Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“It’s cute.” Vargas glances around my living room, putting my bag down on the sofa. I flip the little latch. Sassy hops out on her own. “I wouldn’t call it messy either.”
There are some paint cans and clothes piled in one corner along with a few boxes I brought from my dad’s that I haven’t gotten a chance to unpack yet. Not to mention all the other boxes of things I’ve ordered online. Those are scattered all around the front door area.
“I don’t have a shopping addiction. I swear.” I stare at the giant stack that has overwhelmed me. Pretty sure some are things my dad thought I would need. “Or maybe I do. You need so much stuff when you get your own place.” I really had no clue about the everyday things you needed to function in a home. I learned quickly.
“How long have you lived here?”
“About a month.”
Vargas pets Sassy as he keeps taking in my space.
“You really think it’s cute?” He was being truthful, but it’s still hard to believe that a man of Vargas’s stature would think my pink walls and purple velvet sofa are cute. Then again, isn't cute what you call little girls? Is that how he looks at me? That’s not the feeling I get from him, but I could totally be reading him wrong. Reading truths and lies–I can do that all day. Reading emotions? That’s not my superpower.
“It suits you. The only personal touches I’ve done to my home have been placing some art around. Other than that, everything is black, gray, and white.” He walks over toward the corner where Sassy’s cat tree is, then points at the four square paintings I have mounted. “It’s Sassy.”
“I did them.” I chew on my bottom lip, feeling super shy now. Each one is done in shades of one color. One pink, blue, orange, and teal.
“Impressive.” Once again, he’s telling the truth. It’s either that or my truth detecting skills are slipping around this man.
“Can I get you anything? Something to drink?” I walk toward the kitchen, trying to put a little bit of distance between us so that I can get myself together. I’ve never had a man in my place before. My dad would die if he not only knew I had one here but that it was Vargas Fontaine.
“Maybe after the gallery.”
“Oh, right. I should change.” I glance down at myself. I’m in a pair of purple overalls that have sunflowers on them with a white shirt and sneakers.
“I don’t see why.” He’s in slacks and a buttoned-up shirt.
“Can I freshen up real quick?”
“If you want. I promise you're beautiful as-is.”
A giggle slips from me. I’m so mortified at the stupid sound I bolt toward my bathroom. What am I, a freaking school girl? I might as well be. The hell is wrong with me? He has to think I’m such a dork.
I do what I can, brushing my hair quickly and applying lip gloss and mascara. This will have to do. He might already be running late. I take one more deep breath, reminding myself to pull it together.
I can be professional. I have to go to my father’s meetings. Why would this be any different? Because you don’t talk in those, dummy. You just tap your finger a few times. I push those thoughts out of my mind and head toward the living room. I can do this. Easy peasy.
“Ready,” I squeak loudly. Yeah, I kept it cool for not even a second. “Hey! You sucker.” Vargas' eyes actually go wide, looking like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. Only this one is full of cat treats.
“She kept looking at it and then giving me these sad eyes.”
I know the Sassy guilt trip all too well. She’s so darn cute it’s almost impossible to deny her treats.
I snort a laugh. Vargas isn’t anything like I thought he’d be. The man is known as a powerhouse in the boardroom. I would have thought that applied to all aspects of his life. But that doesn’t seem to be the case, because I’m finding he’s sweet and a sucker for cats. How am I not going to fall in love with him? I’m going to have to poke my father about why he feels the way he does about this man.
“Fine, she can have a few.”
Vargas gives her a couple before petting her one last time before we head out.
When we exit the elevator into the lobby of my building, I notice Garfield is on duty. You’d think with his name I could sucker him with cookies as I’ve done the others in the building, but it doesn’t work. I’m pretty sure he reports things to my father.
“Crap.”
“What?” Vargas glances around.
“You don’t know me.” I shove Vargas away from me and dart a couple of steps the other way to put some space between us. Thankfully, Garfield doesn’t see me do this.