Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
“All right, then. What can I do for you?”
If she asked for an autograph, he would force himself to smile and do it. Kay was mere feet away and she’d talked about how important it was to put a smiley face on in public. He preferred to shove people away, but this was her day.
The woman in front of him smoothed down her dress, making sure she cupped her ample breasts. “I’m your biggest fan, Joshua. You should know that. I’m also a regular here. I know every inch of this place. I thought you might like to take a tour of the dressing rooms. They’re very private. Very quiet.”
He frowned, his body going cold. “What would you like me to see there?”
She leaned over, giving him a view of her assets. “You could see anything you liked.”
Again he caught sight of the ring on her finger. He glanced up and it was apparent she wasn’t alone. A woman was watching her, frowning all the way, as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
“I don’t like anything you have to offer. In fact, I’m insulted you would think I would take you anywhere at all.”
She seemed to fumble, going from seductive to a little horrified in an instant. “I was just…it’s more private in case you want to work.”
Sure. “I’m fine right here, and before you attempt to give me another private viewing of what you have to offer, try to remember that I came in here with a woman. Does she look like my sister? Hell, even if she was my sister, what kind of brother would I be if I left her alone to screw some random chick in a dressing room? You have a wedding ring on. I suspect that’s a present from the man who’s paying for this outing. Perhaps I should talk to him. I suspect the sales associates know who you are. Would your husband enjoy talking to me?”
She pulled back. “You’re an asshole.”
“A faithful one.” He didn’t cheat. He didn’t play around and he no longer sold himself. “An asshole who won’t mind calling out a faithless wife. Go away. Don’t come back or I’ll do something worse. I’ll ask my girlfriend what she thinks. You won’t like what she thinks.”
The woman practically ran the other way.
One of the salesladies stepped in. She wore a black sheath dress, her face pinched in consternation. “Are you all right, Mr. Hunt? Did that woman bother you? I’m sorry.”
At least he was getting stellar service. He forced his expression to clear as the woman and her friend—who was probably a nanny because she was pushing a baby stroller—fled the store. He didn’t want to put anyone on edge when they were being professional. “She asked a question I couldn’t give her an answer to, that’s all. Make sure my girl tries on the blue jumper. I think it would look wonderful on her.”
The saleslady grinned. “She’s wonderful. So funny and kind.”
That was his girl.
His cell buzzed in his pocket and he glanced down at the number. Fuck. Unknown. It was either honestly unknown and someone wanted to attempt to get him to vote one way or another or…it was time.
His gut was in a knot. “Is there someplace private I could take this?”
She pointed to the back of the store. “There’s an alley behind us. Follow me.” She led him past Kayla, who was slipping into a dressing room. She didn’t notice him. “We take smoke breaks back here. The door is going to lock, but the alley leads around to the front of the store. I could prop it open if you like.”
And risk anyone overhearing him? Not a chance. Actually, this was one of the reasons he’d decided to take Kayla out today. He had a long lunch planned for tomorrow and a meeting the next day, all so he could easily slip away from her and take this particular call.
He didn’t like hiding things from her. That was a surprise since most of his life consisted of hiding his past. He was used to it. Didn’t give it a second thought, but the fact that he was manipulating things in order to make certain she wouldn’t overhear a phone conversation bothered him.
When had he lost the upper hand?
He slid his thumb across the screen to accept the call as he made his way to the back. “This is Hunt.”
He pushed through the door going from the cool darkness of the back room into the heat of day.
Her voice rasped as though going through some kind of filter. It was always like this. “Tomorrow night. Solstice Canyon, eleven p.m. Leave the package at the foot of the statue of the Virgin Mary. As usual, come alone or we’ll have to believe you’re all right with everyone knowing your secret.”