Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Is it still because of that asshat? Is he giving you a hard time?”
For less than a second I considered telling Fiona about Xavier and me, but then my fear won out. Xavier and I weren’t really Xavier and I yet. We had agreed to try dating, but that was all. I knew what Fiona would say if I told her about it. She’d declare me insane, and maybe I was for giving Xavier a chance after everything. Though really, he hadn’t done anything wrong if you looked at it closely. He had never lied to me, never pretended our night together would be more than sex, and yet I had slept with him. I was the one who hadn’t been one-hundred percent honest, who had kept my virginity a secret. Given Xavier’s reaction, he probably wouldn’t have taken things that far between us if I had told him in a less precarious situation. I was as much to blame for that night as he was. That he moved on to another woman so quickly, that was all him—but again, nothing I couldn’t have foreseen.
“Evie?” Fiona asked.
I blinked. I’d drifted off again. “Sorry. He didn’t do anything. He’s being his usual cocky self.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“Have you made progress finding a new assistant?”
“I still need to go over the job announcement with Xavier’s brother.”
Fiona frowned. “It’s taking too long. And it’ll take even longer finding someone who’s willing to become his assistant.”
“There are enough women out there who would do anything to be close to him,” I said with a hint of bitterness.
Fiona scrutinized me. “You sound jealous.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re not still hung up on him, are you? He’s already moved on with several women, and you should move on too. He’s not worth wasting another thought over. Just because he was your first doesn’t mean he has to mean anything.”
It wasn’t that easy, and Fiona knew it. She had left the States because she had caught her first love cheating. Admittedly that was worse than what had happened to me. She and Aiden had been dating for three years, and he’d screwed her best friend. I was lucky in comparison. “Let’s not talk about Xavier, all right?” I’d only end up letting something slip, and then our lunch date would take a turn for the worse.
“Then let’s talk about Blake,” Fiona said.
I sighed. “I told you it didn’t work out between us.”
“You went out with him once and your date was rudely interrupted by Xavier. You can’t count that. Give him another chance.”
My mobile beeped in my purse. Glad for the distraction, I took it out and glanced at the screen. The message was from Xavier.
I’ll pick you up at seven at the corner of your street. Don’t want to cross your evil twin sister’s path. Dress code: casual. Make sure you’re hungry and thirsty.
Grinning, I quickly keyed in my reply.
Good thinking e.g. Fiona. P.S. Don’t call her evil.
I returned my phone to my purse, then looked up and caught Fiona watching me with narrowed eyes. The smile dropped from my face and a treacherous blush crawled up my throat.
“Who was that?”
“Uh, nobody.”
“That infatuated smile didn’t look like nobody.”
Damn it. Why did Fiona have to be such a bloodhound when it came to sniffing out my emotions? “I…I met someone.” There it was, the lie I didn’t want to rely on.
“A guy?” Fiona asked, stunned.
“No, a llama,” I muttered. “Of course a guy.”
“Where did you meet him? And why didn’t you tell me you were looking for someone? Is that why you don’t want to see Blake again?”
“It’s pretty fresh…and I met him online.”
“Are you sure he’s not some crazy serial killer?”
“I’m a grown-up, Fiona. I can handle my own love life. I promise I will tell you more once there’s more to tell, okay?” And once I’m sure dating Xavier isn’t the worst idea of my life.
“Okay,” Fiona said slowly, but I knew she’d keep me on my toes. I had to make sure she didn’t meddle. This thing, whatever it was, between Xavier and me was still too fresh to have her messing with it.
Xavier picked me up at the corner as we’d discussed. I had made sure to check the street for Fiona’s nosy face several times but didn’t spot her. I slid into the passenger seat. “You are on time,” I said, surprised.
Xavier flashed me a grin. “You’re welcome.”
I shook my head with a laugh but quieted when Xavier’s eyes slowly wandered over me. I wasn’t dressed in an overly sexy way, but the pencil skirt accentuated my hips and my blouse gave a nice view of my neckline. The appreciative flicker in Xavier’s eyes sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. “You look gorgeous, Evie,” he said in a low voice that I could feel all the way between my legs. It didn’t hurt that Xavier looked good enough to devour himself with the dark blue dress shirt and beige pants.