Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Why the fuck am I so nervous?” I put the rice down and shake out my hands, hoping to shake out the nerves. “I’ve never been nervous around a girl before.” I look at Beatrice, who I swear laughs at me. “I used to date before you.” I glare at her. “Not religiously but occasionally.” She puts her head down. “It’s hard to date when I travel so much.”
I shake my head. “I’m not having this conversation with you. Maybe I’m nervous because if I’m not nice to her”—I swallow down the lump—“her whole family is going to kick my ass.” Beatrice just closes her eyes to sleep. “Thanks for the talk.” I laugh nervously. “I’m going to put on a shirt,” I tell her, walking down the steps and into my room.
Opening the top drawer, I put on a white T-shirt and take a second to look at myself in the mirror. “It’s not a date, asshole,” I tell my reflection before walking up the steps and back to the galley.
Looking straight out of the open back door, I see her walking over. She changed out of her shorts is the first thing that I notice. Her hair is blowing softly in the wind as she walks over with her head down. Thankfully, it gives me a second to take her in. She is wearing cutoffs, her legs bare with no shoes on them, her button-down short-sleeved gray-and-white-striped shirt tucked in the front. “Hi,” she greets, stepping on the back deck, and I see she has a huge bowl in front of her. “I made salad,” she tells me, holding out the wooden bowl.
I walk over to her. “Thank you.” I grab it. “You look nice,” I say, and if I could kick myself, I would.
“Thank you,” she replies. “I figured after working all day, I should shower and change.” She looks at me. “You look nice as well.” She laughs nervously, and every nerve I had in me seems to settle in place. “I love this layout.” She looks around the boat. “It’s so spacious.”
“Thanks,” I say to her, turning around and putting the salad on the counter. “Would you like something to drink?” I ask, trying to keep my hands busy.
“I’ll have what you’re having,” she says to me, not moving from the spot in the middle of the room.
“You can have a glass of wine if you like,” I offer, walking to the wine fridge.
“I’ll just have water, if that is okay.” Now I’m suddenly feeling guilty that she is having water because of yesterday. “I work tomorrow, so I’ll just stick to H2O.”
I nod at her. “Make yourself at home.” I point at the couch, and she walks over and sits down. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I turn and stop in my tracks when she picks up the book from the middle of the table. She turns it over and reads the back of the book. “Here you go,” I say, handing her the bottle of water.
“Is this good?” she asks me of the book.
“Yes.” I nod at her. “I’ve been hooked on that series for the last two years.” She looks at the front of the book. “It’s great if you like mysteries.”
“I’ll have to look him up.” She puts the book down. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Not really. I’m going to throw the steaks on the grill.” I turn, walking back to the fridge and taking out the steaks I marinated this afternoon. “How do you like your steak?”
“Medium is good.” She gets up.
“Where would you like to eat?” I ask her as I step out onto the back deck, going to the grill. I pick up the cover, making sure it’s hot enough before placing the steaks in the middle of the rack.
“Outside.” She follows me outside. “If that’s okay. I spent the day in bed.”
I look over at her. “I thought you were working?” I question, confused now. Did I look outside a hundred times today? Maybe. Was it to make sure it was still sunny? Yes. Was I hoping to catch a glimpse of her? Yes. But only to make sure she was okay. She did leave my boat after having a drink. If something happened to her, I would be the prime suspect. Maybe I need to change up my reading preferences.
“I was working.” She pulls the chair out at the table. “In bed.”
I tilt my head to the side as I put the tray of veggies on the rack beside the steak. “I don’t even know how to respond to that one,” I admit, and she laughs.
“Wow, now that I think about what I said, I just realized it could mean so many things.” She laughs as she takes a sip of her water while her stomach lets out a huge rumble. I can’t help but laugh at her when she opens her mouth in shock and puts her hand to her stomach. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” She gets up. “Can I set the table while you cook?”