Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I reach for my phone and pull up the number I want. She answers straight away, without a second of hesitation.
“Aww, Will, it’s been so long. I’ve missed you. How are you?” Hayley’s mother says. Hayley’s parents were amazing. Still are. And now I feel bad that I haven’t bothered calling even though they try to call to check in with me once a month.
“I’ve been good. Just in New York. Hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“No, never. Sebastian had a little girl last week, and guess what he named her.” I don’t have to answer to know. Hayley was close with her brother, Sebastian. “Hayley,” she says.
“That’s beautiful,” I tell her, rubbing a hand down my face.
My hand smells of Alina, and my room smells of sex and her perfume.
“Will you visit soon? You are missed.” The news of her murder was devastating, and although I never went into detail as to how she met her demise, I’m certain they have an inclination. Somehow, it was the only gift I could give them among the madness. They’d always been welcoming, and it made me run in the opposite direction because the reality was, as her husband, it was my job to protect their daughter, and I failed. Even if they didn’t make me accountable for it, it was my guilt to carry.
“Hopefully, soon.” I don’t know if I will. But I think I’ll try to call a little more often.
CHAPTER 32
Alina
When I find you, I will fucking gut you. And I will find you.
Delete.
Goose bumps erupt along my skin. Another email. It feels like he’s been more persistent recently and I don’t know why. But I’m definitely ignoring it. Besides, I have better things to focus on right now.
The construction of the shop is complete. This means that, as of tomorrow, the fun begins. Well, my version of fun, anyway. All the fittings and boxes of stock are due to arrive. I’m curious as to what will show up. I might be so inclined to grab a few toys and lingerie sets myself.
I know Will is going to appreciate them. Then again, the thought is stifling in itself. I don’t know what was going through my mind last night, but whatever it was, I’ve never had such crazy sex like that in my life.
I scan the papers on my clipboard, biting at the edge of my pen thoughtfully. Unfortunately, the things running through my head don’t have much to do with what I should be focusing on right now but rather a certain blue-eyed Englishman who shouldn’t be consuming my thoughts as much as he is.
I didn’t expect that he was previously married, but then again, he doesn’t know much about my past either, and I’m keeping it that way.
“Alina,” Dawson calls out from where he stands with the reporter who’s noting down his answers. I look up, startled from my earlier thoughts, and then join them. “Would you mind answering a few questions? It’s okay to say no.”
I don’t want to disappoint Dawson or the reopening in any way. “I can; I just don’t like my photo being taken,” I admit. My business name and last name are aliases. I didn’t mind telling Honey and Dawson my real last name, but when it came to my company, I tweaked my surname slightly from Harper to Harriet.
“We can do that,” the reporter says with a smile. “Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the design?” She dives straight in. That’s when Honey arrives and Dawson excuses himself. I suddenly realize I might’ve been used as a scapegoat. The reporter stares at him starry-eyed as he leaves. Ah, definitely a scapegoat.
But Dawson only has eyes for one woman. Honey smiles as he approaches and then kisses her passionately. Anyone would think they’ve gone weeks or months without seeing one another.
I go through some details about what to expect at the grand reopening and how grateful I’ve been to work for Dawson on this new design. Then he saves me, taking the interview back over, and Honey links her elbow with mine.
“Am I allowed to go inside now?” I ask with a smile. She smiles back and hands me a coffee from her bakery.
“Oh, don’t worry. Apparently, they took the photos earlier. Dawson said they took about thirty, but I know for a fact they only needed one. I’ve never seen that man take one bad photo from any angle.” She laughs.
“You have no idea how badly I needed this coffee.” I groan. The one downside of having a fuck marathon is the lack of sleep. I’m just lucky today doesn’t require too much brain power.
“I thought so from the way you and Will were eye fucking one another. A long night, then?”
“Very.” I laugh as I take a sip and appreciate the hot brew.