Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Once my makeup is done, I get dressed in a flowery pink dress that comes to my upper thighs with flats and a jean jacket. An outfit that can easily be dressed up or down. If it’s fancy, I’ll forgo the jean jacket.
Before he arrives, I decide I should investigate Cain and The Elysian project some more.
When was this property purchased? There should be something in the county records online. Is this his money or a conglomerate of businesspeople that made this area a possibility for building? I wonder what the surrounding community incentives are for allowing this type of development.
There’s gotta be some juicy info to track down.
As I’m lost in thought, a knock on the door has me slamming the laptop screen shut.
I move across the room and swing the door open.
My cheeks heat with embarrassment for almost getting caught looking into his business. But how would he even know what I was doing? There is no way, so I need to keep cool and not make a complete ass of myself.
Too late.
When I lift my head to meet his eyes, I see they’re narrowed, and then he smirks.
“Did I interrupt something?” he asks, which only serves to make me more mortified. He probably thinks I was masturbating or something.
I shake my head. “Nope. Let’s go.”
He steps back, and I move through the open space he has vacated and make my way outside. The cooler evening air dances across my exposed skin, making goose bumps rise.
It’s a beautiful night out. An endless array of stars acts as a canopy, illuminating the night sky.
“Where are we going?” I ask as I place my key in my bag.
“To dinner.”
Lifting my head, I look at Cain and catch him staring at me. My heart races so fast, I fear it might burst, or at least that’s what it feels like as I take in the way he watches me. His perusal feels intense. As if I’m standing naked before him, and he’s scrutinizing my flaws. It’s almost as if he’s dissecting me, and the warm fuzzy feeling I just had starts to evaporate.
Cain must see my change of emotions because the next thing I know, he beams at me. Did I imagine the scrutiny?
Quickly, I turn in the direction of the parking space in front of the house. “Are any of the restaurants on-site already open?”
“No, not tonight. Which is why I wanted to take you out. There’s a town nearby, and I’m sure you’d try to head out there on your own, but it’s tricky at night.”
“Got it.”
I start to walk, and when I am by his car, I notice it isn’t the same as before.
“New ride?” I cock my head at the fancy Land Rover.
“Over the next week, you’ll notice there are a lot of options. Each has their own purpose.”
“Good to know. I’ll find out more when you’re on the record.” I smirk.
He nods, steps forward, and swings open the passenger door to the SUV he’s chosen for tonight.
I give him space to allow the car door to be opened, and I step up, lifting myself with both hands on the handrail so I don’t fall. Behind me, I can feel the heat of his body. He’s standing close. Probably close enough to spot me if, for some reason, I do trip. I’m not the tallest girl, and although this is not nearly as high as the Wrangler, I still have to pull myself up pretty far.
The good news is he doesn’t make a comment about it. He just acts like a complete gentleman, as if he’s waiting for me. But this isn’t my first rodeo, and I know exactly what he’s doing. Either waiting for me to fall or checking out my ass perched high in front of him. And he’s so handsome I don’t mind if he looks.
Once I’m seated, he closes the door behind me, and then a few seconds later, the driver’s side door swings open, and he settles in the seat before turning the car on. A soft melody plays through the speakers.
It’s not the type of music I would expect from him. I would expect Mr. Artificial Intelligence to play modern music. Instead, classical music plays in the background. An interesting choice for an interesting man.
His presence in the car feels all-encompassing. He’s too big for the space, even if it is a luxury SUV. At least earlier today, when driving in the Wrangler, the sides were off, with the open air all around us, but now with the doors closed, it feels like he draws in all the oxygen in the car.
I stare out the window. For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to talk about. It’s not that it’s awkward, but I’m not supposed to discuss the article, so I’m not sure what I can talk about.