Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63741 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
“Let us know if you need anything,” Gage says. “We can arrange a pay advance if you need it for a deposit.”
“Oh, no, thank you, though.”
Their kindness makes everything worse. They came here to reprimand me and they’re offering me a favor as they leave. They put their faith in me and gave me a wonderful job opportunity, and I’m repaying them by lying to their faces.
I walk out to the front of the shop with them, and manage to keep it together, but inside, my stomach is queasy and my mind is racing.
I’m not okay. Things are falling apart, and I don’t know what to hold onto.
I’m lying to nearly everyone including my closest friends, screwing up my grades, and jeopardizing my job. All for what? Crazy hot sex.
And to make matters worse, that crazy hot sex is clouding my brain and making me think I’m falling in love with three men who don’t even get along with each other all that well. It’s not like they’re all going to fall in love with me too, and the four of us live happily ever after.
I’m messing up my entire life for a fling.
EMBER
As soon as Gage and Kai leave, the weight of three pairs of eyes bore into me as I try in vain to focus on the appointments calendar.
All three men are still busy with clients, but I can tell they’re all curious and concerned about my meeting with Gage and Kai. I must not be doing a good job of hiding my inner turmoil.
I slip back to the restroom and lean against the door once I’m alone inside. My heart’s pounding like I’ve been for a long run, and I force myself to take deep breaths. I could use a good, long cry, but then I’d have to deal with makeup touch-ups and even more odd looks from the men.
I need to hold myself together so I can make a plan. When we’re home tonight, I need to tell the three of them that we can’t continue what we’ve been doing, and I need to be firm about it this time. It was all only meant to be temporary, anyway.
“Ember, are you okay?” Griffin’s voice, and the accompanying knock, startle me.
An image of me flinging open the door and burying myself against his chest is so appealing that I almost act on it, but I know I can’t. “I’m okay. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Running cold water on my hands helps me focus and reset. Another deep breath. I can do this.
When I step out, Griffin’s waiting in the hall. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” More lies.
“Did something happen with Kai and Gage?” He stretches an arm out toward me, but I step out of his reach.
“I’ll talk to you about it tonight. I can’t right now.”
“Wait. What’s wrong?” He takes hold of my arm as I start back toward the front, and I stiffen.
“Griffin, please. I can’t talk right now. Please tell Zeb and Frank, too.”
He nods, looking skeptical. It’s yet another thing I feel bad about, but there’s no way we can have the conversation that’s needed while we’re here at work, and I’m afraid if I say anything about it, I’ll break down.
The next couple of hours pass normally, at least as far as the shop goes. I find out that my instructor doesn’t accept late assignments, but I email them anyway to apologize, explaining that I had a family emergency (another lie, another knot in my stomach), and asking if I can turn it in late for partial credit. And then I start working on it, just in case they say yes.
It’s nearly closing time when a man comes into the shop. He’s as big as Griffin, in faded jeans that stretch over muscular thighs and a sleeveless t-shirt that shows off his massive arms. His dark hair is down to his shoulders, framing a strong face with stubble on his jawline and striking golden-brown eyes.
He leans one arm on the counter and smiles. It’s a great smile, and I bet it makes women drop their panties. “Hey, gorgeous. Any openings in your schedule?”
I double check, even though I already know the answer. “I’m afraid not, but I’d be happy to make an appointment for you.”
His smile deepens. “What about your personal schedule?”
I blink. There’s no doubt he’s a total snack, but even apart from Griffin, Frank and Zeb, the last thing I’m in the mood for right now is flirting. This guy probably hits on every woman he meets, but that doesn’t make it any more welcome.
It’s a challenge to keep my expression neutral, but I say, “No openings there either. Did you want to make an appointment for a session with one of our artists?”
“You sure?” His voice drops into a deeper register. “I could rock your world.”