Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I don’t bother telling him I’ll handle Boston with ease because I will. I wish to hell I didn’t have to leave Manhattan right now, but duty calls.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Sinclair
I spent most of the day at Brighton Beck’s studio. He asked me to stop by to consult on the book launch party. It’s the first time I’ve ever been included in that process. It’s both gratifying and overwhelming.
As he showed me some of the artwork that his students have recently completed, I was tempted to pull out my phone to share a few photos of paintings I’ve done, but modesty stopped me.
I have enough insight to know that I’ll never earn a living from my paintings.
I put my key in the lock of Denia’s penthouse, but the door swings open before I can turn it.
Jameson, with a broad smile on his face, greets me.
For a split second, I forget to breathe.
“Hey, Sin.” He motions for me to enter. “Welcome home. How was your day?”
“Fine,” I say because it’s the truth.
After I got over my initial embarrassment of Jameson finding my bra in his bed, my day was smooth sailing.
I kick off my boots and leave them in the center of the foyer.
Jameson laughs before he bends down to straighten them and place them to the side. “I can’t risk a broken bone since I’m leaving town tonight.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
He glances at me. “My flight leaves in less than two hours.”
I can’t believe this.
He’s running away again.
“You’re leaving New York?” I whisper.
His gaze catches mine. He studies me. I see the exact moment when realization washes over his expression.
He shakes his head. “It’s not like last time. Holden wants me in Boston for the weekend. A new Carden location is opening in a few days. The manager bailed. Inventory is all fucked up. I’m going to get everything back on track.”
“Oh,” I say as relief hits me.
I shouldn’t feel that. If he left New York forever right now, I’d inherit the entire penthouse, and I could put Jameson in my past for good.
“I’d rather stay here and go through Denia’s belongings with you, but I’m committed to Carden,” he explains. “She would have wanted my ass on that plane righting all the wrongs in Boston.”
I can tell that the trip is important to him, and it’s more than smoothing things over at the new store. He’s doing this to prove something to his late grandmother and to Holden too.
“I get it,” I say to show support for his quest even though he’s not asking for that.
“I found a dozen boxes stacked in the den full of books.” He huffs out a laugh. “I know that the living trust specified that we have to handle it together, but feel free to go through those boxes on your own if you have the time. I know you have plans for Saturday night.”
He delivered the last sentence with a bite, so I smile. “I do have plans.”
He plays that off like it’s no big deal by adjusting one of his silver cuff links. “Fun plans?”
My mouth curves. “Very fun plans.”
That’s a half-lie. I’m meeting someone on Saturday night, but I doubt the fun factor will rank above a two out of ten. Jameson doesn’t need to know that, though.
His left eyebrow darts up. “With anyone I know?”
“No,” I answer swiftly. “You’ve never met him.”
I haven’t either, but I keep that tidbit to myself.
I’ve spoken on the phone a few times to the man I’m meeting up with, but we have yet to sit down face-to-face.
“I used to know a lot of people in this city.” He tugs on the tie around his neck to loosen it. “What’s his name?”
“Mr. None of Your Business,” I say with a bright smile.
I expect a smile, but all I get in return is a solemn stare. “Fine.”
“He is,” I add for good measure, even though I have no clue what the man I’m meeting looks like now.
The only picture I have of him is more than fifty years old, and he was a stunner back then.
Jameson sighs. “I need to finish packing.”
I scoot around him. “I’m going to take Dudley out for a walk. If you leave for the airport before I get back, have a good trip.”
“I will,” he snaps. “I have friends that I can see while I’m in Boston.”
The way his voice rose at the mention of his so-called friends is supposed to make me jealous. Sadly, it did.
I realize two can play this game, but I think I’ve been defeated because I can’t tell if Jameson is being genuine or not.
Maybe he is going to hook up with a woman in Boston.
I shake off the thought because it’s making my stomach hurt and my heart thunder in my chest.
Dudley comes racing down the hallway to jump in my arms. I hug him before I start back toward the penthouse’s door.