Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“I won’t keep you too long. It seems Viva la Tranquillità is making quite the splash.” He rolls those three words off of his tongue, sounding entirely dirtier than what it means—long live the tranquility. A play on words for a spa feeling with a dash of Vegas in the mix, it only seems appropriate. Wylde lets my hand go. I quickly place it by my side, attempting to look cool, calm, and collected when I’m anything but.
“Thank you for stopping by. It’s nice to put a face to your name.” I know for a fact my application for situating my spa in the hotel was one of many, probably thousands. It meant my pitch had to be rock solid, I needed to have money in the bank to be able to secure first and last months’ rent, plus a security deposit, and had to have impeccable credit. It was like jumping through hoops, a hope and a prayer, and lots of internal agonizing until I got the call from Monica that I was one of the few selected. The only thing I had to pass was the interview, which clearly, I nailed.
“I’ll be seeing you around.” Wylde’s hand is in his pants pocket, the other reaching for his ringing phone in the breast pocket of his jacket.
“Good luck. It’s been amazing so far from what I’ve seen.” I wave goodbye. The look he leaves me with before turning around… Yeah, something tells me I’ll be needing plenty of spare changes of panties where Wylde is concerned. That man, he exudes erotic thoughts with his dark hair that’s cut shorter on the sides, longer on top, falling in a way that you know is from his long thick fingers running through it. His eyes are hazel in color, not that I could have told you that from today alone; that would be from Tyra and me pouring over every image we could find of him, noticing that they change color from the lightest brown to the most vibrant green. His facial hair covers his upper lip and jaw, which shouldn’t work for a successful businessman like himself. And I don’t even want not to mention the muscular build of his thighs and knowing that I can wear heels and still meet him eye to eye. I bet a man like Wylde wouldn’t be intimidated by a woman as tall as me. Without my three-inch heels, I stand at a solid five foot seven, and with my stilettos, he towered over me.
It doesn’t matter, though. There’s no way that anything can happen when it comes to the two of us. That policy says it, and even if his eyes ate up my body, I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize something I’ve worked so hard for.
“Holy sex on a stick.” My best friend, Tyra, comes up beside me. She’s one of the massage therapists here; the schedule works perfectly for her. All my employees make their own hours, which makes it easy on Tyra because her baby daddy always pops up with the ‘I’m working late’ or ‘Drop Von off at my parents’ because I’m once again working’. This way, Von is in daycare for minimal hours while she works her tail off to make a home for her son.
“Yeah,” I agree more than I’m going to let on. Tyra is like a dog with a bone. If she thinks that I’m borderline obsessive, she’ll attempt to play cupid. No, thank you.
“That man’s voice is enough to make your toes curl.” Tyra is saying what I’m thinking, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to vocalize it.
“Come on, let’s get back to work. I know you’re missing Von on what would be your night off.” Her parents are watching him, not that they mind. Tyra does, though; she doesn’t want to be away from him, especially on her weekends, which happens to be today.
“Fine, party pooper.” She turns on her heel, wearing the black scrubs all of us wear while working. The only exception for the little black dress I’m wearing today is because we aren’t taking clients. That will change tomorrow, when it’ll be all hands-on deck minus Tyra. It was a battle for her. Take a day away from Von and make bank or stay home and be with him. I made the decision for her and told her the following weekend would be just as busy, and Von will be with the baby daddy.
“Lint licker.” I throw the barb back at her quietly so no one will hear that we both still talk and act like teenagers, then we get back to work, Tyra talking about the skincare line we recommend and me, well, I’m set to schmooze some clients into making appointments.
THREE
Wylde
“Son of a bitch.” I walk into my office, seeing my best friend and business partner sitting in the chair in front of my desk, slouched with a crystal-cut glass of what I know is my preferred family reserve of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. Fucker. I’ve been running on adrenaline since late last night, going so far as to let my parents or sister know that I wouldn’t have a minute of time for them.