Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
She exhaled a heavy sigh as she shaved her legs. Obviously, Derek had more willpower than she did, and a part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it would take for him to step over that line he’d drawn and break his own self-imposed rules. She wasn’t sure, but tonight she refused to dwell on the push-pull sexual tension sparking between them and planned to enjoy a night out clubbing. And if that meant tempting and teasing Derek a bit more to test those boundaries, so be it.
She finished up in the shower, and since she still had a few hours before they had to pick up Avery and Maddie, she put on a comfortable sundress and retreated to her office. There was always work to do and she needed to handle emails from the social media manager she’d hired to help elevate her business’s profile. She approved the most recent content and campaigns, reviewed the analytics, and authorized the ideas and videos that had been presented for next month’s launch of Curvy Girl Couture Lingerie.
By four p.m., she decided to wrap things up and make dinner for Derek. It was the least she could do, considering he’d spent the entire day outside finishing up her to-do list and was probably hungry.
Just as she pulled the baked salmon, roasted vegetables, and potatoes from the oven, Derek strode into the kitchen from the backyard, dirty and sweaty from hours spent working outdoors. Yet he still managed to look hot and gorgeous. It so wasn’t fair.
He walked to the sink to wash his hands and forearms. “That smells amazing,” he said with a groan. “I was expecting to have to make some kind of dinner tonight as part of my penance but I’m grateful to be off the hook.”
Grinning at him, she served up each of their plates, giving him a more ample portion, and took them to the table. “I’m not a complete slave driver.”
He snorted. “I beg to differ,” he said, drying his hands with a paper towel, then grimaced as he glanced down at the dirt on his T-shirt and shorts. “And I really should go shower because I’m absolutely filthy.”
Shaking her head, she pointed to the table. “Sit and eat while it’s hot and fresh,” she ordered, then poured them each a glass of iced tea and sat down next to him.
Obviously starved, he dove right into the meal, polishing off half of it before he took a long drink of his tea then glanced at her. “Nikki called me a while ago to chortle in delight over my situation as your manservant, and I made the mistake of telling her I was chauffeuring you and your friends to the club tonight.”
Jessica swallowed a tender bite of salmon and tipped her head curiously. “Why was that a mistake?”
“Because she insisted on going, too.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” she said. “Nikki is great. The more the merrier, I say.”
He smiled, looking relieved that she was okay with his sister coming with them. “Thank you. Nikki doesn’t have a lot of close friends, so I appreciate you letting her join you and your friends. And, as your designated driver, I figure I’ll be able to hang out with Asher while you girls do your thing since I know that clubbing isn’t his idea of an exciting night out, either.”
They finished eating dinner and Derek insisted on doing the dishes, so Jessica let him, since she knew it was going to take her a while to get ready. Up in her bathroom, she curled her hair into soft waves and left it cascading down her back, then applied more dramatic makeup than her normal daily routine. Darker shadows, a little shimmer below her brows, and kohl liner with a sexy winged curve at the outer corner of each eye. She finished off the look with a luminous berry-bronze shade of lipstick.
Then, she changed into her outfit for the evening—skinny faux-leather pants and a metallic rose camisole. She wouldn’t deny she’d maybe, possibly, chosen the pieces to grab Derek’s attention. Thin straps crisscrossed along her back, and the loosely draped cowl-neck bodice exposed a hint of cleavage while leaving a whole lot of skin still bare. She slipped into her favorite four-inch strappy heels and added a pair of dangly earrings and a detailed crystal wrist cuff that Avery had given her as a birthday gift.
Grabbing her small purse, she folded a leather jacket over her arm just in case she needed it later and headed downstairs while texting Maddie and Avery to let them know she was leaving and to be ready.
Derek sat on the couch in the living room, waiting for her. Freshly showered, he wore black pants and a plum-colored long-sleeved button-down dress shirt. He was also texting on his phone, and he absently glanced up when she walked in—then did a comical double take when he saw her.