Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Yeah, I know. But now that I’ve heard from you, there’s no damn way I’ll be able just to pretend you don’t exist.
I smile and clutch my phone to my chest. It’s a moment of heat and release that makes me feel silly only when I realize I’m doing it. I put my phone down, reminding myself how serious this is. I can’t let my hopes and wants get carried away, either. I can’t pretend this is going to have a happy ending.
Sleep doesn’t come, so I get up and use the en-suite shower. I get to thinking how many times I’ve stood in the shower with the water dripping down me, hot, steamy, making me think of Landon, my knight in shining armor. My body heats up as I wish he were here, wish he would appear in the steam and wrap his arms around me, pushing his naked body against mine.
If we get another chance, I’ll throw myself at him. I won’t let the virgin nerves have a single say. I won’t let them dictate what I should do and who I should be. I’m going to jump on him, kiss him, hold him, remind myself he’s real, and he’s alive.
After the shower, I go into the kitchen. The lady from last night, Rosie, sits at the bar with a cup of coffee. The bar is next to the tall windows that overlook the city. I realize this building must be directly next to Landon’s. It was too dark, and I was too panicked to notice that last night.
The woman turns, seeming more sober now. Less wired. Or maybe just less angry. “Oh, hello,” she says.
“Hi,” I reply, remembering what she said about Landon and hating it. “How are you this morning?”
“Just hanging around. Ethan put on quite the show last night.” She laughs with a somehow mocking mixture of curiosity and disbelief. “Who are you? It was so strange last night, I have to say. One minute we were … and the next, he had to go. Are you family? His secret girlfriend?”
“No,” I say.
“Of course not.” She puts her hand over her mouth. “Girl, I’m so sorry. That was absentminded of me.”
I don’t know why she’s being so mean. Maybe it’s just who she is, and she doesn’t even realize it. I shouldn’t rise to the bait, but it’s too late. I take a step forward. “I’ve got a boyfriend. It’s not Ethan. You’ve probably met him. Landon Cross?”
It’s petty, but I enjoy the angry look on her face, even if the very existence of this expression is proof that there’s a romantic connection there. Ethan’s at work. Why would she put on a show now?
“Landon Cross is your boyfriend,” she says.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, knowing I need to stop. Inside, I cringe a little. Why did I call her ma’am? “You seem surprised.”
She looks me up and down. Since we’re not going anywhere today, and I want to be comfortable, I’m wearing my oldest pair of PJs with a hole in the leg. “Well … a little. I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re not exactly who I imagined.”
“Why are you imagining Landon’s girlfriends, anyway?” My voice gets emotional. I feel like I’m venting a bunch of stuff at her that probably has nothing to do with her. I can’t tiptoe around it anymore. “Last night, you said you should’ve stuck with Landon.”
She smirks. “So you caught that, did you?”
“Why did you say that?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
“I’m asking now,” I snap. “Have you slept with Ethan and his business partner?”
“Are you trying to shame me, girl?” she says in a haughty tone. “That would be very close-minded and rude, don’t you think, one woman to another? Perhaps you should consider your words carefully.”
“I’m asking you a simple question.”
“We’ve had … our dalliances, but you know Landon. He never likes to take things seriously. Oh, he’ll spin a good story. He’ll tell a lady what she wants to hear, but in the end, he just wants a good, hard fuck.”
Her smirk gets wider with each word. I want to yell at her. I want to call her a liar, but she looks so confident, so convincing.
“You made me act nasty,” she says a moment later. “I very much resent that.”
“I didn’t make you do anything,” I say, disgusted. “You’re just gross. Why would you try to hurt my feelings?”
“Maybe I’m saving you. These lawyers pick up and use women. They’re high-fliers and players. If I were you, I’d stay away.”
I turn and walk quickly away. I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of yelling at her. My thoughts spin frantically around as I try to think why she’d make that up. Maybe she’s just cruel. I know Landon isn’t like that. I trust him. I believe him.