Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
TWENTY-FOUR
Shane
“Nice addition.” Eric nods toward the tattoo Kinsley inked on me on Monday when we spent the day together.
“Thanks. The woman is talented. That’s for sure.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face when I think about Kinsley.
Of course, my brother notices. “Judging by the cheesy smile you’re sporting, things are going good?”
“Damn good. We’re dating.”
“Good for you. And Taylor’s okay with it?”
“More than okay with it. They bonded over book boyfriends and their favorite authors and never looked back.” I chuckle. “Taylor told me straight out that she’d love for Kinsley to be in our life long-term.”
“Wait, are you considering asking her to marry you?”
I shake my head. “Kinsley’s been through a lot, and she needs for us to take things slow. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all in …”
“All in for what?”
I whip my head around and find Kinsley standing there, dressed in her workout gear with her hair up in a high ponytail and her beautiful face free from makeup.
“I’m all in with you,” I tell her, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward me so I can give her a kiss. “I was just telling my brother that you’ve moved me out of the friend zone and into the boyfriend zone.”
Kinsley snorts out a laugh. “I don’t think you were ever fully in the friend zone,” she sasses playfully, making Eric laugh.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, realizing after how dumb my question is. We’re standing in my brother’s health club, so she’s obviously here to work out.
“I signed up for the self-defense class since I don’t have any clients until after noon.”
“Well, that works out well because I’m teaching that class.” I shoot her a wink, and her creamy skin turns a gorgeous shade of pink.
“By the way,” she says to my brother, “I’m Kinsley.” She extends her hand.
“I’m Eric, this guy’s brother and the owner of this place. Well, co-owner. My wife, Katie, owns and runs it with me, but due to the risk of preeclampsia, she’s been put on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, which is thankfully only a few weeks away.”
“Ugh, that sucks,” Kinsley says. “I was anemic while I was pregnant, and it was horrible.”
She doesn’t realize what she said, and since I haven’t told my brother her story, he doesn’t know what she’s been through. I spot the train wreck before it happens, but I’m not quick enough to prevent it.
“I didn’t know you had a baby,” he says, glancing from me to her. “How old is he or she?”
Kinsley’s eyes widen, her mistake finally hitting her, and she stumbles to figure out how to answer. I don’t want to put her business out there, but at the same time, I can’t just stand here and leave her to answer him on her own. She’s in this position because of me, because I’ve pushed for her to put herself out there.
“Kinsley—” I begin but stop when she surprises me by placing her hand on my arm and glancing up at me with a soft yet confident smile that tells me she appreciates me saving her, but she’s got this.
“Unfortunately, when I was seven months pregnant, I was in an accident and lost my baby girl,” she says.
Eric’s eyes shine with sympathy. “I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine.”
“It was hard,” she admits as she moves into my side and encircles her arm around my waist. “But your brother has been helping me move forward.”
She smiles up at me and then kisses the corner of my jaw, and I swear I fall even deeper in love with this woman.
“I’m glad he could help you,” Eric says. “Shane is a good man.” He reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “All right, I have a private session, so I’d better head to the front, but it was nice to meet you,” he tells Kinsley. “We should all do dinner at our place one night. Katie’s heard a lot about you, and I know she’d love to meet you.” He glances back at me. “And Mom and Dad are coming home soon.”
“I’d love that,” Kinsley says. “It was great to meet you. You have a beautiful health club.”
“Thank you.”
Once Eric is gone, I pull Kinsley around the corner and into my brother’s private office, closing the door behind us.
“Do you know how fucking amazing you are?” I tell her, gently pushing her against the wall.
“What? Why?” she breathes out, her brows furrowed in confusion.
“You’re so strong,” I say, tipping her chin so she’s looking at me. “You’ve been through hell, yet you keep going, keep fighting.”
I capture her mouth with mine in a heated kiss that I’m forced to end far too quickly due to us needing to get to the women’s self-defense class I’m instructing and she’s participating in.