Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“You’ll stay. Abby wants you here.” Since I’m paid very well to handle delicate negotiations, I present an opening offer to her. “Posey will work on the mural during the day, and I’ll stop in after work to add my artistic flair to it.”
Posey’s head snaps to the right. “You have an artistic flair?”
“Yes,” I lie.
I can color between the lines. That has to count for something. I have my daughter to thank for that. All those hours helping her with the color by number books my mom buys her are finally paying off.
“Are you saying I can ditch the office and work here during the day?” Posey questions, her eyes lighting up with hope.
“Yes,” I say, and this time it’s the God’s honest truth.
I need this mural done before Abby sets foot back in this apartment.
“You’ll pay me what we agreed to for the mural, and I’ll still earn my salary at the office?”
I’d say no fucking way to that if Carrie weren’t following this conversation as closely as she is.
Impressing the green-eyed beauty is my goal tonight so I up the ante with my employee, “I’ll give you a bonus if you get the mural done before Abby’s back and if you finish your work on the Polanco case.”
A grin plays on Carrie’s lips.
Posey doesn’t hide the broad smile that takes over her mouth. “You’ve got yourself a deal. I’ll start on the mural tomorrow morning.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Carrie
Posey tugs a sweatshirt over her head. The logo stamped on the front is one I’m all too familiar with. It’s from a restaurant two blocks from my apartment. I regularly order pizza from there, and after sampling their dessert offering with Telford last week, I’ll have that again as soon as I’m back in Brooklyn.
Posey’s hands drop to her hips. “If you’re ever in Brooklyn searching for great food, you should check out the menu at Franzini’s.”
“I order from there all the time,” I tell her. “I tried their dessert pizza recently, and it was just wow.”
“Right?” Posey claps her hands. “I got to taste test that before Elio put it on the menu.”
“You know Elio?” I smile. “The owner?”
“He’s my brother.” Her entire face lights up. “My older brother. There’s eight years between us, but we’re close or as close as possible because I’m always working.”
She tosses some major side eye in Rook’s direction, but he’s staring at me.
Thank goodness I put on a bra before I came back out here. My nipples have been in uncooperative mode since he arrived.
“Do you know Elio?” she questions with a tilt of her head.
She in no way, shape, or form resembles her brother. He’s tall, with dark hair and what Telford calls ‘brown bedroom eyes.’ Posey is around my height, which puts her at five feet two inches on a good day. She has blonde hair and blue eyes.
“We’ve met,” I explain, but don’t launch into the time Telford tried to set me up with the sexy restaurant owner.
I like the pizza at Franzini’s too much to risk a bad relationship ruining that.
“He’s a good guy.” She looks at Rook. “We should go, boss.”
Rook keeps his gaze on me. “Should we?”
It’s inching closer and closer to my shuteye time, so I nod. “I get up at five every day, so I’d like to…”
“Five?” Posey questions. “Why on earth?”
I can’t help but laugh. “It’s the time I’ve always gotten up. I’m usually at my lab shortly after eight.”
Posey shoots a look in Rook’s direction again. “If Carrie clears out of here at eight and I start around tenish, that works, right?”
“Wrong,” he says, finally glancing at her. “Be here at eight fifteen every morning and stay until…”
“I’m never here before six,” I offer since I suspect he was searching for that tidbit of information.
“I’ll stop by around five thirty to help Posey clean up each day,” Rook explains.
“You said you’d help with the mural,” she directs that at her boss. “You said something about your artistic flair.”
With a straight face, he nods. “I’ll stop by whenever I have a chance to contribute. If we run past six occasionally, will that work for you, Carrie?”
“Sure.”
“Expect to see me here tomorrow evening.” His lips inch toward a smile. “I’ll stop by to lend Posey a hand with the painting and clean up.”
“Sounds great to me.” My smile beams brighter than his. “I have plans after work tomorrow. I don’t expect to be back here until late.”
Well, late for me. Nine o’clock is early in this town.
Rook’s smile disappears. “All right.”
I can’t tell if he’s disappointed or if he’s relieved.
Since I blurted out my virgin status to the man, I haven’t stopped wondering whether he views that knowledge as a burden.
He’s becoming close friends with my sister, and although I can’t see him telling her I’m still lugging my V-card around, it does put him in a delicate position.