Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Thank you for your time, and I expect to see the signed contract in my inbox by the close of business tomorrow.”
The seller grunts his agreement, as does his legal counsel, while Romero invites them to reach out with any questions they might come up with.
Formalities, all of it. I’m offering twice what the planes are worth, knowing they’ll result in a thirty percent increase in profits within the first handful of shipments. At times like this, I’m willing to be generous. He’d be a fool to turn down numbers like the ones I’ve presented.
Romero’s knowing grin tells me he agrees.
“Nice work,” I tell him, loosening my tie once the video call has ended.
“Want a drink?” he offers.
I shake my head. “I’m going to grab some coffee from the kitchen.” Eyeing him as I stand, I add, “I know you’re a workaholic, but you should take the rest of the night off. You’ve been putting in too many hours.”
He shakes his head, bewildered. “Since when is there such a thing as working too many hours?”
Since I’m now waiting for a special visitor and would rather not be interrupted. I’m still not sure what I’ll do once she shows up here. Do I confront her about how she watched me? Do I give into the temptation and ravage her, knowing it’s what she wanted that night she watched me? Tatum didn’t give me a specific time for her arrival, so every moment is more tense than the one before it. She could show up at any point, and I’d prefer it if Romero wasn’t here when that happened.
“If I need you, I know where to find you.” His house is a mere minute’s walk from my front door, a quaint little row house right here on the compound grounds.
Nearly as an afterthought, I pause near the kitchen before we part ways. “Oh, and Tatum offered to allow Bianca to stay here in her absence. Now we have our answer to where she is moving.”
The mention of my daughter’s name furrows his brow. She does her best to get under his skin, and I know it, but if anyone can handle her, it’s him. So long as he doesn’t badmouth her in my presence, we’re fine. “She didn’t mention that to me.”
“Me neither. She told me as she was leaving. She’s full of surprises.” I sigh. “At any rate, I wanted to inform you, so there’s no surprise should you find her on the grounds.” Not that any of the men would so much as blink at her appearance. She’s around enough that they expect her presence, but with Tatum gone, there might be some questions.
“I’ll spread the word,” he offers, and I grunt my thanks before continuing to the kitchen.
Sheryl, our longtime cook, lifts her brows at my entrance.
“Just coffee,” I assure her as she wipes her hands on her apron. Sheryl may appear to be a sweet old grandma, but the woman has a red-hot tongue and can wield a knife better than some men I know.
“Callum, if you do not eat, you will wither away into nothing. Coffee is not a sustainable food option,” Sheryl scolds, her hazel-colored eyes narrowing further.
I don’t know who told her she’s my mother. She may be old enough, but that grants her no such liberties. Yet even though her concern can sometimes set my teeth on edge, I appreciate a woman who seems to give a shit whether I live or die.
“Somehow, I doubt that, but if you’re really worried about me, I’ll make sure I dig into one of the meals you prepared before I go to bed,” I assure her with a smile.
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You better because if I return and those meals are not gone, I will slice much more than vegetables.”
I almost laugh. Almost. She’s not much taller than five feet tall, her graying hair is tied back in a bun at the back of her nape, and her weathered skin makes her appear frail. In my eyes, she looks like a doting grandma. And yet, she’s threatening me.
I chuckle. “Your threats do not frighten me.”
“They should. If only you knew the mayhem I caused back in my younger days.” She winks, her response leaving me shaking my head.
Truthfully, my appetite is almost nonexistent no matter how delectable Sheryl’s cooking happens to be. Every cell in my body feels as if it’s electrically charged. I’m a kid waiting for Christmas morning, and I was already having difficulty sleeping thanks to the ever-present longing for forbidden fruit. It will be a damn near miracle if I make it the month without collapsing from starvation or exhaustion.
I can’t make my brain or body stop reacting to her. Fuck, she’s an angel brought to life. Perfection. Innocence. All the wonderfully good things wrapped up in a gorgeous package. A warning goes off in my mind.