Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
The serial killer was convicted so quickly, mostly owing to the damning evidence against him courtesy of the “trophies” he hid in his car. It’s sickening and unsettling, and I can’t imagine a world where people like him roam freely.
At least, that’s one load off my mind. The other, however, is not so easy to get rid of.
After that confrontation with my mother, she sent me a long text detailing all the money she spent on me. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stared at my phone for almost an hour. I would’ve continued staring if Rowan didn’t come home early.
She wrote my living expenses, like milk when I was a baby, diapers, food, groceries, clothes, my allowances, and the miscellaneous college expenses she paid because they weren’t part of my scholarship. Everything down to the last cent.
The total almost had my eyes bugging out.
Wow. Just when I thought she couldn’t get any lower. I thought for sure our relationship would change for the better after I spilled all my heartaches. I had no idea we’d get to this point.
But I guess it’s okay because I can’t have anyone who doesn’t care about me in my life. I can’t waste time on people who think I’m nothing but a nuisance. I learned that with Rowan.
Ah, Rowan.
He’s had more projects in the past three months, and he keeps calling me his lucky charm. I don’t believe that. I see how he works, how honest he is in his dealings, and how he doesn’t stand around while everyone else is doing backbreaking work.
No. He owns a construction company, but I almost always find him holding a hammer or chainsaw and doing the manual labor himself.
Besides, I enjoy working with him and for him.
He offered me a spot as his secretary. At first, I hesitated because I didn’t want his employees to think I landed the job by sleeping with him. But it didn’t take long before I realized why I still bothered with what others thought of us and our relationship.
And I like my job. It’s in line with my major, and I can totally see myself doing this in the next fifty years. Why not? Helping him grow his company can be my mission too.
But right now…we’re running late.
I sweep the eyeliner across my eyelids, fully aware of his presence in the doorway, watching me without saying a word. “One minute.”
He chuckles. “Take all the time you need, love, but to be honest, you can wear a dishrag and still outshine everyone.”
“Ugh. Stop. You’re only making me nervous.”
I press my lips together and inspect my outfit in the mirror. I’m wearing a floor-length off-shoulder dress in the shade of midnight blue. The neckline plunges just a little, and its pleats gather at the waist. The skirt then cascades from my waist in folds that trail behind me with every move.
The front may be a little conservative, but the back has a deep V. And Rowan can’t take his eyes off it.
“You know, maybe let’s skip the party. I’ll devour you instead.”
I whip around so fast and laugh. “Don’t you dare. I put a lot of effort into this look. I’ve been looking forward to wearing this dress.”
“It looks nice and you’re gorgeous as usual, but I still prefer you naked.”
He walks toward me, and I put my hand up to stop him. “You are so not kissing me and destroying my makeup.”
Something flares in his eyes, and he raises a brow. “I can think of a million different ways I can please you without messing your makeup.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You know what? I’m done. Let’s go.”
I make a show of running outside but I can only do so much in my five-inch stilettos. Rowan manages to catch up to me and pull my back against his chest, his lips brushing the area between my neck and shoulder.
And just like that, I melt into him and turn into a pile of lusty mush.
“Fine. I’ll demolish you later, but I can’t promise I won’t strip you naked with my eyes the entire time we’re at the party.”
Two hours later, he makes good on his promise.
I’m standing with a glass of champagne in one hand, talking to the wife of the building owner. She’s telling me how she loves the chandelier in the lobby when I feel someone watching me.
Turning my head, I spot Rowan standing across the room, also holding a glass. God, he’s so handsome and sexy. The way his suit jacket hugs his broad shoulders makes me drool.
Someone’s chatting his head off and he nods, but his eyes are on me, running from the top of my head to my hemline, then going back up and stopping on my breasts and at the apex between my thighs.
He might as well have touched me with the way my body responds to him. And he knows because he smiles that wicked smile of his before handing his glass to the waiter and walking toward me, leaving the poor guy beside him gaping at his back.