Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Evie looked surprised at my admittance. Just because I didn’t have alcohol at home didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the occasional beer, if it didn’t interfere with my training routine. “They are pretty new. I hear they have great tastings and tours through the brewery.”
I glanced at Evie. “You didn’t do one?”
She gave a small shrug. “I didn’t want to go alone, and I don’t know anyone except for Fiona and Connor yet. You are a slave driver who stops me from having a social life.”
For an insane moment, I considered asking her if she wanted to do a tour with me. I loved them, and Marc was busy with his kids and work. But I’d never gone out with a woman like that, just because we enjoyed the same things that didn’t involve getting nasty between the sheets. It would have crossed a border I shouldn’t cross with Evie. And I really didn’t want the press to get photos of me spending quality time with my assistant. That would lead to a new onslaught of speculations Evie didn’t need. For some reason I wanted to protect her from the shit the press threw my way, and it wasn’t only because Fiona could be threatening as hell where her twin was concerned. Evie had been broken up after the last few nasty articles. She really didn’t need additional abuse thrown her way, and not just because Fiona would kick my balls until they were different shades of blue and violet.
My attention shifted back to Evie who used a spoon to open her own bottle, then took a swig and let out a small moan. But that sound wasn’t what made my mind drift off to another level of inappropriateness again. A droplet of water had fallen from the cold bottle and landed on Evie’s neckline, and was now slowly making its way down the crevice between Evie’s ample tits. My God. She had never worn a low neckline before, and I had a hard time—in more than one sense—not looking at it.
I took another deep pull from the bottle, hoping the cold liquid would clear my head. It didn’t.
Evie frowned, her perfect nose wrinkling. “You okay?”
I forced my eyes upwards. Too late, of course. Evie followed my gaze and rolled her eyes. Then she took a step toward me and punched my shoulder. I took a step back, utterly startled by her reaction. She had never done anything like that before. “Eyes on my face, Xavier.”
I made a show out of rubbing the spot. “You realize hitting your boss isn’t your best idea.”
“You are in my home, and I’m not on duty, so at the current time you aren’t my boss, only a very rude visitor.”
I flashed her a guilty grin, then clinked my bottle against hers. “Don’t worry, I like it when you manhandle me.”
“If I manhandle you, you’ll know it,” she said with an answering grin. When Evie smiled it always took hold of her entire face. It wasn’t the cautious kind of smile, the smile women used so they would still be pretty. Evie showed her emotions without holding back, without worrying how it would make her look, and it was a breath of fresh air. I didn’t need to guess how she felt. She showed it plainly or told me outright. No female subtlety that drove me up the walls. Evie was like one of the guys, but with curves that gave my dick ideas that would make Fiona choke me to death if she knew them.
Speaking of the evil twin, Fiona entered the kitchen, her eyes darting between Evie and me with a suspicious expression. “What’s going on here? I thought we would have dinner together outside, not do a standing party in the kitchen.”
“We’re getting drinks,” Evie said, holding up her bottle.
Fiona narrowed her eyes at me as if she thought I was doing nefarious things to her sister. If anyone needed protecting, it was me. Evie could pack quite a punch for a woman. “Is that beer?” she asked. “You realize you’ve got training in the morning?”
“It’s one beer and I’m a big guy. I can handle it, Mom.”
Fiona turned to Evie. “You shouldn’t encourage him to act like this. As his assistant you need to make sure he eats healthy.”
Evie burst out laughing. “You want me to tell Xavier what to eat, Fiona? I consider a carrot cake a nutritious start to my day.”
“Maybe you should change your eating habits then as well,” Fiona said with a sigh.
Evie’s cheeks turned red, but Fiona didn’t notice. She was busy grabbing water and a salad from the fridge. Evie wrapped one arm over her stomach and scowled down at the beer in her hand. The second Fiona left, I leaned down to Evie and whispered, “Eat all the carrot cake you like, as long as you stay as cool as you are and don’t turn into a stuck-up bitch like your sister.”