Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Georgia nodded with a smile. She liked Aurora, her boss and founder of Future Fast Track, and enjoyed working for her non-profit. And Georgia had met Chloe Kingston Daniels a few times when she’d stopped in to have lunch with Aurora. Chloe was married to Beck, one of Drew’s brothers. Their other brother, Tripp—a pediatrician—was also a bachelor up for auction for the charity.
Drew glanced around the general area, then his gaze came back to her. “So, where did your boyfriend disappear to?”
She frowned. “Boyfriend?” She played dumb because she’d been tugged around by Elliott all evening, but no way did she want this man to think she was taken.
“Elliott Eastman,” he clarified. “The man you’ve been with for most of the evening. He seems quite…possessive of you, so I assumed he’s your boyfriend.”
“God, no,” she blurted out. “We’re just, uh, friends.”
“Friends?” he repeated with a slight tip to his head.
She lifted her shoulders in a small shrug. “Okay, even that’s a gracious word for what we are.”
He laughed, the sound low and husky and very pleased. “Good to know. In that case, would you like to dance, Ms. Brooks?”
He’d asked just as the current song segued into a slower ballad. While she’d managed to avoid dancing with Elliott, the thought being up close and personal with Drew was a whole different matter.
“I would love to,” she said, accepting the hand he offered and allowing him to lead her to the dance area.
As soon as they were on the parquet flooring, he lifted her hand and guided her into a slow twirl that made her little black dress flare around her legs. The spin ended with him pulling her close, her body flush against his.
He made the maneuver feel so effortless, and she glanced up at him with a smile. “Look at you, breaking out those smooth dance moves.”
He chuckled, placing his free hand low on her spine to keep her in place. “I’m doing what I can to impress you.”
She was secretly delighted that he wanted to get her attention. “You’re doing an excellent job,” she said, still breathless from the move.
Only the thin silk material of her dress separated her skin from his, and her nerve endings sizzled and sparked at the faint brush of his fingertips against her lower back. She had the shameless urge to arch into his body and invite him to keep exploring, moving downward until his big, strong hand cupped her rear end perfectly…but she was disappointed.
He was the consummate gentleman if she didn’t count the sinful gleam in his eyes or the way he shifted their bodies so his hard, muscular thighs rubbed enticingly against hers. Every inch of him was a heady combination of masculinity and grace, and the scent of his expensive cologne made her want to bury her face in his neck and breathe him in.
“Speaking of being impressed,” she said, trying to distract herself from her attraction to this man. “Congratulations on receiving the Lawyers of Distinction Award tonight.”
“Thank you,” he replied, no elaborating or bragging.
It had been a pleasure watching Drew during the awards ceremony. She’d admired the confident way he’d walked on stage to accept his crystal statue and his thoughtful speech about what a huge privilege it was to be nominated with so many other outstanding attorneys. He seemed genuinely honored and grateful for the recognition, and a touch humble, as well.
Though Elliott hadn’t been up for the award, she hadn’t missed his disgruntled expression or how he’d scoffed under his breath during Drew’s speech. She chalked it up to Elliott being jealous and feeling less than in light of Drew’s accomplishment.
“So, you work for Future Fast Track,” Drew said, shifting the focus off himself and onto her. “I take it you had no desire to follow in your father’s footsteps and work at his law firm?”
“No.” She shook her head, all too aware of his gaze on her lips. “I know my parents would have preferred that career choice, but it’s just not something I’m passionate about.”
His eyes darkened at her choice of words. “Go on, Georgia. Tell me more about what you are passionate about.”
She licked her dry lips. “I love working for a non-profit and doing what I can to make a difference in a foster kid’s life. It’s hard enough becoming a young adult, but to age out of the system, they need help the state doesn’t provide.”
Warmth filled his gaze. “You like giving back to those less fortunate.”
“I do,” she admitted, surprised by how easy it was to open up and talk to Drew, a man she’d just met. “I know there’s plenty of opportunity to do that in law, but I’m not cut out for the stress and pressure of the profession. At the end of the day, I just want to feel good about helping others build a better life for themselves.”