Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I woke up with a raging headache from last night’s activities and to an empty house. Raff left a note he was at the gym and Tempe’s at her mom’s house, packing up her belongings as she heads back to college in Virginia tomorrow.
I’m really going to miss her. We’ve gotten close the last few weeks and I’m sad she’s leaving.
Not as sad as Rafferty though. I know they’ll be just fine and they’ve got a good game plan in place for visits, but the distance is going to suck for them both.
My thoughts drift away from Tempe and my brother to North. Last night was so much fun. Between hanging out with some of the Titans after the game to dancing with North, and then later in his bed… it was a perfect night. Even his display of jealousy didn’t bother me the way it might normally. That usually indicates possessiveness or a need to pin me down, which would otherwise send me running.
But for some reason, jealousy on North was super sexy. I can’t figure that one out, so I let it go and think about tonight. We made loose plans for me to go to his house and I know the perfect set of lingerie I’m going to wear to make him swallow his tongue.
Our chemistry is insane. I have never felt such lust for a person in my life and if the way he looked at me in the nightclub last night is any indication, he feels the same. Just his hands on my waist as we danced felt like I was a live wire and then he kissed me outside his truck before we headed to his house and I felt like I was drowning.
I shake my head, annoyed at myself for how much space he’s taking up in my thoughts. “Get it together, Farren,” I gripe, scrubbing harder at the counter.
The sound of the front door opening pulls me from my musings. Rafferty walks in, tossing his bag on the floor. He lifts his chin in greeting when he sees me. “Smells all lemony fresh.”
“So clean you could eat off the counter,” I quip.
He plops down on the island stool, watching me work. “You know… I’d really just prefer it if you got a job and paid rent.”
I grin at him slyly. “I promise I’m looking. I just haven’t found the right one yet.”
“Look harder,” he says gruffly. “Or you can head back to Calgary and move in with Mom and Dad.”
I glance up from my efforts and see he’s dead serious. His hair’s damp with sweat, and he’s got that post-workout energy radiating off him. “Okay, okay. By the end of the week, I promise.”
Which won’t be hard to keep. It’s easy to land a bartending job and I’ve been sort of procrastinating, which is normally not my nature. I wonder why that is.
“How was your workout?” I ask as I rinse the sponge off and set it in the container by the faucet handle.
“Good,” he says casually, unscrewing the cap on his bottle. “How about you? How was your night?”
The question seems pointed and it sets me immediately on edge. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, but his expression is neutral. Too neutral.
“It was fine,” I say, turning to the fridge to grab a Diet Coke. I casually pop the top, take a long sip and hold his gaze.
“Fine?” he echoes, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “What’d you do?”
“Nothing much,” I say, deciding to keep it vague. “Went to Mario’s after the game, had a few beers.”
“Interesting,” Rafferty says, and there’s a lilt to his voice that makes me pause. Now there’s a definite glint of mischief in his eyes.
“What’s interesting?” I ask slowly.
“Just I heard you come in around four a.m.,” he says, crossing his arms and leaning against the counter. “Mario’s closes long before that.”
I stiffen, my heart rate kicking up a notch. “Some of us went out after.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks, his voice dripping with mock interest. “Where’d you go?”
I grip the edge of the sink, willing myself to stay calm. “A nightclub.”
“With whom?” he prods.
“With none of your business,” I snap, irritated and slightly freaked out by the interrogation. “I’m going to clean the bathrooms.”
I start to walk out of the kitchen but his words stop me cold. “North told me everything.”
My stomach drops, and I whirl to face him. “What?”
He grins now, full and triumphant. “Come on, Farren. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out at some point?”
“I—what—how—” I sputter, trying to find my footing. “I mean… why would he do that?”
“So, you don’t deny it?” he asks.
I roll my eyes at him. “Of course I don’t deny it. Not if North filled you in.” I rake my fingers through my hair in agitation, looking out the window before turning back to my brother. “He talked to you? About me?”