Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 91079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Perfect.
“Figured you boys were hungry,” I say, in my thickest southern drawl.
The man stands. Jake, in his stunned/angry state, is a little slower to follow suit.
“Well, now,” the man says and smiles warmly at me. “Who is this?” I detect a hint of an accent in his voice. Definitely not from around here. Not as deeply southern as mine either.
“Mr. Canton, Penelope Hart. Penelope, this is Mr. Canton. He’s here on business.” Jake speaks with an edge of annoyance that he attempts to conceal with a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes.
“Pleasure to meet you. Cracker?” I hold out the tray.
“No thank you, dear. I had a big breakfast.” He rubs his slightly bulging stomach.
“Drink?”
“We’re good—“
“A whiskey if you have it?” Jim cuts in, shooting Jake a sideways glance.
“Of course. I’ll help you with that, Penelope,” Jake says, walking toward me and mouthing something about killing me once he’s out of Jim’s sight.
“Thanks, Jake.” I thrust the platter into his hands and ignore his clenched jaw and hard eyes as I step around him and claim his seat. “I can tell by your accent you’re not from around here.” I keep my gaze on the man so I don’t have to face Jake’s glare. But I can still feel the daggers he shoots at me.
Jim chuckles as he settles back in his seat. “I could say the same about you, Miss Hart.”
“Call me Penelope, please.”
He tips his hat to me. “Alright, Penelope. And you can call me Jim. What state below the Mason Dixon line are you from?”
“Mississippi. And you?”
“Kansas. I’ve been here a week on business. I was supposed to fly out a couple days ago but the weather took a nasty turn.”
I gasp and lean forward to lightly slap his knee. “Same thing happened to me!”
“Are you here in Chicago on business as well?” He winks at me. “Or some other reason?”
“Definitely some other reason.”
“Really?” His smile is warm and suggestive. Like maybe I’m here for Jake. “And what might that other reason be?”
“To set a bag of dog shit on fire.”
His brow furrows. “I beg your pardon?”
“You know, put some dog shit in a bag. Set it on a porch. Light it on fire. Ring the doorbell and wait for someone to run out and stomp on it. It’s quite entertaining to watch. But rather difficult to pull off.” I lean forward, shield the side of my mouth with my hand and drop my tone. “You wouldn’t believe how protective these people around here are of their dog’s shit.”
Jim stares silently at me for several long moments before he bursts into a fit of laughter. Jake walks in and looks between the two of us confused. I just smile.
“This…” Jim points at me while he pauses to catch his breath. “This girl is something else, Jake. I like her.”
Jake’s fake ass laugh has me rolling my eyes. “She is definitely something else.” He moves out of Jim’s sight and mouths, “What the fuck did you do?”
I shrug and take the other whiskey glass in Jake’s hand that’s clearly for him and not me. But these damn morning drinkers are turning me into an alcoholic. Until I take a sip and nearly barf.
“You must come to dinner with Jake tonight.”
“Unfortunately, Jim, she can’t. She’s busy.”
“No I’m not.”
Jake levels me with a look and a cool smile. “Sure you are.”
“Mmm….” I pretend to think on it a second. “Nope. I’m free.”
“Great!” Jim stands and holds his hand out to Jake who immediately transforms into a charming, gracious host. “I’ll see you both there. My girls are going to love her.” His expression turns solemn despite his smile. “Might make convincing them a little bit easier. No offense, but the corporate world can be intimidating. It’ll be nice for them to see you surround yourself with people who are a bit more what we’re used to.”
Jake seems genuinely happy now. “I understand. We’ll be there.” He walks him out while I sit and wait for the explosion to happen.
When Jake returns, he walks around to his desk and takes a seat in his big, important chair. He’s stoic and I can’t read him. I’d almost prefer him angry.
“That man was convinced that his daughters wouldn’t agree to sell their stock in the company. I’ve spent the past thirty minutes trying to renegotiate our deal because this is an investment I refuse to walk away from. Nothing I said persuaded him to give me the chance to pitch my offer to his family.” He pauses and takes a deep breath. I can tell he’s about to say something he really doesn’t want to. And it makes me so happy.
“But whatever random shit you said or crazy shit you did in the two minutes I was gone was enough to convince him otherwise. And I don’t know if I want to throw you through those windows, fuck you senseless against them or drop to my knees and do what I did last night until you can’t stand up on your own.”