Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Instead of giving me a stinking look, Harper smiles apologetically. “Hi, Lily. First things first. I’m so sorry about yesterday.”
I wave a hand between us. “It was a misunderstanding.”
She holds her hand out to shake mine, but Callan says, “Lily’s wrist is sprained.”
“Oh, in that case…” She pulls me into a quick hug, then chuckles, “I’m glad to finally meet you face-to-face.”
“Me too. Are you joining us for dinner?”
“No.” She glances between Callan and me before saying, “I just came over to apologize. I still have a million things to do before my flight.”
I give her an appreciative smile. “Thank you. I know you and Callan are close, and it’s important to me that we get along.”
She places her hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Once I’m back, we’ll go out for lunch.”
“I’d like that.” When she turns toward the elevator, I add, “Have a safe trip.”
She smiles warmly at me before turning her attention to Callan. “Send me the last report, and I’ll read over it during the flight.”
“I’m almost done then I’ll email it to you.”
After Harper leaves, I return to the kitchen while saying, “That was really nice of her.”
“It’s important to me that the two of you get along,” Callan murmurs as he sits down on the couch again.
“So if Harper isn’t staying for dinner, who’s the friend that’s coming over?”
“It’s a surprise,” he chuckles before focusing on his work.
Giving him space to finish the report he needs to send to Harper, I pull my phone from my pocket, looking for an idea of what I can make for dinner.
Finding two recipes I really like, I check whether we have everything before asking, “How many people are coming over tonight?”
“Just one,” Callan answers absentmindedly.
Great! The chicken and potato gratin with brown butter cream, along with stuffed eggplants and zucchini in rich tomato sauce, will work well for three people.
Getting to work on the two recipes, I soon lose myself in cooking dinner for tonight.
Suddenly, Callan wraps his arms around my waist, his chest pressing into my back. “It smells delicious in here.”
“I’m almost done,” I whisper, my attention focused on plating the food on platters. Pulling away from Callan, I stick them in a lukewarm oven to stay warm, then ask, “What’s the time?”
“Seven.”
My eyes widen, and seeing Callan dressed in a three-piece suit, I dart toward the stairs. “God, I’m a mess. You should’ve told me how late it was.”
I hear him chuckling. “You look perfect, Lily. You don’t have to change.”
I shoot him a scowl before heading to our bedroom, but the moment I reach our walk-in closet, I don’t know what to wear tonight.
“I’m serious,” Callan says as he enters the bedroom. “You don’t have to change into something else.”
“But you’re wearing a suit,” I argue.
“Lily, I always wear a suit.”
Shit. True.
I glance down at my jeans and light pink cashmere sweater and agree that the outfit doesn’t suck.
“I just need to pull a brush through my hair and put on some mascara and lipstick.”
Callan points to my bare feet. “And shoes.”
“Right,” I chuckle. I grab a pair of slip-on ballet flats and put them on before walking to the bathroom.
I hear Callan’s phone ring, then he says, “Let her up, please.”
It’s only then I notice reception didn’t call to announce Harper, which means she’s probably authorized to just come up. It shows me how close Callan is with her.
I really need to build a friendship with her.
While Callan heads out of the bedroom, I quickly put on mascara and nude lipstick before brushing my hair, then rush downstairs to meet our company for the evening.
I hear a woman chuckling. “Dinner smells mouthwatering.”
“Lily is an excellent cook,” Callan mentions.
When the foyer comes into view, I almost trip over my feet with shock.
Eloise Torres.
Holy shit.
My heartbeat takes off at a crazy pace, and I instantly start sweating with nerves.
It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to meet her.
Callan turns his head to me and holds out a hand. “Eloise, this is the amazingly talented artist I told you about.”
An anxious smile forms on my face, and taking Callan’s hand, I move right to his side before rambling, “It’s such an honor meeting you, Miss Torres. God,” I pull my hand from Callan’s to press my palm against my heart, “you’re such an inspiration to me.” I let out an awkward chuckle. “Meeting you is…” I shake my head in awe of her. “It’s such an honor,” I repeat the only words I can think of.
I don’t care if my wrist is sprained, I take her hand when she holds it out to me and ignore the sharp pain.
Callan places his palm on my lower back. “This is Lily, my girlfriend.”
Eloise might be in her fifties, but she carries herself with such class and grace, I don’t even notice the fine lines on her face.