Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Her own parents had both passed, and she had no siblings. She’d dedicated herself to science for as long as she could remember and hadn’t taken this much time off from research in many years.
As the platters were passed around the table, she watched everyone laughing and chatting and felt so warm and fuzzy inside. Could this really be her life now? Hawking seemed to think so.
Chapter Ten
“Why does Hawking call you CB?” Sadie asked from across the table as they all finished stuffing themselves with the most delicious Mexican food.
She glanced at him, hoping he would field this question.
Hawking reached for her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. “It’s short for the nickname I gave her.”
“Oh.” Sadie sat up straighter. “Like my Daddy calls me Cookie.”
“Yep.”
“It’s not very creative, Hawking,” Kestrel taunted. “Celeste Blanke. CB. Couldn’t you come up with something cuter, like honey, sweety, or baby?”
Celeste couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “That was an accident. It doesn’t stand for Celeste Blanke.”
Sadie grinned wide. “Is it a secret?”
Celeste felt her cheeks heat. Did she want all these people to know her Daddy called her Cuddle Bug? Then again, why should she care? It was his nickname. Not hers. She didn’t invent it. He should be the one to decide if it embarrassed him.
Hawking didn’t even flinch. “It’s simple. My Little girl is cute as a bug, and she likes to cuddle up against me at night. So, Cuddle Bug.”
“That’s so sweet.” Sadie sighed as though she’d just heard the most romantic gesture.
“Celeste has only been here one night,” Phoenix taunted.
Sadie was sitting next to him, and she reached over and swatted him on the shoulder. “Don’t judge. Wait until you find your Little girl.”
He chuckled good-naturedly.
“Time for dessert,” Magnus said as he rose from the table and returned a moment later with something he’d pulled out of the fridge.
“Do we need to fill out surveys about taste palettes again?” Sadie asked, her voice teasing.
Magnus shot her a playful glare. “Flavor profiles, Little girl. They are an important part of the culinary experience. And yes. The chef has requested our input about the meal again tonight.”
Celeste finally understood the joking, and she loved it. Apparently, Magnus was knowledgeable in the kitchen. Interesting. He was mostly quiet and all business. Now, it looked as though he was also a foodie.
“Is that some kind of mousse?” Caesar asked.
“I think it’s flan,” Magnus said.
“Flan?” Phoenix lifted a brow.
“Yes,” Sadie said, nodding. “It’s popular in Mexico, therefore a fitting end to the meal.”
Soon, they were all devouring the most delicious custard dish Celeste had ever put in her mouth. She didn’t know anything about flavor profiles or taste palettes, but she knew good food when she ate it, and she’d hit the food jackpot when she’d decided to hide out indefinitely at Danger Bluff Mountain Resort.
As she finished the last bite, she turned to look at her Daddy. Yeah, she’d definitely hit the jackpot.
“Everything okay?” Hawking asked. “Are you still hungry?”
“I’m chocka.”
“Does that mean sick?” he asked in concern.
Her giggle seemed to reassure him. “No! Chocka means full. I think you in the U.S. say stuffed?”
His answering grin made it hard for her to remember that she was in danger. Dr. Hughes knew she’d taken the data. He knew she was well aware that someone in his office had altered it and lied as an excuse to fire her. She suspected the research facility where she worked had taken a kickback from at least one pharmaceutical company to put an end to her research. It didn’t take the proverbial rocket scientist to figure out that if anyone found out about her treatment plan, big pharma would stand to lose a lot of money.
The entire thing made her sick to her stomach. Her life was probably in danger. She’d lost her job, and she had no idea if she would ever get another in her field. Everything was upside down and inside out.
However, the man next to her adored her and had pledged to take care of her in ways she’d never dreamed would happen to her.
She realized she was staring at him when he smiled, leaned closer, and said, “Let’s go back to my apartment.” His voice was deep and sexy.
Celeste clenched her legs together. The arousal she felt was stronger than anything she’d ever experienced. Would he make love to her tonight? He’d said she could sleep with him. He’d even suggested he preferred it. But was he only saying that because he wanted her to be safe? Or did he want to have sex with her?
“Yes,” she breathed out.
Hawking pushed up from the table. “I know we all have more questions for Celeste, but let’s table it until tomorrow. My Little girl is exhausted.”
Magnus rose and walked toward the elevators with them. “Celeste, can you come down in the morning and meet with me about what’s on your computer so I’ll understand better how high the stakes are?”