Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“Aren’t you early?”
“Couldn’t miss this.”
“You have been working outside your hours. What’s so important?”
“Being the first to see you and get the tea. How was your trip?”
“Best vacation of my life. Thanks for helping with the salon.”
Her eyes drop to my left hand and fill with disapproval.
“Don’t say it,” I warn.
“Say what?”
“Whatever smart-ass remark is brewing.”
She can’t help herself. “What’s he waiting for?”
I’m ready to shut this down when it dawns on me. Shayla is my friend.
Talking to Harley and Jewls hasn’t occurred to me since they are woven tight into the men’s lives. Both are also in the glow of the honeymoon phase. Harley’s known Ace forever, and Jewls and Major took their relationship at supersonic speed.
Shayla’s been my cheerleader since the beginning and is as loyal as they come.
She’s also honest. Her perspective is usually spot on.
I check the schedule, thankful there’s a while before my first appointment, and motion for Shayla to follow me upstairs.
Something about the studio is different, and it takes a minute for me to spot a suitcase in the corner.
“Are you staying here?”
“Yeah, sorry I didn’t ask, but you were away.”
“I don’t mind at all, but why?”
“I never planned on moving in with my parents at twenty-eight. I love being back here but miss my sense of freedom.”
“Understandable. Living in Europe for all those years must have been invigorating.”
“It was, but,” she shakes her head, “nope, not changing the subject. What’s on your mind?”
“Ford told me to marry him.”
Her eyes light up and she grins approvingly. “Thank God, I was hoping you didn’t get the putz of the group.”
“Did you hear me? He told me to marry him. After we had a heated debate about me contributing to the house and him shutting me down.”
“I can tell you’re worked up about some things. I’ll reserve judgment until you come clean.”
She listens keenly, never interrupting, even when her expression screams she’s dying to jump in.
When I’m done, she stares past me, contemplating her response.
“I don’t agree it’s too soon.”
“Really? It’s been four months.”
“Time is irrelevant in these situations. But you need a better explanation of his job and career choices.”
Hearing her confirm my reservations helps ease my mind. “It was torture not knowing where he was or what he was doing for those weeks.”
“Lucky for you it’s an easy fix. Talk to him.”
I nod, already knowing it’s on my agenda for tonight. Our time in paradise is over; we have to get back to reality.
“Then make him work for it.”
“Work for what?”
“Your acceptance.”
“Well, it wasn’t exactly a proposal.”
“That’s why it’s fun. I wasn’t around for Ace and Harley, but watching Major squirm was quite entertaining.”
“You want me to hold off on my engagement for fun?”
“Totally.”
The absurdity of her request shockingly doesn’t faze me.
“Okay, your turn. Why are you staying here?”
“Told you already.”
“Elaborate.”
She drops to the chair and her shoulders slump. “I went out with Collin.”
Tera’s good-looking ex pops into my head, and I squeal. There were definite sparks between them at the restaurant. “That’s awesome.”
“Yeah, awesome.”
Her lack of enthusiasm reminds me of a visit to the dentist.
“You know his relationship with Tera wasn’t serious. He flat out told us she was a waste of time.”
“She’s not the issue. I’m working two part-time jobs and living at home. Not much to offer a guy like him.”
A stabbing pain pierces my heart at the self-deprecation and reticence exposed. Jewls is strong, but in our group of women, Shayla is impenetrable. She has a magnetism about her that is unexplainable.
Seeing her vulnerability hits close to home.
“Hey.” I crouch beside her and take her hand. “What’s in your head?”
“Collin is successful, wealthy, worldly.”
“Admiral traits,” I say, even though she’s described him like my grandma would.
“He’s also hot as hell—like scorch the sheets, singe your skin, leave a mark type hot.”
Now we’re getting somewhere. It also tells me something led her to this conclusion.
“Is that a problem?”
“Not normally, but something weird is happening.”
“Weird how?”
“Normally, I’d go with the flow, sleep with him until we both got it out of our systems, and then move on. But with him, it’s different.”
Oh my God! Shayla has a big-time crush!
“Shayla, don’t blow your cool, but have you ever had a crush on a man before?”
Her eyebrows shoot up and she looks at me as if I have four heads. “Of course.”
“Not a guy, but a man?”
Her nose crinkles, and she stalls for a second. “I’ve dated men, Rowan.”
“But successful, wealthy, worldly, incredibly hot, and sexy men?”
I throw the sexy in to check her response.
“Well, not the complete package.”
“Have you spoken to him since you went out?”
“Every day. Three dates and the man in under my skin.”
A sense of déjà vu hits, and I try to pose my question thoughtfully.
“Has he said anything about your jobs or living situation?”
“No! He loves talking about my life. He even came and helped me close up the other night before our dinner. Then, afterward, he insisted on following me back home—to my parents’ house—to make sure I was safe.”