Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“Oh, we’re doing this again?” he sasses.
For that, I ought to give him a swift smack on that cute butt of his, but I refrain. After all, I’m not just some big horny wildebeest. I’m a gentleman.
And a big horny wildebeest. “With as much cream as you’re putting in that cup there, you’ll be drinking milk before you taste any damned coffee.”
He stiffens up. Then, in a voice that’s hardly there, he replies, “Better than the taste you’ve recently acquired: that of my milk.”
I choke on a laugh as I bring a mug to the counter, then pour my own helping of coffee. “Touché. You get my message?”
“Sure did.”
“And?”
“And no, I’m not free for the weekend,” he whispers so quietly, I have to lean in to catch all his words, “as my totally needy roommate wants to take me out for my first legal drink.”
I fetch one packet of sweetener and flick it twice. “You mean to tell me you’re going to say no to your boss?”
“Yes.” He shakes his head suddenly. “I mean no. I mean, yes, I’m saying no.”
“Do I really fluster you that much?”
He smirks at me. “Discretion,” he hisses at me. “Discretion.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I lean my back against the counter and bring the mug to my lips to give it a little blow. “That’s precisely the reason I want you all to myself this weekend. Discretion.”
“M-Mr. Gage …”
His insistence on formalities in the workplace is so fucking hot to me. “You’re going to cancel your plans with Elijah. Come up with a clever little alibi, I know you can do it. Then get on my jet.”
Trevor’s eyes go wide. “Your jet? Again? What exactly is this ‘plan’ of yours?”
“Do you have a passport?”
The question knocks him in the chest. He can’t even answer me, his mouth parted and his cup of coffee hanging so loose in his grip, he might drop it.
“Yes or no?” I prompt him.
“Yes,” he finally manages to say. “Elijah and I … our families were going to take a trip to Europe last year together. Elijah and I got passports, then the trip was canceled due to funds. As always.”
“Hmm. That’s a pity about Europe. Be at my place after work tomorrow. Bring your passport. It’s all you need.”
Trevor swallows hard. He still hasn’t taken a single sip of his cup of cream-we’ll-call-coffee. To be fair, I haven’t taken a sip of mine, either. “But … B-But I’d need to pack a bag …”
“Nope. I’ve got you covered. I’ll take care of everything. Your clothes, toiletries, and whatever else you may need.” I give him a nudge with my elbow and a swat on the ass so swiftly, he jumps a foot in the air in surprise. “You’re all mine this weekend, Trevor. I’m going to give my favorite intern the birthday getaway that he deserves. Got it?”
Trevor’s little eyes are hollowed out with a perfect cocktail of excitement and fear dancing in them. That’s precisely the reaction I was going for. I love making his adorably bright eyes shrink.
And other things grow.
I wink at him, then push myself away from the counter. “I’ll see you tomorrow after work,” I throw over my shoulder as I strut out of the break room, mug in my hand, and way too proud of myself for my own good.
32
Trevor pencils in a little vacay.
“But I was gonna get you wasted!” Elijah protests as he puts on his tie. “I even planned out a beverage and bar-hop itinerary!”
“Sorry,” I tell him with a sigh, “but you know how my mom is. She’s got this whole family weekend thing she wants to do for me. Dad’s in on it, too, with me turning twenty-one and all.”
“And I can’t come?”
“No. Sorry, buddy. It’s a family-only thing.”
“But I’m family! … Kinda.” When I smirk and shrug, he huffs with frustration. “She just doesn’t want you to drink. She’s trying to keep you holed up at your house so you won’t get plastered, thanks to your totally-a-bad-influence roommate. Help me,” he adds, turning his back to me so I can help tuck his tie under his collar, which I do.
“You can take me drinking when I’m back,” I promise him with a hearty pat on his back. “Though I’m pretty sure I’m only built to handle a single drink or two. I’ll likely be the lightest lightweight you’ve ever seen.”
“Dude, quit pretending you’ve never drank before. I’ve seen you after your final exams,” he teases, leaning toward the mirror to check his hair.
“That’s because I actually study for them. What you’re seeing is a normal college student’s relief when his brain can finally let go of all that crap he was retaining for his exams.”
“There isn’t anything normal about you,” Elijah spits back.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I study him for a while as he keeps fussing with his hair. “You’re gussying up more often lately, I’ve noticed. Something … progressing with Ashlee?”