Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
You think it’s stupid, too, I remind myself. But that doesn’t make the embarrassment go away that they’re thinking the same.
OLIVER
I watch Allie enter her room at the end of the hallway, her shoulders slightly curled in defeat, and I want to punch Jonas’s lights out. What the hell was he thinking? The poor girl seems overwhelmed, and the last thing she needs is to be wrenched by her ankles into the pool fully clothed.
I open the door next to her room and find it unoccupied. Carefully resting my suitcase on the ledge next to the wardrobe, I unzip it and pull out my swim shorts.
The room I’ve chosen has a beautiful ocean view and is well equipped with a desk so that I can work a little while I’m here. My office doesn't know what I’m doing this week, and I don’t intend on telling them. Sometimes, a man needs a break from his routine, and I’ve been feeling a little dry lately. When I heard about the article that Allie’s magazine was planning to write, I jumped at the opportunity to spend some time away from normality. And it’s going to help me make some big decisions, too.
I slowly unbutton my shirt, shaking my head. Allie seems like a great girl who doesn’t really fit with the role she has. I read a couple of her previous articles last night and her writing is fluid and amusing. I can’t imagine that writing about dicks and sex all the time is what she wants to do with her life, but maybe I’ll be proven wrong. Not that there’s anything wrong with those kinds of articles. Sex ed has an important function. It’s just that Allie doesn't seem excited about what we’re here to do. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s just about nerves and feeling overwhelmed at the number of men she has to interview.
But I have a feeling I’m not. Now I’m in my forties, I like to think I have picked up some instincts about people. The industry I’ve practically grown up in thrives on analyzing people and finding ways to make them want to buy things or believe in the messages we’re pushing.
It’s all about understanding human behavior and exploiting that understanding.
If I had to guess something about Allie, she’d rather be anywhere else than here, writing about anything else but dicks.
The thought she might not relish the task she’s been given makes me press my lips together. Sex talk, like sex, shouldn’t be something entered into unwillingly.
When I’m ready to head poolside, I listen out for the sound of Allie’s door opening, wanting to check she’s okay. As soon as I hear the click of the turning handle, I slowly ease my door open, not wanting to startle her.
Allie has twisted her hair into a sleek style, secured by a large clip, and is wearing a yellow two piece covered by a crochet beach cover up in a bright pink. Her sandals are lime green and her toenails are orange. The colors are garish and clash with each other but somehow, she looks like a designer put her outfit together for a runway show.
“Hey,” I say. “Feeling better?”
“I am but my poor clothes are dripping in the bathtub.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to make Jonas pay.” I add a sinister gravelly edge to my voice to make the threat humorous. “I think there’s going to be some behavior that you might need to forgive.” We begin to make our way down the stairs, and I don’t miss the way Allie’s eyes trail over my chest. Instead of gloating, I try not to show how happy I am.
“Put ten men together and there’s going to be something,” she says softly.
“If you need anything, I want you to know you can come to me. Or Stefan.”
She nods, cocking her head to one side, her warm brown eyes appraising. The noise of splashing and the thud, thud, thud of music coming from the pool area gets louder. “You guys taking on the daddy role?” she asks.
I don’t think she intends to sound sexual in any way but damn, hearing the word daddy slip from her lips so easily makes my cock thicken just a little.
“I don’t think I’m old enough to be anyone’s daddy in this group. But if maturity runs with age, then me and Stefan have a few years on the others for sure.” I want to tell her she can call me daddy anytime she likes, but I’m going to be the one man in this house who’s not going to step over the line, no matter where the conversation goes.
“That’s good to know. Thanks,” she says.
“There she is,” Carson yells as soon as Allie comes into view. “Sorry you got dunked. We’ve dunked Jonas a few times in retribution since you went upstairs.”