is probably why she’s looking at me like I’ve lost my mind, but I don’t care. I’ve always been someone to act on instinct and every instinct in my body is screaming to give her the attention she deserves.
“You played so well tonight,” Reese says, a slight flush on her cheeks from the greeting I gave her.
“Thanks,” I say, shrugging. “We all did. It was a hell of a fight.”
“You’ll get them next time,” Monroe says.
I nod. “Absolutely we will.”
“Oh there’s Pax,” she says, then nudges Blakely. “And Lawson. Let’s go see what they’re up to.”
They wink at Reese—not subtle at all—before leaving us alone on the balcony.
“What were you three laughing about before I came out here?”
Reese turns to lean against the balcony railing, the California air not brutal in January like it is in Maine. She smiles up at me, tilting her head. “Why?” she asks. “Afraid we were talking about you?”
I smirk down at her. “Never,” I say. “Though, with how much you’re probably thinking about me, I wouldn’t doubt it.”
She laughs out loud, the sound rippling along my bones in a delicious way. “Do you always think about yourself, or do you manage to think about other people sometimes?”
I shrug. “Depends on the day,” I say, shifting to lean against the railing next to her. The position gives me a good view of the party going on inside, and I spot Hadley, my little sister, hanging out with a big group that’s gathered in the living area. Lawson and Pax are among the crowd, along with Baylor, who is saying something to Hadley.
“Uh oh,” Reese says. “Are you about to shift into over-protective-big-brother mode?”
“No,” I say, drawing my attention back to her. “I’m not over-protective.”
“Says the brother who constantly worries about her.”
“Did Hadley tell you that?”
Reese shrugs. “She may have mentioned it.”
I rake my fingers through my hair. “She’s the only sibling I have,” I say. “Of course I’m going to worry about her.”
“I get that,” she says. “But I also know my sister can handle herself.”
“I’m not saying Hadley can’t,” I say. “I’m just still getting used to her being an adult. The fact that she wanted to travel with us this time is awesome, because she rarely gets a break from the double class schedule she has going.”
“She’ll graduate early, right?” Reese asks.
“This May,” I say. “And I’m so fucking proud of her. But it’s an adjustment. It went from me watching out for her daily to her taking care of herself. It’s weird.”
“What about your parents?”
Emotion clogs my throat. “Yeah, they’ve done amazing,” I say. “They sacrificed everything for me when we were kids so I could be on the ice as much as possible. I just feel bad, because Hadley didn’t get the same treatment. Not because they didn’t want to or they didn’t give her attention, but because my dad got cancer and it’s been an ongoing battle with his health that demanded most of my mother’s focus.”
“Oh, Nash,” she says, reaching over and putting her hand on my arm. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks,” I say. “We’ve managed to keep it mostly out of the limelight. We’re not hiding it, it’s just my family doesn’t want their private medical situation to be all over the news.”
“Totally understand that.”
“Anyway,” I continue. “With Mom’s focus understandably on Dad, I kind of took on that parental role for Hadley. She was sixteen, but it was still a crucial time in her life. And now…” I glance at where she’s still chatting with Baylor. “I couldn’t be more proud of her, but I’m still…adjusting.”
“Wow,” she says. “I never knew. I mean, she talks about how you’re the best brother on the planet, and how awesome your family is, but I didn’t realize that dynamic.”
I grin widely, and she shakes her head.
“Don’t tell her I told you she said that about you, she’d kill me,” she pleads.
“It’ll be our little secret,” I say.
“I’m so sorry about your dad though,” she continues. “I know that must be hard. Has treatment helped?”