Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
When her bestie gasped like she’d just had the best idea ever, Heavenly cut in. “Whatever you’re thinking, no.”
“Don’t say that before you’ve even heard my idea. What if I just happen to wander by while you’re talking to her? It would be perfect.”
“For who?” Heavenly said suspiciously, but she giggled.
“For all of us. Maybe neither Pike nor River deserves her, but let’s find out. I can tell her more about both of them while we figure out what’s up with her.”
“You’re stirring the pot. No offense, but Pike didn’t ask you to talk to her. He asked me, probably because you’re a well-documented troublemaker.”
“I am not. I’m…intrepid. Pike would have asked me if he’d thought of it.”
“I doubt that.” Heavenly grinned.
“Well, he should have. Text me when and where you’re going to be. Once Pike leaves the scene, I’ll meander that way, like, by accident.”
“But on purpose?” Heavenly returned tartly.
“Of course. It’ll be fine.”
“I must be crazy.” She sighed, but Raine had a good point. She knew both River and Pike way better. If anyone was going to tell the mystery woman whatever she wanted to know, it would be Raine. “But why not?”
After she gave Raine the details she and Pike had agreed to, Heavenly found a sundress appropriate to wear to a sidewalk cafe, then, just as she would any other day, she texted both Beck and Seth to tell them she was going to meet a woman she knew for lunch. Maybe Seth wouldn’t care, but until he said that, she would assume he did.
The story she sent them wasn’t exactly a lie… She hated to skirt the truth. But some things—if they even wanted to hear it—were best explained in person.
Thirty minutes later, she found the quaint little restaurant with stylish outdoor tables that took advantage of the California sun, each topped with a jaunty umbrella. Heavenly spotted Pike right away in the growing crowd, shoulders crammed in a tight black T-shirt, camo pants paired with combat boots, and black hair arranged into a trendy “mess.” Across the table from him sat a gorgeous redhead with thick lashes, a pert nose, and a pouty lower lip. She was young, probably old enough to drink—but barely. Her soft green sundress tied between her breasts and left a peekaboo triangle of pale flesh visible between the bow and the waistband. Gauzy ruffles ended just above her knees. She finished the look with rattan wedges, a couple of bangles at her slender wrist, and some dangling hoop earrings.
“Pike?” Heavenly called.
He stood quickly and turned to face her. She’d never seen him look nervous before, but he definitely was. “Cullen.”
“What?”
“My name. It’s Cullen,” he murmured somewhere near her ear. “That’s what she calls me.”
Heavenly blinked. Of course he had a first name…she’d simply never been curious what it was. But apparently that’s what the C in C. A. Pike stood for.
“Got it. Anything else?” she whispered.
He shook his head, then turned, tossing an uncharacteristic smile at the redhead. “This is Heavenly. She’s the girlfriend of that doctor friend I told you about, and she’s studying to be a nurse. She hasn’t lived long in LA, either. You two have that in common.” Pike swallowed and turned her way anxiously. “This is Jasmine. She moved here last month. She’s helping to take care of some of my neighbors. We met walking dogs.”
Actually, that sounded…cute—something she’d never imagined Pike would want. Wondering how River had met Jasmine, Heavenly held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
The redhead smiled, looking almost girl-next-door, but there was something about her… Heavenly couldn’t put her finger on it. Was it that her mouth looked too lush to be wholesome? Or that her eyes, an interesting shade between blue and green, looked just a tad too cynical to be sweet?
“Nice to meet you, too.” Jasmine said the words, but she looked more cautious than thrilled.
“You two need anything?” Pike asked.
A script? Since that wasn’t going to happen, Heavenly shook her head. Obviously, she’d be winging this luncheon.
“No. Thanks for introducing us, Cullen.” Jasmine sent him a faint smile.
Pike looked lovestruck. Heavenly tried not to gape. This was a Dominant who did whatever constituted super-creative stuff at Shadows? The same guy who had ugly propositioned her a few months back?
“Of course.” He turned to her, his face full of question.
“We’re fine.”
“Lunch is on me. Enjoy.” Pike stuck his hands in his pockets, then looked Jasmine’s way like he wanted to fall into her eyes. “Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll come pick you up.”
“I can Uber.”
He shook his head. “Let me pick you up. Really.”
Pike could be a gentleman. Who knew?
Jasmine shrugged. “All right. Thanks.”
With a nod, he held up an awkward hand and stared, obviously reluctant to leave. But he finally did, pulling his keys from his pocket and disappearing around the corner to wherever he’d parked.