Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51427 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Maybe for a little bit. My next novel is set in Europe, and I want to do some research there,” she says.
“That sounds awful,” I say. “So awful I may need to stow away in your luggage.”
“Please. You’ll be busy here conquering another industry,” she says, then shakes a finger at me. “But stop distracting me. How good was the date?”
“So good. I’m going to see him again…tonight,” I say, a little thrilled to share.
Hazel blows on her nails. “I’m taking the credit. Since I gave you that challenge.”
“And you deserve it.” Then I shrug happily. “I’ll probably see him a few more times this week.”
She jerks her gaze back. “So, you really like him?” Her question turns a touch serious.
But quickly, I dismiss the gravitas vibes. “We’re hanging out this week only. We both have a ton going on next week when he starts training camp and I start the show. So we’re just having fun for a couple days.”
She seems to chew on that for a few seconds, then says, “Then have the most fun of all.”
“Oh, I plan to,” I say, then pull her away from the table toward the back of the patio for more privacy. “Do you think boss ladies like to be dominated in the bedroom?”
“So it was that good,” she says with a laugh. Then her eyes turn thoughtful. “Some do.”
“It’s a bit wild how much I love being in charge of my destiny at work and how little control I want in bed.” I’m not surprised I liked sleeping with Gabe. I’m surprised at how much I liked the kind of sex we had. “I’ve always liked sex a little rough. A little hard. But Gabe is next level in the bedroom. He’s an animal,” I confess, shivers running down my spine as images of him flash before me. “And I loved it.”
“Loved what?”
At Veronica’s question, I spin around. Sporting a yellow sundress, she saunters across the patio. With her is a pretty brunette in skinny jeans and a tank, with a boho tangle of necklaces draped across her throat. That must be Veronica’s client who owns the jewelry shop. “This is Rachel Dumont,” Veronica says of the fashionable woman next to her. “And she wanted to throw the party for her friends, customers, and fellow business owners.”
Rachel gestures to the party-size table full of white boxes with pink bows. “Because every woman needs a box for her box.”
It’s official. I’m in love with Rachel. I stride over to the new kid on the friend block. “I’m Ellie. We’re going to become new besties. I’ve just decided it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Rachel says.
And I have a plan too, for my date tonight. In a few more hours, I’ll be pretending to be good.
13
THAT’S A NEW MINI GOLF STRATEGY
Ellie
If I’d known dating with a built-in boundary would be so freeing, I’d have done it sooner.
As I wait for Gabe outside the mini golf rental counter, the usual will this turn into something worries are all gone. In their place is just…excitement over tonight.
This is how dating should be.
At six on the dot, Gabe strolls across the parking lot, looking like he belongs at a country club.
Yes. I like his costume.
Tonight, he’s a perfect prepster, striding up to me wearing khakis and a sky-blue polo.
When he stops a few feet away, I grin in delight at the pièce de résistance—the tiny tennis racket icon stitched onto the shirt. He understood the assignment—play the part.
I smooth a hand over his collar. “You are so the boy next door,” I say.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, his brown eyes travel up and down my body. He smirks as he takes in my pink dress with white polka dots. The good-girl costume comes complete with a pink headband. I even curled the ends of my hair for the full-on sexy retro housewife look.
With an appreciative sigh, he loops his inked arm around my waist. “And your girl-next-door skirt is perfect for spanking you,” he whispers.
I tsk at him, wagging a finger. “Gabe, you have to behave,” I chide.
He narrows his eyes. Rubs his stubbled jaw against my cheek. “Whose ridiculous idea was that?”
“Yours,” I say, laughing. “You said we needed to practice being good.”
His fingers go exploring, taking a trip over my rear. He squeezes, rumbling out, “I know what I want to practice.”
“Patience,” I warn. “You can’t keep tempting me.”
He kisses my neck. “The fuck I can’t,” he whispers.
“Mmm. You’re trying to get me to give in on a golf course,” I murmur. “You want me to be the one to break character.”
“So I can have you on a golf course? Works for me,” he says, then explores the terrain of my neck, kissing up to my ear. “I want to see you give in to me. Want you to break first and say take me home now.”