Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 31820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
They were watching romance movies—Marshal’s choice—and so far, three movies had made him cry. Her ass was numb and she used the excuse to go and make some popcorn. She was trying to figure out how to get Marshal to go to bed so she and Knox could have sex. That was all she could think about. Sex. Lots of sex.
He’d brought her to orgasm while draining potatoes. How did that happen? Before she could even suggest that she help Knox with his arousal, Marshal had entered the kitchen. If he’d known what they had been up to, the man didn’t show it.
She liked Marshal. He was a nice guy, a little shallow at times, and he let his money do all the talking, but right now he wasn’t being a great guy. She was tempted to tell him to leave her the fuck alone, but she didn’t want to be rude.
“This is fun, isn’t it?” Marshal asked.
Ava looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the large smile on his face. Marshal wasn’t doing this on purpose. He was enjoying the movie marathon, and he looked happy.
She knew when she’d stumbled onto him in rooms in the past few days, he’d be standing there, staring at nothing, appearing so lost in his own thoughts. Marshal had a lot of wealth and could have anything at his fingertips, but the irony was, he didn’t have anyone he could trust. Sure, the snap of his fingers and the house would be beaming with people he didn’t know, but that wasn’t what he wanted. Anyone would turn up for a party, but it didn’t mean they’d watch your back.
“Yeah, this is great.”
“I’ve never had a movie night before. At least, not where I got to pick the movies.” Marshal smiled.
“What happened to your parents?” Ava asked.
Marshal shrugged. “Car accident, I think. I’m not really sure. I know I inherited their small fortune and their business was failing. All I could do was attempt to rebuild it.” He gave another shrug again.
“You weren’t close to your parents?”
“Nah, they were more interested in their own lives than their son’s. All they wanted from me was to be left alone and to grow up. What about you?”
“I didn’t know my parents,” Ava said. “I grew up in the foster care system.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I like where I’m at today.”
“Is that how you know Knox?”
She shook her head. “Nah, Knox rescued me from a very bad situation.” There was no point in telling him that Knox killed a serial rapist and murderer who intended to make her the next victim.
“Knox is a good guy.”
“That he is.”
“Look, I know you two want to run off and do the dirty together, but I like you guys, and I like hanging out with you. This is a lot of fun, and I’ll go to bed soon, I promise.” He winked at her and grabbed a couple bottles of beer. “You want one?”
She shook her head. She didn’t drink and hadn’t since that night she met Knox. She was not going to pull Knox away and be selfish, even though part of her wanted to do exactly that.
“See you in there.”
The popcorn was done, and Ava pulled it out of the microwave, opened the bag, and enjoyed the scent as a wave of steam wafted up. With the popcorn ready, she grabbed a soda and joined them as Marshal sat on the other end of the sofa. She snuggled against Knox, and the two men shared the popcorn. When it was Knox’s turn to have some popcorn, she’d steal some right out of the bowl.
Even as the movie played, Ava watched but was far more aware of Knox than she was of the movie. She’d never really been interested in movies or television. To Ava, they had sold too many lies.
The minutes seemed to tick on by, slowly.
One minute.
Two minutes.
The movie seemed to last a lifetime, and finally, when she didn’t think it would ever stop, the magical words of The End came on in fancy writing, and Marshal let out a loud yawn.
“Wow, that was fucking boring,” Marshal said. “Okay, that’s me pooped, and I think it’s time for me to hit the sack, which is exactly where I’m going. See you two crazy lovebirds in the morning.”
He surprised her by leaning down and kissing her cheek, and then tapping Knox on the shoulder.
“What do you think all that was about?” she asked.
“He’s lonely.”
“Do you think we need to find him someone?”
“I think Marshal needs to find people he can trust and who have his back.”
“True, but I think we’re those people,” Ava said.
“Then that is what we are.” Knox massaged her shoulders.
“Do you think it’s weird that you were contracted to kill him and you kept him alive?”