Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“It was. But I’m over it now. Or at least over him.” She was quiet a minute as she stared out the passenger window. “It was my own fault. I fall fast, and I pick the wrong people.”
“How so?”
“I just always seem to choose leavers.” Her voice grew quieter. “I need a stayer next time I fall in love.” She looked at me. “Did you love McKenna?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means I cared about her to the extent that I’m willing and able to care about someone. Maybe it was love, maybe not.”
She grunted. “If you told her that, I can see why she left.”
“I didn’t tell her that, and she didn’t leave. Next question.”
Sighing, she looked at her phone again. “Mountains or beach for a romantic getaway?”
“I like the beach.”
“I like the mountains. Favorite season?”
“Summer. Definitely. You?”
“Winter.”
“Of course winter.” I grinned ruefully. “So far, we’re perfect for each other.”
“Come on. Snow is so beautiful,” she enthused, “and there’s nothing better than spending a day on the mountain and then curling up under a blanket in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate.” She took a deep breath, like she could smell the burning logs or cocoa in her cup.
“That last part does sound nice.”
She looked at her phone again. “Do you have trust issues?”
“Not really. I tend not to trust people, so it’s never an issue.”
“And I tend to trust everyone, which gets me in trouble.”
“You don’t trust me,” I pointed out.
“I did when we met. If you recall, I left The Broken Spoke and went out to the parking lot with you after knowing you for like ten minutes.”
“That’s true,” I conceded. “You’re lucky I’m a good guy.”
Setting her phone in her lap, she shifted in her seat to face me. “Tell me the truth. Did you know who I was that night or not?”
“I didn’t, Lexi.” I glanced at her. “Swear on my life, I didn’t.”
“Why didn’t you look shocked to see me at the lunch table two days later?”
“Because I have a good poker face. It’s useful when you negotiate high-stakes deals for a living.”
“Well, it made me feel like the whole thing was a setup.”
“I’m sorry about that. I’m used to suppressing gut reactions in favor of taking a moment and thinking things through. And I try not to let anything show.”
“God, I could never have your job,” she said. “I let everything show. I can’t help it.”
“The truth is, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me when I saw you at the table,” I confessed. “But I wasn’t sure how you wanted to handle the situation, so I didn’t let on.”
“You certainly didn’t. So I thought you were just a con artist.”
“I’m not. I promise. Next question.”
She checked her screen again and laughed. “Do you like it when people play with your hair?”
“I guess I don’t dislike it. But if you’re looking for something to play with, I have other suggestions.”
“I’m sure you do,” she said drily. “But I think this question is supposed to be about what relaxes you, not what turns you on.”
“Oh. That’s different.”
“So what relaxes you?”
I hesitated. “Can you keep a secret?”
“You’d better hope so.”
“I’m serious. This can’t get out. It will ruin my reputation as an alpha male.”
She snickered. “Tell me.”
I rubbed a finger beneath my lower lip, like I was doubtful she could be trusted with a confidence.
“Devlin. Tell me.” She slapped my shoulder.
“Fine. I like the occasional bubble bath.”
She burst out laughing. “You like bubble baths?”
“Yes. But a manly bubble bath. With manly-smelling bubbles. None of that fruity, flowery girly shit.”
“I’m not sure I want to know what man-bubbles smell like.”
“Bourbon and cedar,” I told her. “With just a hint of coriander.”
“That is very specific.”
“It’s the scent of my shower gel, and lucky for you, I packed some. You can try it out. Our room has a big tub.”
“Maybe I will. Alone, of course.”
“Of course alone. I will be a perfect gentleman tonight, Lexi. You have my word. You can have the tub, you can have the bed, you can have the remote control all to yourself.”
“You might be stuck watching The Bear,” she warned.
I grinned. “I fucking love that show. Let it rip.”
Her laughter was my new favorite sound.
I’d booked first class tickets, and Lexi was duly impressed. “So this is how the one percent travels,” she said, relaxing into her roomy seat by the window as we soared above the clouds. “Nice.”
“Nothing but the best for my fiancée.”
Ignoring me, she smiled at the flight attendant who appeared at my side asking what we’d like to drink. “Just water, please.”
“What?” I shot Lexi a disgusted look and met the flight attendant’s eye. Her name tag said Donna. “Don’t listen to her, Donna. We’re eloping today, so we’ll have champagne.”