Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 49189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 197(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Just dropping her interruption bomb and flying off before there’s any flak.
“I gotta take that call,” I groan.
“Jase,” Vanessa says aloud, making a face of her own.
Reminding me that even though she’s within reach now, there’ll be major fallout between her and Jase.
I know him well enough.
CHAPTER NINE
Vanessa
It feels like I can say anything, and all Michael does is agree.
My strangest fantasies are coming true. The idea of him even wanting me in that way in the first place.
It just doesn’t add up. But somehow, it does.
Somehow.
And I can see with my own eyes what he’s feeling. And my own desire for him is already at the boiling point.
We both say things I know we wanted to at the interview, and I guess Michael kinda understands why I ran. I was just so afraid of rejection, even though he’s just spelled it out to me. It’s still a shock to my system.
Such a perfect shock that I can’t help but reach for the cure, who’s right in front of me.
I’m no expert kisser, and I hope I’m doing it right for a man of Michael’s obvious experience.
But right before the fireworks go off, his office door opens, and before I can fully recover, he’s on the phone with Jase.
My best friend. My boss…right when I’m about to kiss his Dad.
I'd be angry if it was a stupid call or something about his lunch order. But seeing Michael stop right in the middle of us to talk to Jase makes me feel better about it.
Makes me want him even more.
His single, penetrating look as he picks up his office phone tells me all I need to know too.
I haven’t even started with you yet, Vanessa…and you’re not going anywhere.
I can hear it in my mind as clearly as if he’d said it out loud just now.
And then it clicks.
Everything’s only confusing when I’m not with Michael.
Everything just makes perfect sense when I’m with him. Not even my self-doubt and loathing can tell me otherwise anymore.
Michael focuses on his call with Jase, but his eyes never leave mine. And I already know how easily the man can do two things at once. Like grabbing my chest right before he meant to kiss me.
Some girls might not like that. They might say a ‘dick’ move, but it’s just what I want him to do.
And I’m hoping for plenty more of his dick moves once he gets off the phone with Jase.
Job be damned if Jase doesn’t like the idea of his Dad and me. We’ll always be friends, but a girl has to get her priorities right.
And Michael Hart is Mr. Right in the priorities department.
Because he’s right. This feeling between us? It’s worth more than anything.
Easy for me to say. I don’t have hundreds of employees and a business to run. But it’s true, and I know Michael feels the same.
He always has…ever since graduation day.
Incredible.
I can’t help but overhear their conversation, and Michael doesn’t seem to mind at all.
“…You made your connecting flight…Uh-huh…Hmmm. But now you’re where?” Michael asks, cocking his brow and making me smile without even knowing why.
A little smile plays on his lips, making me wonder what kinda trouble Jase has gotten himself into this time.
“Yeah, I’ve got Phelps waiting on the other line,” he says, creasing his brow suddenly.
“…Uh-huh,” he clips, “So, Mr. Phelps sent his daughter to get you from the airport…?”
I feel a ripple of something run across my stomach.
I always know when Jase is telling only one part of a story. As if he was trying to tell me the same half-truth he’s spinning his Dad right now.
But instead of being mad, Michael seems more relieved than anything. And he tells Jase he’ll smooth things over with his client, Mr. Phelps. But that he’d better get his ass there, pronto.
“As soon as you can, Jase,” he cautions his son, a wide smile on his lips as he motions to me he’ll be just one more minute.
Taking Mr. Phelps on line four it turns out he did send his daughter, but neither of them came back or called.
“Probably a cell outage. Happens a lot out that way,” Michael says knowingly. He is doing well to hide what looks like sheer delight on his face from showing in his voice.
“He’ll be there, Morgan. And I’m sorry I couldn’t make it myself. But you know where to reach me,” he says. And after a little professional ego-stroking, the guy seems to agree it’s for the best Jase is running late.
Michael just has a way with words, I guess.
We both share a knowing look once he hangs up, and before either of us can help it, we’re both chuckling.
“Car broke down, huh?” I ask between little giggles.
“Apparently, and a brand new one, according to her Dad,” he says. His face falling for a second at the word.