Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 529(@300wpm)
“Everything you need is right here.” She hands me an insulated lunch box.
I stare at it, trying to figure out why her makeup would be in there.
“Easy storage. Plus it keeps everything from melting,” she explains with a shrug.
“Uh, thanks.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t wait up for you—”
“You could. It’s no big deal.”
“Oh, yeah. Because I always dress up like Miss America when it’s no big deal too.” She winks at me. “Have fun. I’ll annoy you more when you get back.”
Just like that, she scurries out the door.
I go to work dusting my eyes with silver shadow, glossing my lips, and applying mascara and blush.
There’s another knock at the door while I’m twisting my hair into a bun. I barely finish just before I walk over, my heart drumming faster with every step.
When I open up, I’m not sure who looks more surprised.
We’re both speechless.
Frozen.
Barely breathing.
Brock stands in the doorway in a silver suit with a vest and lavender tie.
The outfit highlights his chest and abdomen like it was cut from pure granite.
“You look—that’s a really fantastic—” I stammer before I finally settle on, “—umm, nice suit.”
“Thank you, beautiful. I knew you’d look goddamned ravishing in that dress. Do you like it?”
I can barely mouth out, “Yes. It’s amazing.”
He studies me for a moment, his head cocked and jaw angled. “Are you wearing makeup? Shit.”
I nod.
“You didn’t need to. I like you better without it.”
I’m almost glad for his dumb male honesty. It helps ground me with the reality of who I’m going out with.
“Thanks! Just what every woman needs to hear in the first five minutes of a d—business meeting.”
“What? You should be happy knowing your face looks better naturally.”
I narrow my eyes. “I see we’re off to a great start.”
“Should we go before I piss you off? The chariot’s waiting.”
“Will you carry my phone?”
“What?” He flashes a surprised look.
“I don’t have a purse to match this dress, and I’m not taking my normal ratty purse around. But I can’t leave without my phone—”
His face grows serious. “Your family trouble again? Damn you, when will you tell me?”
I stop and stare at him. “If you don’t like a woman who has her secrets, we can always take a raincheck...”
“You promise me you’re not hiding a man. Is it really your father? You owe me that, at least.”
I laugh. “That’s absurd. I’ve had two boyfriends in my life, and none of them were very serious.”
“No secret kids whose father is still in the picture?”
I laugh harder and shake my head. “Nope. Unless you count my smart-ass little sister.”
“Give me your phone.” He holds out a hand.
I open the door wider. “You’ll have to come in so I can grab it.”
He follows me to the bed in the center of the room, where I retrieve my phone.
I watch him slide it in his jacket pocket.
“You do realize if we go on future outings after tonight, the time will come where you’ll have to quit hiding eventually?”
“But this is the first—um, outing—we’ve had. So I’m well within my rights to hide anything that isn’t your business,” I say matter-of-factly.
That wins me a grumpy scowl.
“You want me to work for it. Fair enough. Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
He slides an arm around me as we walk out the door.
“Where are we going?” I ask once we’re inside the elevator.
He hits the button to take us down. “Not until we’re there. I’ll reserve my right to secrecy too.”
I frown at him. “Not fair. And you hit the wrong button,” I say when the elevator stops on the third floor.
Glowering, he shakes his head and leads me out of the elevator.
“We’re taking the private exit out so no one sees us.”
“So, does every place you own have a secret passage?”
He chuckles. “My family’s suite is on a private floor here. My elevator goes straight to that exit, but since we left from your room, we’ll get off here.”
Insane.
This whole situation is insane and feels like a disaster in the making.
“I have to wonder why a guy like you keeps chasing a fisherman’s daughter with a liberal arts degree.”
“She’s beautiful and brilliant. It would also be a crying shame to let that mouth go untamed,” he says, gazing right through me.
I swallow thickly. “I believe the last part.”
“Only because you don’t see yourself like I do, woman.”
Yeah.
I think I might be floating as he guides me through another private exit like the one in Lanai.
Time for another shock.
There’s a limo waiting on the curb.
“Keep moving. It doesn’t bite,” he whispers, placing his hand on the small of my back to urge me forward.
He’s about to open the door for me to get in when his head jerks in the direction we’ve just come from. That half smirk he’s been wearing since we stepped outside vanishes like he just stepped in dog poop.