Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
He doesn’t even try to hide his relief. “Yeah, sure, that’s fine with me. You must be exhausted after being on your feet all day.”
“Right. Well, I appreciate the date, but I think we can both agree that this is not going to work out.”
His face turns red, and it’s obvious he’s wondering if I know what he’s been up to, but I don’t give anything away. Everything I say to him is with a smile. “I just don’t feel like we have a connection, that’s all. You understand, don’t you?”
“But I thought we could go back to my house…” He starts, and I shake my head. Obviously, this man’s ego doesn’t like being turned down.
I lean over the table and pick up his napkin. “Hold still. You got some lipstick on your mouth. Let me get that for you.”
I wipe the lipstick off, and his eyes meet mine. I’m telling him I know what he’s been up to and it’s best he let me just walk away. I let him know without even saying a word.
When I withdraw my hand, he’s nodding his head.
I nod and stand up, grabbing my purse. I pull out my wallet and take out enough money to pay for my food and toss it on the table. “Thanks, Rick. Have a good night.”
He stands up and stutters, “I can buy your meal and drive you home.”
I shake my head. I really should have driven myself. “Nope, I only live a few blocks away, and I need a walk anyway.”
He puts a hand on my arm. “I can walk with you.”
I shake my head. ‘You haven’t even finished your meal yet. Stay. Enjoy. Thanks again, Rick.”
I walk out of the restaurant, and already my mind is on another man that’s across town.
I’m almost home when I pull my phone out just to see if Jason has texted me back. I read the four words and almost trip over my own feet. I stop moving—hell, the whole damn town seems to freeze up around me. I’m staring open-mouthed at my phone. My whole body flushes with heat, and every muscle seems to tense as I read the words again. “That’s my good girl.”
Fuck me. I never would have thought I’d be the type to seek the approval of a man, but that right there has me floored. This is going to be my undoing.
I start walking again, and the night is weighing heavily on me. I’m not looking for anything permanent. I’m more of a good time, no strings attached kind of woman. I date and have fun. There’s no talk of commitment, and I’m fine with it. I’m happy.
So why does being with Jason Hawk make me think I might just want more?
CHAPTER 11
JASON
It’s almost ten a.m. when I walk out of my apartment the next morning. I tossed and turned most of the night, wondering if Olivia made it home okay and how her date went, and I’m feeling it today.
When I walk out of my building, I hear someone call my name. “Jason Hawk.”
I stop. “Yeah?”
A man comes closer. “I’m Chris Johnson. Walker arranged our therapy appointment this morning. I thought I’d meet you here and we’d walk over together.”
“Sure.” I laugh. “I know where the conference rooms and therapy offices are, though. Trust me, I’m there enough I have the steps memorized.”
“Right. Well, we’re going somewhere different for therapy this morning. You okay with that?”
I grit my teeth. One thing I hate since losing my sight is change. I hate when plans change, locations change, times change. I already have it all worked out in my head how long it will take to get somewhere, how many steps and everything else I could have planned ahead for. Spontaneity is not my friend, but I’m not going to tell him no. I need to do this. “Sure.”
Chris talks me through where we’re going, and it seems we’re walking away from the center of the compound. He tells me as we pass the lake and the houses, and I know the direction is off. I’ve never been back here. “So what kind of therapy we doing today?”
“You’ll see, but I think you’ll like it.”
I nod grimly. “Please tell me this isn’t some kind of horse therapy or something. I’ve heard about that, and I really don’t want to be getting on a horse right now.”
He laughs next to me. “No horses.”
“Mountain hiking?”
“Nope.”
“Music therapy.”
“Nope.”
I’m about to guess something else when he touches my arm to let me know he’s stopped. “We’re here. Hang tight and let me get the doors unlocked and open.”
I stand still and pay attention to the sounds. It’s a lock on a chain, and I hear the clink as it rattles and he drops it to the ground. There’s a loud thud and then the creak as what sounds like big doors opening and then banging against wood siding. Are we at a barn? I wonder.