Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Before I realize what’s happening, he’s advancing. Chase stands before me, towering over me like the giant he is and glares down. “Oh, I’m going to work your ass over so hard tonight,” he barks, throwing in that trademarked easy-go-lucky smirk he always seems to wear.
Down, girl! He’s not talking about working you over in the bedroom.
“I look forward to whatever form of torture you bring tonight, Mr. Callahan,” I whisper, my voice suddenly hoarse and gritty.
His blue eyes sparkle as his face splits into one of those panty-melting grins. “We’ll be on the mats this evening,” he replies, making my lady parts cry in excitement. Of course, those bits don’t realize we’ll be fully clothed as we stretch and move on the mats, nor do they understand that we hate Chase Callahan and he’s not allowed anywhere near said lady bits.
“Can’t wait,” I reply through gritted teeth.
He stands there just staring at me, which is weird because I’m just standing here, staring at him too. Harrison clears his throat, reminding me that I was halfway into his office when Chase interrupted to criticize my breakfast choices.
As I turn, his movement catches my attention, and I realize the man is eating my scone. “Hey!” I holler.
With a mouth full of chocolaty pastry deliciousness, Chase smirks and winks as he walks out of the office.
Jerky McJerkface.
I’m finishing up a salad at my desk and scouring the internet for rentals as the end of my lunch break draws near. How is it possible that there are no decent places available on short one-week notice? Everything I’ve found is either way out of my price range or the size of a shoebox. With my car officially out of commission, there’s no way I can afford an increase in rent. Harrison pays me a decent wage, but that doesn’t mean I can add upward of three hundred bucks a month for rent.
My eyes are starting to cross, I’ve looked at so many pictures and listings. In the three weeks since I received the letter, I’ve checked out three apartments in town. One was straight up ghetto (if there were a ghetto in Fair Lakes), the second had a neighbor stepping into the hall wearing nothing but stained tighty-whities, and the third was next to the jail. Did you know on nice afternoons they open the windows? I was called babycakes and dollface no less than three times, and I’m pretty sure the marriage offer was legit, if it would get him out of confinement.
According to the letter I received just over three weeks ago, I have until Sunday night at six to vacate my apartment. The entire building is coming down, making way for some new three-unit business complex that’ll eat up the entire city block. I never knew Fair Lakes was big enough for another shopping place, but apparently it is. And of all the locations in town, they chose my block, just one road over from the main thoroughfare in town.
In less than a week, I’ll either be moving back home with my parents or moving into the jail apartment and risk getting killed every day when I get off work. Dramatic? Yes. But when you’ve been searching for a new place to live and keep coming up empty, you’d understand my fussiness.
As I close down the internet browser, Harrison’s office door opens up. “Look, Sophia, it’s Aunt Gabby!” my sister coos to her daughter.
My butt is out of my chair so fast that I almost trip. “Look at you, Princess Sophia,” I fuss as I take my niece in my arms. “You are getting so big,” I add, tickling her tiny Buddha belly.
“You just saw her last night,” my sister reminds me as she grins down at the baby in my arms. She’s not wrong, either. I usually help watch Soph while Harrison and Gwen work out. They started doing that together while she was pregnant, and even though my sister looks amazing, she insists they continue. She’s a preschool teacher, but took the remainder of the current school year off after having Sophia. If I’m honest, I would be surprised if she went back to work. Gwen is a natural mother and loves spending every waking hour with her daughter.
“I did, and she has grown even more.” I take my niece over to my desk and grab one of the toys I keep in my desk drawer for her. She instantly takes it and shoves it in her mouth, happily gnawing on the plastic teether. “Before I know it, she’ll be in college.”
“See? We better hurry and give her some siblings,” Harrison says as he comes out of his office and wraps his arm around my sister’s waist. That familiar ping of longing sweeps in, reminding me that my love life has been barely above subpar lately. Okay, most of my life, but who’s keeping track?