Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 17
Warner
Hiding out in my own apartment from the woman who invaded it is perfectly normal.
That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
There’s nothing normal about Delaney’s and my relationship, but I’m working within the boundaries of this craziness the best I can. Tonight will break this case wide open. Though I don’t put much past her at this stage. She has a way of making a comeback. I’m sure she’ll manage to pull something out of thin air to keep this pretense from ending.
Even though she’s screwing with my life, is it wrong to be impressed by her tenacity? She gets bothered anytime I mention the missing phone, claiming it couldn’t have walked off and broken itself. I don’t even know what she means by that. I’ve learned to let go of some of the wackier things she says.
The phone must be here somewhere, but I’ve failed to find it. I did a quick search of my home office before hiding out in here to go through some of the emails that have been piling up. If I hadn’t been in here early this morning, I wouldn’t have gotten the calendar reminder about the event. Good thing I did. It’s the perfect occasion to show off my brand-spanking-new wife.
My jacket hangs on a hook on the back of the door as I sit dressed in my suit while she gets ready in the bedroom. I thought she was until she says, “Warner?”
“Coming,” I reply, falling into this weird relationship we’ve formed. Her heels against the hardwood allow me to trace her path from the bedroom to the living room. I finish the email and push send before standing. After stealing the scissors from my desk, I pluck the jacket from the hook and close the door behind me when I leave the room. Analyzing the right sleeve, I rub my thumb over the seam. “I managed to get the shirt over my cast. I’ll leave the cuff unbuttoned, but can you help me cut up my jacket?”
I walk to the center of the living room before looking up. My chest tightens from the sight of her. “Delaney?” I don’t know what I’m asking. The concussion is messing with my words, I lie to myself. It’s she who’s stolen them from my mouth. The makeup is darker around her eyes but lighter on her lips, bare with only a shine drawing my eyes. The black of her lashes brings out the Mediterranean Sea coloring of her eyes. I could dive in and be content to swim in the calm of her waters.
“Wow.” She makes me want to keep her tucked away in this apartment, all to myself.
Pure.
Effortless.
Extraordinary.
Her beauty is highlighted for those who are too blind to see how stunning she is, fresh from the shower. That’s not me. I couldn’t stop staring, especially when a drop of water had escaped from the threads of the towel and ran along her hairline. I almost reached out to catch it, but she swiped it away as if it hadn’t just kissed her skin like I want to do now.
We could skip the event. Who cares if I’ve donated thousands? Or that I’m expected to be honored during the cocktail hour. Will anyone really care if I don’t make an appearance?
I’d have a really good excuse to stay home. My wife.
She dares to wobble to the side, her weight balancing on a shyness that’s gripped her as if she’s not the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. With her gaze falling to the floor, she asks, “Is this not okay?”
“It’s more than okay.” Tossing my jacket on the island and the scissors on top, I move in to bring her into the safety of my hold. The thin straps and heart-shaped neckline highlight her collarbone and the rounded tops of her breasts. The smallest specks of sunshine cause a sheen across her skin, while the curves of her body command my gaze to travel every square inch to the hem that hits higher on her thigh than I expected. I’m not upset, given the view of her shapely legs. “You’re breathtaking.” I grin, slipping my arm around her waist along the back of the jewel-toned green fabric and bringing her to me. “Word stealing, in fact.” There’s not a resistant bone in her body as I kiss above her temple, and then whisper against her skin, “You look beautiful, Delaney.”
Her head tucks against my chest. “You sure?”
“More than sure.”
She looks up at me. “It’s a beautiful dress, Warner. Thank you.”
Stepping back, I take her in all over again. She looks so damn beautiful. I feel smug over pulling this off. “It’s a good thing I have people with great taste on . . . I would have said speed dial but email in this case. I only pulled this off because you slept in, though.”