Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47223 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47223 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I exchange a glance with Josh. She’s nervous; we do that to her. We both know it. No surprise she’s avoiding the sore spot of her divorce. But there’s more to the story. I’m convinced of that.
“Almost since inception,” I answer. “Chad, Josh, and I all played football together from peewee to high school. We decided to follow Chad to Harvard because he was loving the education and the experience.” Especially the copious amounts of pussy, but I don’t mention that. “After he graduated, he started the firm. We joined a few years after, once we’d finished school. Collectively, we’ve grown the organization together.”
“What he said,” Josh quips with a smile. “Chad isn’t just our boss. He’s like a brother.”
“That’s great. Working with people you like makes a huge difference in your job satisfaction.”
“Sounds like you’ve worked with someone you didn’t like.”
She smiles tightly. “Haven’t we all?”
I have a suspicion she means Derrick. “Not often, thank god.”
“Lucky you.” She takes one more spoonful of her bread pudding, then pushes her dessert away. “I can’t eat another bite.”
“Can I try it?” I ask.
“It’s all yours.”
As I reach for the plate, I accidentally elbow my fork off the table and onto the floor. “Damn it.”
“Let me.”
My clumsiness seemingly puts her at ease, and she smiles as she spoons up some of her bread pudding, along with the melting ice cream, and extends it toward me. Instead of taking the utensil from her hand, I lean in and open my mouth. She’s slightly surprised but doesn’t stop or correct me, merely eases the dessert onto my tongue.
It’s amazing, but having her reach out to me, to feed me from her hand, is distinctly sexual. “Hmm.”
“Can I try some, too?” Josh asks, his voice sounding huskier than normal.
“Sure.”
In seconds, she’s spooning bites of her bread pudding past my buddy’s lips. “Do you like it?”
“It’s fantastic.” He opens his eyes, tongue sweeping across his lips, his voice dropping. “I want more.”
She pushes the plate across the table with a trembling hand. “Here you go.”
“Would you like anything else?” the server asks.
Kate looks visibly relieved by her interruption and stands. “Not for me. I’m going to bed.”
At seven thirty? Granted it’s one thirty in the morning in Boston, but having traveled the globe, I know it’s smarter to skip naps and stay awake as long as possible to adapt to your new time zone.
“When do we want to convene in the morning?” She reaches for her purse.
I exchange a glance with Josh. Neither of us wants to see her go…but it’s for the best—even if he’s not willing to admit it.
“Don’t rush off, Kate,” Josh cajoles. “Sit and finish your wine—”
“Eight a.m.,” I reply.
“Thank you. Good night.” With a nod in our direction, she escapes the restaurant.
Josh watches her go with a curse. “I’d ask what you’re doing, encouraging her to run off—”
“She wanted to go.”
“And you couldn’t wait for her to leave because you like her—not just her tits and her ass, which are admittedly fantastic—but her. That terrifies the shit out of you.”
I hate that he’s right. “Fuck off.”
“Not a chance. I have a feeling about her. My gut is usually right.”
Marcus lifts a dark brow. “Remember Taylor?”
“Stop throwing my one mistake in my face.”
“Just pointing out that you’re not always right. And you’re coming on strong. You should back the fuck off before she feels harassed and calls a lawyer. Chad would have your ass.”
“Don’t give me that excuse. You flirted with her, too—hardcore. And now you’re trying to deny there’s something between the three of us.”
I stand. “There shouldn’t be. She’s made it abundantly clear that she’s determined to keep things professional. You should probably do the same. Charge dinner to our room. I’m going up for a shower.”
Josh curses. “Another one?”
Ignoring his question, I head upstairs. He follows ten minutes later, half empty bottle of wine and a clean stem in hand. I greet him with a towel wrapped around my waist and motion to the vino. “You going to get wasted?”
“It’s better than eight hours of sleeplessly fighting the need to jack off.”
He has a point…which is why I took another shower. My hand might have taken the edge off my need, but I don’t have any illusions. It’s going to be a long night.
“Besides, if I’m drunk, I’ll snore louder.” He gives me an acidic smile. “You’re welcome.”
As I glare back, a clap of thunder rattles the glass of the ancient door to the lanai. Wind rattles. Fat raindrops pound the pane in dull, rhythmic thuds. A glance outside tells me it’s been raining for a while.
“Welcome to paradise,” I quip.
Josh sighs. “Damn it. The grounds around the property will be a mess tomorrow.”
True, but we’re here for ten short days and our to-do list is miles long. “It’s not like we’ve never encountered challenges before.”