Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 69371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“I’m fine,” she assures me, her voice coming out soft. “It’s just…”
My hands grip the steering wheel so tight my knuckles turn white. “It’s just what, Clarabella?”
“I’m in a little bit of a predicament,” she says, her voice hushed, and I literally can’t get there fast enough. “Are you honestly on your way here?” she asks as soon as I pull into the parking lot of the venue.
“I’m at the back,” I say, and now I can hear her mumbling something to someone. The sound of her heels in the background lets me know she’s on her way to the kitchen. I hang up the phone, putting it back in my pocket as I walk up the steps to the kitchen, and I pull it open.
I look around, seeing things on the counter but no one in the kitchen, when the door swings open and Clarabella comes in. I smile when I see her wearing cream-colored pants that fit her tight with a bright cherry-red sleeveless silk top. The matching red shoes make my mouth water, and I can’t help but stare at her. My eyes meet hers, and I give her a once-over, making sure she is okay. I don’t even notice that her sisters are two steps behind her. “I’m so happy I came in early today,” Presley says, and I look at them confused.
“I’m just pissed that we can’t capture this on camera.” Shelby pouts, while my eyes go to her and then back to Clarabella.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask, relieved that she’s okay.
“Yes, Clarabella,” Presley urges, looking at her. “What the hell is going on?”
Clarabella glares at her as she wrings her hands in front of her, and I can tell that whatever she is going to tell me, she’s nervous about it. “Nothing is going on. It’s just I’m stuck.” I tilt my head to the side. “And I need your help.”
“Oh my God,” Shelby says, putting her hand to her mouth. “How the mighty have fallen.”
Clarabella’s head whips around as she looks at her. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“No,” Shelby states at the same time as Presley says, “I wouldn’t leave this room even if the room was on fire.”
“Okay.” I hold up my hands. With the three of them together, you can’t understand anything since they have this special bond. It’s like they know what the other is thinking just with their eyes. “I don’t know what is going on, but someone better tell me why the hell I rushed over here.”
“You rushed over here?” Presley says, clapping her hands. “So you have no idea why you are here? Brilliant.” She laughs and turns to Clarabella. “Clarabella, why don’t you tell Luke why you called him and why he rushed over here.”
“I hate you,” she mumbles to Presley and then takes a step toward me. I don’t know if she’s hoping that her sisters don’t follow her, but they move with her. “So the chef for today who was supposed to come in…” She avoids looking at me. “And well, he decided that he isn’t coming in.” I can tell that her face is filled with worry.
“And the event starts in three hours,” Shelby shares, and I get it now. I step closer to her now, and I can smell her lavender scent. I want nothing more than to kiss her lips.
“Hold on,” I say softly as I put my finger under her chin to lift her eyes to me. “Are you saying that you hired another chef to replace me?”
“That would be a yes,” Presley confirms, and Clarabella just takes a deep inhale.
“In my defense, it was six weeks ago.” Clarabella throws up her hand, and my hand falls from her face.
“So six weeks ago, you fired me?” I put my hands on my hips, enjoying that she is dying inside at this moment.
“I didn’t fire you,” Clarabella defends.
“Yeah, she didn’t fire you,” Shelby says. “She was weeding you out.”
Clarabella slaps her hands together. “Okay, everyone out,” she orders, turning to look at her sister. “You and you.” She points at her sisters. “Go do something else.”
“Ugh, fine,” Shelby says, turning and walking out.
“The damage is done anyway,” Presley declares. “Luke, thank you for the entertainment as always.” She smirks. “I’m just happy you aren’t naked this time.” She turns and walks out.
“I will never live that down.” I look up at the ceiling, then look back down at Clarabella, but this time, I walk closer to her and wrap my arm around her waist. “So you were weeding me out?” I say, my heart suddenly calmer now that I have her in my arms. She puts her hand on the arm around her. “Isn’t that interesting?”
“I was not weeding you out,” she lies, and I can tell she’s lying because her chest gets blotchy when she does. “It was complicated.”