Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“No problem.” I’m relieved to avoid the shaking of his hand. I look around the open space; it’s narrow but it’s long and I can see where they’re building the displays.
“Floor looks like it’s going to be good.” Nathan comments, kicking part of the dust cover to the side to view the wooden floor beneath.
“Boys’ll get it all polished up. When we’re done, it’ll gleam like a new penny.”
Nathan nods, his lips smiling subconsciously. I love seeing him in his element. I know he’s imagining all his jewellery in displays across the room. Seeing his visions come to life in his other stores really shines a light into his mind. He has such a good eye. I knew that already from his jewellery but his creativity astounds not just me, but the many people who have offered him partnerships.
This reminds me of the partnership offered to me by Kerim. I really need to speak to Nathan about that. There seems to be so much going on in our individual lives at the moment. I’ve been focusing so much on Nathan’s future, I haven’t yet processed my own possibilities.
What do I even want to do? I always wanted to own my own restaurant. Could I consider the possibility of joining Kerim? Do I really have the talent he claims I do? Or is he after something else? Was Nathan right?
“What do you think?” Nathan asks suddenly, catching me off guard.
I nod, unsure what to say because I drifted while he was talking.
He grins knowingly and loops his arm around my neck. After touching my temple with his lips he whispers, “Come on, let’s check out the back and then we’ll go.”
“The back?”
“Staff area and product exchange.”
“Cool.”
I give a little wave to the joiner as Nathan pulls me through an open hole in the wall that I assume will become a door.
“Panic room space?”
He nods when he sees the corner I’m pointing at. “Same as the others.”
“Good.” I love that he’s cautious enough to think of such things. I certainly hope the panic rooms never get used though.
“I’ll just check on the staff area and we’ll go,” he comments quietly and I’m pulled towards an actual door this time, by what looks to be a half built counter. “The plumbing still not done?”
“Not yet, nearly!” The joiner calls back. “Had to replace the majority of the piping to get it to where we needed it.”
Nathan remains silent as he inspects the area. Then he finally asks, “So… what do you think?”
“I think I like it even more than the place in London!” I smile with glee and launch myself at him so he feels the full power of my excitement in my hug. “I’m so proud of you, Nathan.”
The loving look he gives me as he holds tight to my hips, keeping my body flush to his, makes me tingle with warmth. “This is the start of such a bright future, don’t you think?”
“That I do. And with Italy around the corner, what more could I ask for?”
“Exactly.”
“I am on cloud nine.”
“Me too.” His thumbs slide under the edge of my top and tickle the bare skin of my hips. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Where?”
His secretive grin only makes me giddier. “I really hope that whatever we’re doing today, it involves coffee.”
“We could scout out the local cafes before we leave?”
“Let’s go.”
We wave to the joiner and make our way onto the busy street. That’s the one thing I hate about living in the city; it’s always too busy. If the locals aren’t cluttering the streets, the tourists are and the paths just aren’t wide enough to accommodate.
The worst part about pushing through the crowds is the cigarette stench. Instead of stepping off to the side to smoke and then continuing their journey, people deem it okay to smoke as they wade through limbs. It’s gross and unfair. Just because they want to smoke doesn’t mean I do. I’ve had many of my clothes marked because people can’t keep their cigarettes to themselves. Nathan feels the same; he’s voiced this many times and it’s always evident on his face.
Fortunately, we don’t have to shuffle too far before we come across a cute little Italian style café with garlic braids hanging in the windows. Just for that detail alone I skip inside and order us both drinks and a muffin to go. Fingers crossed it’s good.
When we both agree that it is exceptional, I make a note to commute to this store more often, purely for the coffee only a few buildings down the street.
“Okay, so we have our coffee,” he grins, tapping his cup to mine over the console of the car. Taking a sip, he puts the paper cup in the cup holder next to mine and buckles his seatbelt. “We have each other.” When he taps his forehead to mine in the same manner that he tapped his cup to mine, I burst into a fit of giggles. Playful Nathan is the best kind of Nathan. “We have our instruments.”