Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I walk into my room and close the door behind me, my ethics slipping firmly back into place. No matter how low I feel or hard things get, or how absolutely gorgeous and charming Thomas Stone is.
I will never pay for sex.
Breakfast…also known as kill me now in the light of day.
I stand in the elevator as I go over last night in my head. Telling Graham the lie about how long Thomas and I were together was definitely the highlight of my life.
The look on his face when he realized that Thomas and I were a thing long before we broke up.
Not that any of it’s true but damn it was satisfying to see that sleazebag squirm.
For the first time I actually feel sorry for Melody, I can’t imagine being stuck with the loser for life. I smile to myself as I chalk up a small victory, progress.
Kerry may have been right, maybe this conference is the way to get the closure I need.
My mind goes to Thomas and the wonderful night we had. Laughing and kissing and dancing around Paris like a couple of lovesick fools.
Drinking…so much drinking.
I’m embarrassed by my prick-teasing behavior; we did not need to practice kissing and yet somehow that’s all we did.
We check into our new hotel at the conference venue today and I’m wearing a new dress, it’s navy blue and fitted with a zipper that runs right down the front of it, and it matches the navy-blue lace underwear I have underneath it…that I’m wearing just for me.
I’ve got cute little navy flats and my blond hair is done again. I do have to admit, I am really loving myself in this new look.
I feel twenty years younger…or maybe it’s just the company that I’m keeping.
I walk into the hotel restaurant and see Thomas sipping coffee by the window, he glances up and sees me and breaks into a breathtaking smile.
My heart skips a beat as I walk over to him. “Hello.”
“Good morning.” He smiles.
Something about the way he purrs good morning should be illegal…or at least taught to all boys in high school. Either or…it sounds perfect.
I sit down opposite him. “Morning.” I force a smile.
Thomas smiles knowingly into his coffee cup. “What is that look?”
“What look?”
“The look you’re giving me.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” I look around to change the subject. “We need to check into the new hotel by ten, we should probably get going soon.”
“Let’s eat breakfast first,” he tells me. “Coffee or tea?”
“Coffee.”
He gestures to the waitress and she comes over. “May I order a coffee?” He gestures to me.
“Of course.” The waitress smiles. “What would you like?”
“Cappuccino please.”
She leaves us alone and I glance up to see Thomas staring at me. “What’s wrong?” he asks softly.
“Nothing,” I answer way too fast.
As if reading my mind: “It’s okay, Beth.”
Beth.
Nobody has ever called me Beth; I’ve always been a Liz.
“Look, I just….” I drag my hand down my face as I fidget in my chair. “It’s just… I’m embarrassed about last night. Forgive me.”
“Why would you need forgiving?”
“Because I was kissing and prick teasing and honestly… last night isn’t who I am”
“I disagree.”
“What?”
“The woman I took out last night was fun and spontaneous and hilarious actually. Not to mention absolutely blazing fucking hot.”
“You really don’t need to lie to me. I’m paying you regardless.”
“You’re paying for me to go to a conference and that’s it. What we do off the clock is personal and free. I know I don’t need to say these things, and trust me I wouldn’t say them if I didn’t mean it.”
“Can we drop it?”
“Give yourself permission to have fun…Beth.” He takes my hand over the table. “What are you punishing yourself for?”
“What?” I frown.
“Why do you think you can’t be wild and free?”
“I don’t think that at all.”
“Can we agree that whatever has been programmed into your head up until this point is no longer serving you?”
“Your coffee.” The waitress puts my coffee down.
“Merci.” I smile.
“Beth,” he says. “Look at me.”
I drag my eyes to meet his.
“Just let go of control and this good girl persona that you think you have to hold…and let me lead us through this weekend.”
I sip my coffee as I listen.
“Stop thinking about what is right and wrong and just let life happen.” He gives me a slow sexy smile. “You might just be surprised how much fun it is.”
My shoulders slump in disappointment. “Do you think I’m an uptight frigid mole?”
“What?” He bursts out laughing and it’s deep and rumbly. “Uptight and frigid most definitely. The mole part I’m not so sure.” He laughs again and it’s a wonderful sound.
That statement sounded ridiculous, even to my ears, and I giggle too.
“Now…let’s go get the Reynold’s account.”
The car pulls into the conference hotel and Thomas and I climb out of the cab, the trunk pops and the doorman grabs our bags. “Bonjour.” He smiles. “You may go straight through to reception.”