Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 132437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“I mean, just so we’re clear,” she continued, “this is the most game shit you could possibly game.”
“Really?”
“Oh, hell yeah.” She glanced over again and then refocused on the road. “Are you even kidding me? Screw flowers. You got me… well, my truck back. But not only that, you’ve made it so I can drive it and don’t have to worry about being dive-bombed by a helicopter.”
“I’m glad this pleased you.”
There was a pause and her eyebrows dropped down. “It truly did—does, whatever. In fact, this is one of the nicest things anybody’s ever done for me.”
In a hungry way, that he did what he could to hide, his stare traveled to her slender neck. “You deserve to have all the nice things.”
Hell, at this point, he would give her the world if he could find enough gift wrap.
“We aren’t far from where we’re going.” She looked over again. “I promise.”
“You could drive around in circles all night if you want. I don’t mind.”
“Nowhere pressing to go?”
In the glow from the dashboard, her face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Whether it was those braids that were so precisely done, or the waves of black curls that fell over her shoulders… the curve of her lips or arch of her brows… or the way her eyes traveled back and forth between him and the road… he couldn’t get enough of staring at her.
And every time their eyes met, it was like an electric bolt went through his body.
“Try nowhere I’d rather be,” he whispered.
As they came up to a red light, she hit the brakes and shook her head. “Now, why you gotta say things like that.”
He glanced out his own window so he didn’t seem like the lovesick sap he actually was. “Sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, you do.” Her voice lightened some. “Or maybe you just have good instincts when it comes to me.”
“If that’s the case, I’m okay with it.”
They fell into a silence that was easier than it should have been considering they were all but strangers, and the only thing he was thinking of was how long until he could kiss her again. And what do you know, he went back to looking at her.
“Denne.”
“Yeah?” When he didn’t immediately respond, those black eyes returned to him. “What.”
“Thank you for the best night of my life.” As he felt his cheeks flush, he was the one to break the contact. “It’s been… wonderful.”
The chuckle that came back at him went right into his bloodstream. “We haven’t done anything.”
“It doesn’t matter. Just being around you is enough for me.”
He had no conception of where they were going as they left the city, but he had the sense they were heading north toward the mountains. In any other circumstances, he would have liked watching the winter landscape pass by, but he had a much better view to enjoy, didn’t he. And when the first of the hills arrived and they headed up a steady ascent, he played magical thinking and imagined the Ford truck taking to the air and flying over the Adirondacks, all Santa’s sleigh.
Just with vampires. And no Christmas presents.
A rustic-looking sign announcing they’d entered the Sugarloaf Mountain State Park flared at the side of the road, and shortly after that, they started up a two-lane rise that zigzagged back and forth. No other cars. No houses or ambient lights. Nothing but pine trees and snow.
The crest came without preamble, just a turn and there it was. The top.
Denne piloted them over to a parking area that had been plowed, the truck’s headlights washing over another sign that read “Sugarloaf Scenic Lookout.” When they were in place against the guardrail, she turned off all their lights along with the engine.
And that was when the sky came alive.
Allhan sat forward into the windshield. “Look at all the stars.”
The velvet darkness with its swaths of galaxies brought the infinite right down to earth and into the cab of the Ford.
“It’s… overwhelming,” he said. “In a good way.”
Denne tilted into the steering wheel. When she stayed silent, he had to press. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, even though she seemed lost in her own thoughts. “I just wanted you to see this view. Plus privacy for the win, right?”
Before he could think better of it, he reached for her hand. “I’ll help you with anything I can. Just let me know what I can do.”
“It’s too complicated to go into.”
“Try me.”
“Well, for one thing… you have any experience with eminent domain?” she said dryly.
He popped his brows. “You mean about land being taken by the government? I can learn whatever I have to. Is your family having a problem?”
“Why are you so good to me.” She cleared her throat as she focused on their intertwined fingers. “Are you always like this?”