Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“I’m a fucking human being!” I throw my hands into the air and stare at her like she’s crazy. “Of course, I make mistakes, Nina. And let me just tell you right now, Jenna is not a mistake. She is amazing. She works hard, and she doesn’t want to ride on my or anyone’s coattails. I don’t need to be protected from her. Her brother is Max Hull.”
Nina’s eyes widen again. “Really?”
“Yes. She already has access to more money than she’d ever need, but she doesn’t ever ask her brother for a handout. She works her ass off, and her business isn’t just successful, it kicks ass. You saw the tree houses.”
“They are really cool.”
“Fuck, Nina, what did you do?”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice wobbles, but it’s not enough to soften me up. “I overstepped.”
“Understatement of the fucking year.”
I pace away from her, pushing my hands through my hair. Jenna didn’t send me away because she doesn’t love me.
My idiot sister talked her into believing that she’s not good enough for me.
And that pisses me off. I’m angry with both of them.
“Just to play Devil’s advocate here,” Nina says. “What does it say about her that she let a couple of words from me end things between you?”
“Nina, I know you. You can be ruthless, so I’m going to guess that it wasn’t a few innocent words.”
She swallows hard.
“Did you tell her that she’s not good enough?”
“Maybe.”
She sighs. “Okay, I fucked up. Bad.”
I shake my head and reach for my phone.
“We need to fix this,” she continues, already typing on her computer. “I’ll call the plane, and you can fly out today.”
“I don’t want you to touch this,” I reply coldly. “You’re not fired, yet. But I’m not ready to forgive you.”
“Christian.”
“No. You’ve got to learn that you don’t control me or any aspect of my life except my schedule. That’s it. I’m going to get to Jenna. Today. And I’ll deal with you later.”
“I’m so sorry,” she says, gathering her things. “Please don’t stay mad at me.”
“You told the love of my life to get lost. I’m going to be mad for a while.”
***
I can’t get to her.
Cunningham Falls is under the blizzard of the century. No planes are leaving or landing right now, and it’s not supposed to let up for another three days.
Three fucking days.
Every day since I left her has been misery, and now it’s only worse because the cell towers are down, and I can’t call her.
Besides, what I have to say needs to be said in person. Not over the phone where she can just hang up on me.
No, I need to look into her eyes and touch her skin. I need to see her.
So, I make arrangements for the plane to leave first thing as soon as the storm clears, get dressed, and start to head to Rodeo Drive to do some shopping but then stop short.
I can’t be recognized when I do this, and I don’t know where else to go.
Fuck.
I call Nina.
“If you’re still mad at me, I’m hanging up.”
“I’m so mad at you, but I need to set that aside for right now. I need your help.”
“What’s up?”
“I need to buy an engagement ring without the paparazzi finding out.”
She’s quiet.
“Nina?”
“Wow.” She sniffles. “Christian, this is so great.”
“I haven’t asked her yet. She’s still not speaking to me, but I can’t get to her for a couple of days, so that gives me time to get ready. Now, where do I go to get a fucking ring?”
“I know just the place. Pick me up.”
I’m at her place in fifteen minutes, and she jumps into my little convertible with a smile on her pretty face.
“Which direction?” I ask.
“We’re headed to Long Beach. There’s a Cartier there. The one on Rodeo Drive will be swarming with the paps.”
“You could have just told me this on the phone.”
“Yes, but then I wouldn’t get to help you pick it out, and that would just be sad.”
The drive to Long Beach takes forever, thanks to traffic, and parking isn’t exactly a breeze. But we’re finally in the store, and I’m suddenly completely overwhelmed.
I have no idea what Jenna would like.
“Good afternoon,” the saleswoman says. “I’m Genevieve, and I’m happy to help you today.”
“I’m looking for an engagement ring. I hope I can trust that this is a confidential visit.”
Genevieve raises a brow. “Of course. Is this your special lady?”
Nina chuckles. “No, I’m the meddling sister. I’m just here to help.”
“Excellent. I’m sure we have something perfect for her. May I see a photo?”
I nod and thumb through the photos on my phone, find the one of Jenna and me at the ice skating rink, and show it to her.
“Oh, she’s just lovely.”
“Yes. She is.”
“What does she do for a living?”
“She’s in real estate, and she’s sometimes in the middle of construction zones.”