Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Seconds. Minutes. Hours…. I’m not sure how much time passes, but I know it’s not long enough. “Much better plan,” I say, kissing the tip of her nose.
“I hate that we’re lying to him, but there is so much at stake. When this is over, I don’t want you to have lost your best friend or have your job in jeopardy.”
“You trying to get rid of me already?” I ask. The thought of this ending doesn’t sit well with me, but I know we’re too new to think about that.
“No. Not at all.”
“We take this one day at a time. It’s important that we’re open and honest with each other. When it comes to a time when we’re ready to tell Landry and the rest of the world, we’ll make a plan and execute it.”
“Do you think that will happen?”
“I don’t know, Corie. I know that I don’t spend time with women like this. I don’t let them into my home. Outside of my family and my housekeeper, you’re the first woman ever to be up here. That doesn’t freak me out, not in the slightest. I know with you, you’re here for me. You’re here for Knox, the man, not my career or the number of zeroes in my bank account.”
“That’s the only reason for me to be here.”
“And you like my kisses.”
“That, too,” she agrees.
“If you want to stop, we can. I would never want you to be uncomfortable.” I move to my side and rest my palm against her cheek. “But, baby, that’s going to be hard for me. Really fucking hard. I like you far too much to give up without a fight.”
“You want to fight for me?” she asks. There’s awe in her voice, as if she can’t understand why I would say that.
“For us. For what we could be, yes, I do. What about you?”
“Yes. I feel guilty, but at the same time, it’s not enough for me to stop.” She pauses. “I’ve been cheated on, as you know. Not by a man I truly cared about, but we were exclusive. That hits you in your feels even when you’re not in love with that person. I never want to go through that again. So, when you decide we’re done, please just be honest with me.”
“It’s just you and me, Corie girl. I promise you, there is no one else for me. If that changes, you will be the first one to know. Until then, let’s see where this takes us. It could be a grand adventure we’ll look back on one day fondly, or it could be the greatest fucking part of our lives. We won’t know unless we try.”
“Knox?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m ready for more of those kisses you’re so good at.”
I laugh, the sound filling the room. “My pleasure, baby.”
Chapter Fourteen
Corie
* * *
We’ve fallen into a comfortable rhythm. After work, I run home, change, and head back out the door, claiming to be going to Sloane’s or that we’re going out to dinner, or whatever else I can think of to keep my brother from finding out that I’m sneaking around with his best friend. The lies feel like acid on my tongue, but that burn’s not enough to stop me.
There is no quitting Knox Beckett.
Not that I want to. No, the more time I spend with him, the greedier I become and the more time I want. I feel terrible lying to my brother, but once I’m in Knox’s arms, all of that disappears into the back of my mind.
“Where are you running off to again?” Landry asks. “I feel like I barely see you, and we live in the same house.”
Guilt. That’s what this churning in my gut is. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve been helping Sloane paint her apartment. Giving it a fresh look.” That’s not a complete lie. I did go to her place and help her paint. I also ended up at Knox’s place later that night before heading back home. It’s been a lot of nights like that recently.
“How’s that coming along? I feel like you’ve been painting every night for a week. Her place is small, right?”
“It is, but we’re also hanging out,” I tell him.
“You can hang out here.”
“I know, and we do. Are you missing me, big brother?” I tease, ignoring the way my insides are churning from all the lies.
“Yeah. I was used to seeing you every night, and now, you’re always gone.”
I smile, because when I think about being gone, I think about Knox, and that man, he makes me happy. “I know. I promise I’ll make time for us one night, too. I can call Sloane and cancel,” I tell him. I don’t want to cancel on Knox, but I will.
“No. Don’t do that. I don’t need Sloane pissed at me.” He chuckles. “Just make time for your big brother between all the fun you’ve been having with your best friend.”