Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 158(@200wpm)___ 126(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
I bristle at his tone. "We were comfortably in first class on the 3 o'clock flight, but it was you who wanted to switch. It's honestly a miracle that I was able to get us seats last minute at all, so yes, Mr.Evans. We're flying economy."
He looks at me with a sly grin. "Mr. Evans still? I thought we agreed that you'd call me Drake. We're friends, Ellie."
I bite back a sigh. "You're my boss, Mr. Evans."
He grins, and I know he's just messing with me. "I'd say I'm a lot more than that."
"I think you're mistaking me for the groupies you're used to. You can't just say things like that and expect me to melt for you. I'm a professional."
His hand rests on the armrest, just a breath away from mine. "I'm not talking to a professional. I'm talking to Ellie, my friend who is woefully bad at booking plane seats."
I roll my eyes. "If you're that offended, why don't you just take a private jet next time?"
Instead of scoffing, Drake looks thoughtful and pulls out his phone to make a note. "Now that's the best idea you've had all day. Certainly better than these abysmal seats."
"You're unbelievable." I'm about to turn away when Drake's hand brushes my hair, moving it from my face. I'm startled by the simple gesture and can feel heat creeping up my neck. I glance up and realize Drake has moved closer to me. "W-what are you doing?"
"Just a stray hair," Drake murmurs, his fingers still brushing the side of my neck. My cheeks flame, and I shift in my seat, leaning away.
"I can manage."
"Sure." Drake moves his hand back and settles into his seat, his leg brushing against mine.
"Can you..." I start, my voice trailing off. Drake turns his head, looking at me expectantly.
"Yes?"
"Never mind."
The cabin starts to fill up, and I'm getting a little queasy. It's so cramped and warm, and I don't enjoy flying even at the best of times. At least it's only an hour and a half to Salt Lake City, where the World Outdoor Climbing Conference is being held. My boss is apparently done talking, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed. He doesn't even open them when someone loudly plops into the aisle seat next to me, bumping me with their elbow. Ugh. I should have just told him there were no flights this early.
Instead of giving in to my nerves, I sneak another look at my employer and feel my heart flip flop in my chest. God, he's so sexy. The former rockstar climber is currently wearing an expression of mild annoyance, which is pretty much his default expression when he's not smiling that devastating smile of his.
I've seen him use it to disarm many women, and it works every time. No one can resist Drake Evans, and he knows it. He's used that smile on me a few times. It always leaves me feeling breathless and a little dumb. The difference is that I've trained myself not to react when he aims it my way, and I know not to let it get to me. Not that he uses it on me all that often. Drake controls me via my admittedly amazing paycheck, not through his good looks.
I'm a bit of an anomaly, I suppose. I'm the only female assistant Drake has ever had and the only assistant to last more than two weeks. For all his charm, Drake isn't easy to work for. He's supremely confident, impulsive, stubborn, and has a tendency to disregard the needs of anyone but himself. When he was a world-class climber, those traits were necessary not just to succeed but to survive. But when Drake retired from climbing the biggest peaks after summiting Everest and started his own climbing gear company, he needed a right-hand man or woman to keep his wild ambition in check and ensure his company's success.
I wasn't Drake's first or even his third choice, but I’m the right person for the job. I'm organized, detail-oriented, and able to multitask. More importantly, I can keep up with him, whether he's climbing a wall or planning a press junket.
No one expected his company, Dragon Ascent, to take off the way that it did. But Drake was already a bit of a celebrity for having the face and body of a god and the talent to back it up. It gave the fledgling company the boost it needed to become the leading climbing gear company on the market. He has the experience to know what he wants out of the gear he sells, and he has the trust of other climbers.
Now, three years later, the company is worth millions.
That's why we're here. We're going to Salt Lake City for the World Outdoors Climbing Conference, an international conference where outdoor athletes and equipment companies come together. He'll give a talk, demonstrate his newest gear, and sign autographs. Meanwhile, I'll be running around, ensuring everything runs smoothly, keeping the schedule, and, most importantly, him on track.