Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“So what’s eating at you?” she questions, her perfectly manicured nail tapping the bottom of the wineglass.
“Just tired, I guess.” I shrug. “Spent the past month traveling back and forth to New York. I just want to be home, in my house, for longer than four days.”
“Have you spoken to Stefano about it?” she asks of her cousin and my partner. We started our company about ten years ago, maybe a little more. Time just keeps passing us by. We started our firm when it was just him and me. Two kids out of college, with lots of computer knowledge. We started a small company, just the two of us, and it grew so much now we have a whole slew of people working for us. I’m a forensic accountant, which sounds a lot cooler than it actually is. What it is, has me sitting behind a computer for sometimes twenty hours a day following trails. They hire me to investigate financial inconsistencies, misappropriation of funds and irregularities with the company, and to investigate fraud and cybercrimes. Our contracts vary from private companies to the government. Every single time I show up, I have to laugh at how people use their computers without a second thought, thinking that things can be deleted. News flash—they can’t. So we go in and find out what’s wrong, and they either change it or people get fired. Also, no one likes when we show up. It’s like when you throw a big party at your house, and everyone is having a great time, then the cops knock on your door. It’s not fun.
“I haven’t yet,” I reply, and she lifts her eyebrows. “I know, I know, but he’s a bit busy at the moment.”
“Okay, well, what about you?” She grabs her wineglass and brings it to her mouth. “How long are you planning to wait?” I grab my own drink and bring it to my lips. This has to be why she’s my best friend, because she gives it to me when I don’t want to hear it. She is also the first person I call when something happens. Once, I was with a girl and I didn’t know she was married. When her husband showed up, I had to literally jump from the second-floor apartment, breaking my ankle from the leap. I belly crawled across the grass and hid out until she came to save me. I mean, she did hold it over my head for about a year, but there is no one else I would call.
“I’ll tell him next week when he’s coming to town,” I finally say and stop talking when Ashley comes back, asking if we have any questions about the menu.
“I’ll have a burger loaded with bacon and fries,” I order, not even looking at the menu. She looks over at Eva, who looks down at her menu. “She’s going to have—” I start and earn a glare from Eva.
“He thinks he knows me, but he doesn’t,” she tells Ashley, who just smiles at her. “Kale salad,” we both say at the same time, “and fries on the side.”
“I don’t know her at all,” I tell Ashley. “Also, if you can bring some calamari over and some of the boneless wings.” I look at Eva, who is still glaring at me.
“You are so annoying.” She glares, handing her menu to Ashley.
“Did you not want calamari?” I ask and she refuses to even answer me, instead grabbing her glass of wine and looking around. “And do you not like to eat the boneless wings with your salad?” I laugh at her. “You could say thank you.”
“Whatever,” she says. “Also, three o’clock, two brunettes staring at us.” I don’t turn right away. “One is my client,” she states with a smile, “and the other is glaring, so I’m assuming that one is for you.” I put my head back. “This is why you don’t shit where you eat.”
“For the record.” I hold up a finger. “I’ve never picked up a woman in this place.”
She claps her hands together and roars out with laughter. “Okay, fine, it was one time, but again, what was I supposed to do? You left with Fabio.” I pretended to flip the long hair off my shoulder because he had a man bun.
She laughs. “His name was Richard and he was a nice guy.” I raise my eyebrows.
“You said he didn’t even go down on you,” I point out.
“It’s not all about that,” she returns, and now it’s my turn to throw my head back and laugh.
“It’s always about that,” I remind her. “You get one shot to please a woman.”
She holds up her hand. “Are you telling me that you pleased every single woman you’ve been with?” she asks, and I honestly have to run my hands through my hair.