Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Gotcha. Well, my job isn’t all that glamorous either. The pay isn’t great and sometimes I offer freelance services just to get ahead. I do get to read, and for the most part, the books are really good otherwise I wouldn’t read them.”
“What do you mean?” Peyton asks.
“Being an acquisitions editor means I get to pick and choose what I want to read. If the first three chapters don’t wow me, I’m not continuing.”
“Then what happens?” Autumn asks.
I shrug. “Email the agent and politely decline. It happens, but I try to give each submission my full attention, which is how I ended up at the Pioneers practice. I don’t know crap about football, but Alex helped.”
“Yeah, not all of us grow up like Peyton.”
I glance at her. She’s blushing and looking down at the table.
“Honestly, I don’t know anything about any sport. So, I appreciate the Pioneers helping me out.”
“The owners stress the importance of community,” Peyton adds. “We’re more than just a football team. We’re a family.”
After lunch and an afternoon of pampering, I’m ready for Alex and this fundraiser. Despite Peyton and Autumn prepping me, I still have no idea what to expect. I know the night will be perfect because I’ll be with Alex. The only downside is the Pioneers have an away game this weekend and they’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Tonight is all I have with Alex until sometime on Monday or Tuesday, depending on my workload.
My intercom buzzes and I rush over to it. Before pressing the button, I take a deep breath and prepare for the shiver Alex’s voice gives my body. “Hello?”
“Hey, Kels, it’s me.”
Every. Single. Time.
“I’ll be right down.”
“I’ll be the one waiting.”
We previously agreed that he’d wait for me downstairs so his car wouldn’t be towed. I step into the heels that match my dress perfectly and make sure I have my house key and phone in my clutch. I don’t know why I’m a bottle of nerves, but I’m shaking.
The elevator ride down moves painstakingly slow. When the doors open, I expect to find Alex waiting, but he’s not there. I step out slowly and hear a low whistle followed by a growl.
“Holy shit. Wow.”
I come toward him and see he’s eyeing me from head to toe.
“Honey, purple is your color.”
“Thank you, I love this dress.” The strapless number has a high slit along my thigh and tapers at my waist. When I saw it on the rack, I thought no way. The slit scared me and thought it would show too much . . . of everything. But it’s perfect and makes me feel sexy.
He reaches for my hands and then steps back a little. He lets out another low whistle. “Damn. How am I supposed to keep my hands off you?”
“Maybe you’re not supposed to?” I shrug a little. “Besides, look at you. You dress up nicely, and aside from our first date and the day you came into my office, I haven’t seen you wear anything but joggers, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.”
Alex laughs. “Yeah, I know. I’ll be better.”
I place my hand on his cheek. “I like you the way you are.”
He leans forward and kisses me. “There’s more of those for later,” he promises. Alex holds his arm out and I take it. Barrett holds the door for us and tells me I look beautiful. He then rushes to Alex’s car and holds the door again.
“Thank you,” I tell him as I get in.
The drive over to the hotel, where the fundraiser is, goes smoothly and the only traffic we encounter are the line of cars waiting for their passengers to get out. “Why are there people lined up?” I ask as we get closer to the front.
“This is a pretty big event for the museum. Lots of celebrities come out for it.”
“Oh, that’s nice of them.”
“Mhm . . . they’re here, you know.”
“Who?” I ask as I look at Alex.
“The DILFs you’re infatuated with,” he says with a smirk.
On the inside, I’m giddy and nervous. Maybe tonight I can at least say hi. On the outside, I touch the back of neck and tangle my fingers in his hair. “I’ve moved on. I prefer CILFs.”
Alex laughs and shakes his head. “As long as I’m the only center you know.”
“Being as I didn’t have a clue as to what a center was until I met you, you can bet your ass you’re the only one.”
“Phew,” he says. “When we pull up, the valet is going to open your door. I’ll come around and meet you.”
“Are you going to mean mug this one too?”
Alex groans. “No, I won’t, and I apologized.”
“You did.”
He leans over and kisses me, and then pulls forward. As soon as his door opens, camera flashes go off. This must be what the gals warned me about. The media is trying to get the money shot. My door opens, and Alex's hand is there for mine to grab.