Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Max peered up, his lips turning into an apprehensive smile. “I believe I owe you an apology.”
I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the door and leant against it. “You do?”
He nodded once. “It was wrong of me to read your manuscript. Regardless of the title, it wasn’t mine to read, and I am very sorry if I upset you by doing so.”
I looked at him for a moment, then said, “Did your grandma make you say that?”
His laugh was punctuated by a slow smile that broke out across his face before he reigned it in with a harsh cough. “No, surprisingly. I came to the realisation entirely on my own.”
“Oh, look at you go.” I bit down on my lower lip, glancing at my feet. “Thank you. I appreciate that. What you read is something that should only be seen by those who are obligated to do so.”
“It was far from terrible.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but if you ever tell anyone what you read on that laptop, I’m going to have to kill you.”
He slowly nodded. “That’s fair.”
I dipped my chin, laughing. “Did you come all the way here just to apologise?”
“No. I brought these, too.” He held out the flowers.
I took the bouquet from him and brought it to my face. It smelt divine. “These are fresh, aren’t they?”
“From our gardens,” Max said quietly. “Grandma likes fresh flowers, so we have a whole section devoted to cut flowers. I might have stolen these.”
“A rogue duke? What a novel concept.”
His lips twitched. “I’d like to talk, if you’re available.”
I frowned. “Who are you and what have you done with Max? I’m sorry, His Grace, The Duke of Windermere.”
“Max is fine.” He could barely hide his half-grin.
I sighed and opened the door wider. “There’s no time like the present.”
He nodded and stepped inside.
“I’ll just put these in water.” I left him by the door and walked into the kitchen with the flowers in my hands. They really did smell gorgeous, and I was very fond of fresh flowers.
I just needed a vase.
“Second cupboard to the left of the fridge,” Max said from the doorway.
I glanced at him then opened the cupboard. As he’d said, there was a selection of vases. I chose the white ceramic one, filled it with water, then put the flowers in it. They were a perfect fit.
Did he cut them to size?
Hm.
What an enigma he was.
I carried the vase through to the living room where I set it on the desk next to my laptop. “What would you like to talk about?”
“I think you know.”
I nodded, turning around. He was already sitting on the sofa like he owned the place—which was fair, because he did. So… never mind.
“Ellie, I—”
“Please,” I said, clasping my hands in front of my stomach. “Do you mind if I speak first?”
Max held up his hands. “Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” I took a deep breath before I met his gaze. “You were absolutely correct in what you said yesterday.”
He blinked at me but made no move to interrupt me.
“I’m not going to stand here and beat around the bush or come up with some bullshit excuse for what you read. I did that yesterday, but a good night’s sleep is a real thing, and I’m a grown woman, not a child.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “Yes, the hero in my manuscript is based on you. The location is based on Windermere and the Greygarth Estate, and the library is absolutely the one in your private section of the house.”
Max nodded slowly.
“That is the first draft. It’s the bare bones. It’ll go through at least four rounds of revisions and edits before it ever sees the light of day. Any identifying features will be rewritten, and no real names will be used. The setting and the characters will become something else in my second draft.” I rubbed my hands across my forearms. “I do appreciate your apology and thank you for doing so. You didn’t need to.”
Another slow nod. “Can I speak?”
I hesitated, fighting a smile. Had he really just asked permission to speak?
I suppose I had said I’d like to speak first.
“Of course,” I replied.
“I can see how you might think I was taking the piss,” Max said slowly. “But I wasn’t. I didn’t think you liked me.”
“I don’t.”
“Come on, now.”
“I think you’re attractive. It doesn’t mean I like you as a person.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ELLIE
Truth or Dare
His mouth tugged up at the corners. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
My cheeks burnt. “Are we? It feels as though I’m standing here solely to feed your ego.”
Max held up his hands before he pushed off the sofa to his feet and walked over to me. “I let you say your bit; may I?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Good.” His nostrils flared. “I am annoyingly attracted to you, Ellie. I find myself even more annoyed that you’re attracted to me, because it means I can’t pretend it’s all in my mind.”