Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“What?” Daisy turned and lifted her head to stare at him.
A heavy wool overcoat covered his shoulders and he stood there, jaw fixed as he gazed down at her, his gray eyes slashing.
He opened the door and nudged her through. “You need a break and I’ll escort you.”
Shocked couldn’t even begin to describe her emotions. Monica lifted her blue gaze to the two of them, eyebrows rising.
“Hold my calls, Monica. I’m escorting Ms. Wentz around.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Stop looking so shocked. I’ve been known to go outside.”
“Forgive my skepticism, sir. It’s still daylight out and I thought vampires didn’t handle that well even though it’s raining. And as that vampiric dragon, let’s face it, you don’t, well, people, sir.”
“Why do I keep you on?” he asked, guiding Daisy to the elevator. “It’s been at least a year since I ate my last villager.”
“You keep me on for the simple reason I’m the only one who isn’t scared of your bark or your bite, sir. And I’m pretty sure you just ate one today.”
The glare he sent her didn’t even make her blink. He shook his head. “See you tomorrow, Monica.”
Daisy was trying to wrap her head around the entire situation as well as keep the smile off her face. One, that he had just invited himself along on her expedition. Two, that his secretary had not only dared to mock him and lived to tell the tale, but he appeared to have teased back.
“You’re going to be cold wearing that.”
She dragged her gaze up from the carpet of the elevator car to find him watching her, that stare of his unblinking.
“Why are you doing this?”
He calmly lifted one eyebrow. “Doing what? Riding down in the elevator?”
“Being bossy. You ordered me to eat breakfast and now you’re inviting yourself along on my excursion.”
Danger flickered in his gaze, darkening it. He smacked his hands on either side of her. “Running off to meet your boy toy, Peach? That’s not going to happen.” His lips twisted in an ugly sneer.
She lifted her chin. “I’m not running anywhere and who I sleep with is not your damn business.”
His lips were on hers the next second, tongue driving into her mouth, taking no prisoners. She didn’t want to give up but damn it, he tasted so good. She whimpered when he closed a hand around her neck, possessive. He shoved his knee between hers, lifting her up on her toes.
“Don’t lie to either one of us, Peach. You are mine.”
The door slid open and he turned, protecting her from any eyes that may have been there with his large body. “Ms. Wentz,” he prompted.
She took a shuddering breath and looked at him standing there, one hand braced on the door as he gazed over his shoulder at her. Perfectly composed. Pulling her hands inside the sleeves of her sweatshirt, she fisted them, nails digging into her palms.
Of all the high-handed…
He kept pace with her as she stormed through the lobby of the casino, not having gone to the hotel side. When she stepped outside, the chill smacked her soundly in the face. It was cold. It was rainy.
She loved it.
In her peripheral vision, she watched as a long and sleek black town car pulled up and the driver hurried out to open the back door. Livingston walked toward it and, as he had in the elevator, glanced over his shoulder at her. This time she could see the impatience in his gaze.
Yeah, that’s not how this is going to go.
She waved at him. “Have a nice day, Mr. Livingston.” Then struck out in the opposite direction, not giving two shits about the falling rain.
Her first destination wasn’t all that far, not in the grand scheme of things. It was a decent distance from the casino and hotel however. She pushed into the shop with a smile as the rich scents of hot cocoa, chocolate, and sweet pastry filled her nose. Over all of that was the sharp one of gingerbread.
The woman behind the counter was delightfully plump, her mahogany skin agleam with sweat and the lights, and her black hair had silvered gray threaded all through it as it sat piled high on her head and was captured under a hair net.
The windows of the shop had been decorated for Christmas and at the end of the counter Daisy could see the partial construction of a gingerbread house.
“You look positively enchanting, ma dear,” the woman said with a smile. “What can I get you?”
“A hot cocoa to start, please. May I take a closer look at the gingerbread house?”
“Of course.”
She bit her lower lip as she maneuvered her way there. Three stories with turrets, windows, icicles and more.
“This is stunning.” What I wouldn’t give to have such an ability.
The woman handed her a large porcelain mug that teemed with hot chocolate, whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and red and green sprinkles. Daisy wrapped her hands around it and hummed in the back of her throat.