Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
He must sense someone watches him because his head shoots up, and his smile comes out right away. He steps forward to open the door for me. “Good morning,” he greets cheerfully.
“Good morning,” I say, stepping out into the warm air.
“Did you find everything you needed?” he asks, and I stop beside the car to look at him.
“The condo was fully stocked.” I tilt my head to the side. “Right down to my favorite cookies and chips.”
“I just wanted you to feel like you’re home,” he says, and all I can do is shake my head in disbelief as he pulls open the passenger side door for me to get in. I slide into the seat and look over at him putting his hand on the roof of the car and leaning in. “I picked you up a matcha,” he tells me right before he closes the door.
I look over at the cupholder and see there are two cups there, one with a straw in it and the other with a cover. I turn in my seat, waiting for him to get in. “You got me matcha?”
“I did,” he confirms, reaching for his seat belt. “I got it iced and hot, not sure which you wanted.”
“Um,” I say baffled, “I can do either. Which one do you prefer?”
He starts the car. “Of matcha?” I nod. “I prefer it away from me and never in my mouth.”
I can’t help but put my head back and laugh. “It’s not that bad,” I say, picking up the hot one first. “It’s an acquired taste.”
“Yes, if your taste is eating grass,” he deadpans, his face making a grimace that my nieces and nephews do when they taste something that isn’t to their liking. “It’s so gross.”
“It’s delicious,” I assure him, taking a sip. “Mmm, so good.”
“Okay, if we are going to do the rules and shit,” Nash starts, pulling away from the building, “rule number one to you, no moaning in my vicinity.” My eyes open as I roll my lips. “That might be my only rule,” he continues. “No ‘oh, that’s so good. Oh, I like that. Oh, do that again, Nash.’” At the last one, I can’t help but laugh until my stomach hurts.
“Noted,” I return when he pulls into the parking lot. “I promise to never moan around you.”
“Unless,” he says, turning off the car, “you are okay with moaning my name, and then all your rules will be broken.”
“I am not,” I tell him, as if sitting across from him last night was easy. With him staring at me with his blue eyes and cocky grin, for once in my life, I wanted to say fuck all the rules and be like, let’s do this. I mean, I would never even think of doing this if Josh and I were solid. Maybe this is a sign that Josh isn’t the one for me. Maybe, just maybe, this is the sign I was looking for. I mean, not a sign I should get involved with Nash, but a sign Josh isn’t the one for me.
“Well, you’ll tell me if you change your mind?” Nash asks as he opens up his door.
“You’ll be the first one to know,” I assure him, putting my purse and black bag over my shoulder and getting out with both matchas in my hand.
“Here, give me one of those.” He holds out his hand, taking the hot cup from my hand. “Trust me, I’ll give it right back once we get into the office.”
I follow him to the glass door as he holds it open for me, and I step in. I see the receptionist smile when she sees it’s Nash. “Good morning again,” she tells Nash and then looks over at me. “You must be Zoey.” I smile at her. “I’m Lucille, but you can call me Lulu.”
“Nice to meet you, Lulu,” I say.
“This way.” Nash directs me as he walks to the right-hand side of the receptionist. “We can put your things down in the conference room, and then I can take you around and introduce you.”
“Um,” I say when he walks into the conference room that has a projector at the far end of the wall, facing the long table that has about sixteen chairs. “What did she mean good morning again?” I ask when I put the matcha down first and then my bags in an empty chair in front of it.
“I came to work and then left to come and get you.” This. Fucking. Man. He must see I’m about to say something. “Hey, I know your dad and your uncles. They would kick my ass if I let you take an Uber by yourself in a strange city.”
“You came to work,” I ask him, folding my hands over my chest, “and then left to get me so the men in my family wouldn’t kick your ass?”