Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Well, he’s probably right about that. “That was your choice. You should be more careful with the location of your quickies.”
He grins boyishly, not looking ashamed about that part in the slightest.
“Please go. This is humiliating enough without you standing there in my apartment, witnessing all that is this.” I motion to myself and the blanket on the sofa behind me.
“I’ll leave you to your peace.” Blowing out a harsh breath he turns back to the door. “I understand if you don’t want to come back to work for me, but I really hope you do.”
When he pulls it open my body tenses and my word vomit spews forth. “Just for the record, I do have a body under my clothes and it’s really nice too. So you totally don’t know what you’re even talking about.”
He grins at me over his shoulder and looks me up and down slowly. “I have no doubts.”
Why did I say that?
Why, oh why, did I say that?
He leaves and I feel that stupid thumping in my chest again.
I don’t know what it means, and I don’t care to know.
Chapter Eight
He’s not afraid to apologize when he’s wrong.
At work the next day, after building myself back up after my little meltdown, I’m surprised to find two huge bouquets of flowers on my desk.
Now… don’t get me wrong, I think flowers are beautiful, but these are so large they’re offensive.
They’re also a reminder of the day before and I hate that.
Still, I pick up a card attached to the sparkling white bouquet of flowers I can’t name and read it. It’s from so many people. There are so many encouraging messages within from people I’ve never even met. Messages such as, “You’re killing your style, girl, keep at it. Fuck the haters and their stuck-up wives.” That one made me laugh. “People can be mean and childish no matter their age. Beauty is inside, they are proof of that.” That one makes me smile. “I don’t know you, we’ve never met, but I see you all the time. You’re adorable. Keep gracing us with those shy smiles that make our day.” I smile shyly, it’s what I do best. “*Sending Hugs*” I laugh again and close the card after absorbing every message squeezed into every available space.
I move those flowers to the window and prop the card up with them.
Then I take the smaller card from the offensive bouquet of purple and yellow flowers. So pretty.
“I really am sorry.”
Two guesses who that’s from. I put that one on the curved part of the desk behind me and push the flowers as close to the wall as they’ll go.
My coworkers are sweet.
Mr. C is just saving his own ass.
“I wasn’t sure you’d come back,” Pax announces as he rounds the far corner where I stood and eavesdropped on his bitch of a PA yesterday. “But I knew you were fierce. The offer to switch to my team is still there though.” He’s only half joking.
I stand from my seat and meet him eye to eye, coming around the desk to face him. I made a vow this morning that I’d be braver today and that’s exactly what I’m doing. “I heard you defend me yesterday.”
His smile fades to a grimace. “You heard what they said?”
I nod and offer him a smile. “I did, but… what you did… it meant a lot.”
“You’re adorable and kind, Rose, you don’t deserve anything that happened yesterday.” I’m surprised when he reaches up to touch my cheek, making me hold my breath. “And I happen to love the way you dress.” His hand drops and his mischievous smile comes back. “More clothing you’re wearing, the more wrapping there is to tear away.”
I laugh once, a startled sound coming from my throat. “You… I… umm…”
“So, you’re back Friday?” he continues, still smiling his handsome smile.
“Yeah, why.”
“Then how does Saturday at six sound?”
Now I’m confused. “For what?”
“For our date.”
I blink and widen my eyes. “Our date?”
“Yep. I’m going to take you out somewhere extremely fun, and then drive you home like a gentleman.”
I gape at him and laugh again. “I’m not going on a pity date with you.”
Chuckling, he steps closer and gently touches my chin to tilt my head back. His body is inches from mine. I feel like a bitch in heat. “It’s not a pity date. I was going to ask you anyway.”
“I don’t believe you. Look… you’re kind and all but you don’t have to do this.”
His smile fades. “Do you really think so little of yourself that somebody might not ask you on a date for genuine reasons?”
“But… it’s you, I’m not your type.”
I squeak when he pushes me against the wall beside Mr. C’s office door and crushes his mouth to mine. His lips, so warm, slightly moist and soft, move against my own, coaxing me to comply and I melt into it, allowing his tongue to taste mine.