Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
A little voice inside my head tells me Austin would never behave that way.
When I don’t immediately climb inside the SUV, he holds up my jacket. “You took off and forgot this.”
I blink, surprised he would know which coat is mine. There was a giant pile on the couch in the living room. That’s the moment I realize there’s nothing coincidental about him finding me on the dark road.
Not once does he break eye contact as he leans across the passenger seat before grabbing the handle and popping open the door. “Get in, Delilah.”
Air escapes from my lungs like a balloon with a slow leak as I chew my lower lip. I’m cold, tired, and emotionally drained. I can’t take much more. Part of me is scared to take a gamble and be alone with Austin. But it’s not for the same reasons I’ve shied away from being with Jasper.
Deep down, I know Austin is different.
I’m just not sure if I can trust my instincts.
“Come on, Delilah,” he cajoles. “Don’t make me come get you. Because I will.”
As threatening as it should sound, terror isn’t the emotion sliding through me.
Relenting, I make my way to the G-Wagon before settling on the buttery soft leather seat and closing myself inside the vehicle. My heart skips a beat when he leans over, takes hold of the belt, and drags it across my chest. As he clicks it firmly into place, our gazes fasten.
“Don’t lock the door,” I whisper.
He studies me for a long, drawn-out moment before laying the jacket carefully across my lap. “I won’t.”
My muscles gradually loosen as he swivels in his seat and pulls away from the side of the road, heading out of the subdivision. It’s a relief that there’s no longer a chance Jasper will find me.
For the time being, I’m safe.
I give Austin a sidelong glance and the muscles in my belly contract.
Well…as safe as I can be with him.
He stares straight ahead as he asks, “Are you all right? Did something happen at the party?”
The urge to blurt out the truth bubbles up inside me for a second time before I stomp it down. I’ll deal with Jasper on my own. “No.”
His gaze flickers to mine. In that moment of connection, it feels as if he can see straight through the lies.
“You sure about that?” A hard edge fills his tone.
With the fragile way I’m feeling, it wouldn’t take much prodding for me to crumble.
“I’m sure,” I murmur, pressing the back of my skull against the headrest and closing my eyes. I just want to shut down this conversation. Nothing good will come of it. “I was tired and wanted to leave, so I took off. End of story.”
There’s a moment of silence before he says, “If you belonged to me, there’s no damn way I’d allow you to walk home alone.”
The possessiveness filling his voice sends an avalanche of shivers cascading down my spine. It should be a turn off.
It’s not.
Pleasure rushes through my veins before I can stop it.
Jasper’s jealousy drives me crazy. He acts more like a spoiled brat set on guarding his toys so no one else can play with them. That’s not the vibe I get from Austin. He’s more concerned about my welfare.
When I remain silent, he growls, “Why are you with him?” His voice drops, sounding as if it’s been scraped from the bottom of the ocean. “He doesn’t treat you the way he should.”
That’s never been more apparent than this evening.
Whether Jasper realizes it or not, what we had is over. I’m not looking forward to that conversation, but I refuse to stay with him after the crap he just pulled.
My teeth rake across my lower lip before sucking the plump flesh into my mouth and chewing.
“You deserve so much better. I hope you realize that.”
My gaze flickers to his, only to find him steadily watching me. Butterflies wing their way to life in the pit of my belly and the air gets sucked from my lungs. Everything I’ve secretly longed for with this boy is reflected within his eyes. It takes every ounce of self-control not to reach out and stroke his handsome face. Instead, I tighten my fingers and press them into my lap.
There’s nothing I can do about the attraction I feel for him.
We turn out of the high-end subdivision and onto the dark county road that leads to the small town of Hawthorne.
Population eight thousand.
He jerks his head toward the ribbon of black pavement stretched out in front of us. “I assume you live this way?”
“Yes.” I rattle off the address, giving him a few cursory directions before shifting on my seat.
I hate bringing people home with me. It’s not that I’m embarrassed or ashamed, but next to most of the kids at HP, I live in a sad little hovel. Sloane’s words from the one time she dropped me home from school last year echo unwantedly throughout my head.