Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“No,” Mom says. “Ellie isn’t going anywhere with you.”
“Yes, I am,” Ellie says with a sigh, an overnight bag slung over her shoulder. We’ve done this so many times over the years, we keep a small bag packed at the ready. “Let’s go, Sienna.”
“Hey!” Mom reaches out and grabs Ellie’s arm, making her squeak out in shock. “You’re going to choose her over me? You’re my daughter, not hers, and I can take care of you now.”
“Are you serious?” Ellie asks incredulously. “Of course I’m choosing Sienna. I don’t know what you did to get that money, but maybe you should use it to go to rehab. You came in here, throwing gifts at me, and for a second I forgot who you are, until you reminded me by kicking out the only real mom I’ve ever known.”
Mom gasps as if she’s been backhanded and then her eyes turn into thin slits. “Fine,” she spits. “Leave… both of you! Get out and never come back. I don’t need either of you. But don’t come crying to me and begging for money when you’re broke and homeless.”
Since it’s pointless to argue with her, we leave without saying another word. The drive to the motel is quiet, but instead of going to the shitty one I usually check us into, I make a left at the last second and pull up into a nicer resort we’ve seen a million times but could never afford to stay at.
“What are you doing?” Ellie asks.
“I’ve made decent money recently, and it’s still your birthday. I say we splurge and spend the weekend in style.”
Ellie’s green eyes light up. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.” I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Happy Birthday, El.”
After we check-in to the cheapest room they offer—which is insanely more expensive than I thought—we ooh and aah over the gorgeous two-bedroom suite and then spend the rest of the evening at the indoor heated pool. Since the motel we planned to stay at doesn’t have a pool, I decided another splurge was warranted and purchased us swimsuits from the hotel’s boutique.
The next morning, we go downstairs to check out the breakfast they offer. It’s probably going to be as expensive as the room, but I want Ellie to have a good weekend, despite our mom almost ruining her birthday. She deserves to have good days. And my hope is that even though there are more bad than good, maybe the good will overshadow the bad.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the hostess says. “This restaurant is reservation only, and we’re booked solid. I recommend—”
“Actually, they’re my personal guests,” a masculine voice cuts in. When I glance up, I find Micah Alexander standing there in a power suit looking as gorgeous in the daylight as he does in the dark of the club.
“Miss Bardot, you’re looking beautiful this morning,” he croons, blatantly eye fucking me.
“Micah,” I deadpan.
“Oh, Mr. Alexander,” the hostess purrs. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. But regardless, there aren’t any available tables.” She pouts dramatically, and I have to hold back from snorting out a laugh.
“Very well. They can sit with me,” Micah says, locking eyes with me. “That is, if you don’t mind having breakfast with your future husband.”
Ellie gasps, and I groan.
“I know you!” Ellie says. “You’re Lincoln’s brother, right?”
“I am,” Micah says with a nod. “And you are…?”
“I’m Ellie,” my sister says. “Sienna’s sister. You called the night Lincoln was helping me write my essay in his office.”
Micah grins wide, and a single dimple pops out of his left cheek—like he wasn’t already gorgeous enough, God had to give him a fucking dimple. “He told me about that. It’s nice to meet you. How did your essay turn out?”
“I got an A.” Ellie beams.
The hostess clears her throat. “Mr. Alexander, would you like to be seated?”
“I would, and will you ladies be joining me?”
Before I can answer, Ellie says, “Yes! It’s my birthday weekend, and Sienna brought me here for a special getaway.”
Micah smiles warmly at her. “Happy Birthday. I’m honored you chose my hotel to celebrate your birthday.”
I groan, again. Of course, Hotel Blu is his damn hotel.
We’re seated at the table and a second later, Lincoln sits, glancing at Ellie and me in confusion. Then his eyes land on Micah and he chuckles.
“Sorry, we’re crashing,” I say to my real boss. “Micah invited us when we were told the restaurant was booked, and Ellie agreed.”
“No worries,” Lincoln says. “The breakfast here is delicious.”
“Do you guys come here to eat often?” I ask, making conversation.
“We live in the penthouses on the top floor,” Lincoln says, “so it’s convenient.”
“You live here?” Ellie gasps. “In a hotel?”
“This hotel actually has the option to purchase,” Lincoln explains to her. “A lot of the guests own condos and will rent them out when they leave for the winter.”