Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Just enjoy yourself. I’ve got a few phone calls to make. Dress to be outside.”
Even more confused by that, I could only stare at him and hope for more details, but he didn’t offer any more information.
Hurriedly finishing my coffee, I showered, braided my hair, and dressed in a pair of shorts and a loose fitting green short-sleeve blouse. I also noticed a new addition to my closet.
A pair of tennis shoes.
With a smile, I pulled them on and hurried downstairs. Brick, looking drop-dead sexy with a well-fitted pair of jeans, was waiting for me at the door. “You look perfect.”
My stomach rumbled. “Are we going to get breakfast?”
“Eventually.”
Eventually? I looked at him in horror. He wasn’t going to start starving me, was he? At the look on my face, he just chuckled and wrapped his arm around me. “Come on. I promise to feed you, but you’re going to have to be patient.”
“I understand, but I don’t think that my stomach does.”
“Well your stomach will thank me. I promise.”
When we got to the car, rather than wait for the driver, Brick opened my door and waited for me to slide in. I tried not to make a big deal out of it as I slipped into the backseat. He moved next to me and immediately placed his hand on my knee.
“So you’re playing hooky? When was the last time that you did that?”
“Never.”
“Never? You didn’t take a day off for a birthday or to go to your friend’s bachelor party?” I asked incredulously. “I find that hard to believe.”
“I’m the CEO of a vast corporation. I don’t have time to take off for a night with cheap strippers,” he said dryly.
“But you’re missing the whole point! You’re your own boss! How can you not take advantage of that from time to time? How do you reward your success if you don’t take the time to enjoy it?”
“Playing hooky is enjoying my success?”
“Absolutely!” I settled back in the supple leather and sighed. “People who work hourly or who live paycheck to paycheck never get a day off, but you? You definitely need to take more time to enjoy life.”
Staring down at me, he just shook his head. “I never really thought of it that way. You’re right. I’ll have to play hooky more often. With you.”
He said that last bit so softly that I almost didn’t catch it, and my heart fluttered. That made it sound like he planned on seeing me for longer than a month.
“What do you do when you play hooky?”
“I fall in the living paycheck to paycheck category,” I told him. “No playing hooky.” It was a reminder of our glaring differences. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“No because then it won’t be a surprise.”
Surprise. When was the last time that anyone had surprised me? Or that anyone had wanted to surprise me? I snuggled under his arm and tried to ignore my growling stomach as we rode in silence. I was so comfortable with him now. I’d never been comfortable with any man, not even Ralph.
The thought of Ralph made the pit of my stomach drop. He’d actually called when I was in the shower this morning. A few times. I’d missed them, but he’d left messages. He wanted details about me and Brick, and what we were doing at night. Each message had been more explicit than the last, but he swore that he just wanted to make sure that I was doing my job.
I didn’t tell Brick. I was afraid of what he’d do to Ralph and erased the messages without even calling Ralph back.
“Are you okay?” Brick asked suddenly.
The car stopped, and I peered outside. Immediately, all thoughts of Ralph fled. “Oh, I am great.”
We were at Battery Park. I only knew of it because sometimes, when my mother was sober, she took me to the park to play when I was kid. It was years ago, but it was still such a happy memory for me.
Huge tents and tables had been set up, and people were already milling around. A familiar aroma wafted through the air, and I smiled with delight. “Is that bacon?” I whispered.
“It’s a bacon festival,” he chuckled. “I told you that patience would be a good thing.”
I launched myself at the door handle and jerked it open. His laughter followed as I jumped up and down like a child. “Hurry up,” I said, waving my hands at him. “Come on.”
His arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me close. “You’re not going to miss out on anything, baby. I promise.”
The day was amazing. I spent it under the sun, basking in Brick’s touch, and sampling every bacon recipe. There was candied bacon with brown sugar and whiskey. Bacon wrapped scallops. Ice cream sundaes with bacon bits sprinkled on top. Bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. Bacon and cheddar fries. Bacon and cream-cheese jalapenos. Bacon chips. Bacon wrapped chicken wings. Bacon brittle.