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)
I can just spy his profile, but he looks kind of familiar. Dark hair. Dark stubble. Dark eyes. Crinkles at the corner. Yum. Oh, and ink all over one arm.
Hello, wet panties.
I’m just saying.
Except, I’m sure he’s trouble. Tempting. But trouble.
Must. Look. Away. After all, Mom was just talking about my preference for bad boys.
I activate all my powers of resistance and stop staring. Gigi and I leave him in the dust, turning toward our home. A few blocks later, I’m back at 583, where another hottie waits on my porch.
“At last, she’s here,” my friend Maddox calls out, and I rush and jump into his sturdy arms while Gigi barks enthusiastically at his feet.
Maddox is as strong as a tree, so he doesn’t wobble, just laughs lightly. “Well, that’s a helluva greeting,” he says.
I drop to my flip-flopped feet and drink in my friend. In his aviator shades, tailored burgundy button-down, and pressed slacks, he looks every bit like the best sports attorney-slash-agent in the biz. We hit it off at an industry party years ago. The next week, we started training for a marathon together, and he’s been my rock ever since.
“You’re a godsend for finding me this rental. It’s perfect. And I can’t believe you got me a scooter too.” I flap my arm toward the garage where I found his housewarming gift earlier.
“Glad you like it,” he says.
“I love the scooter, and Gigi and I love this cottage, and to thank you, I want to take you out to dinner.”
He gives a tender smile, the kind that I bet melts all the guys. “That sounds great, except that I’m taking you to dinner. Isn’t that right, Gigi? I’m going to take your person out.” He bends and scratches Gigi between the ears. She lifts her chin approvingly.
“But I want to treat.” I pout. “You treated me to lunch when I was here a couple of weeks ago.”
“And yet, it’s still my turn.” He straightens and crosses his arms, challenging me.
Damn him. He’s stoic, and I know he’d wait all night and never break. I poke his firm biceps. “No wonder you’re the toughest negotiator,” I say.
“Your words…” he says, his smile teasing again.
“You know it’s true.” I let my girl inside and give her a quick kiss. “Back soon, lovie.”
As we walk to dinner, I link my arm through my friend’s. “Maddox, do you think I like bad boys?”
He scoffs. Knowingly.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“You know you do, Ellie,” he says, friendly but firm.
Maybe I do need to find that good-guy box on Boyfriend Material after all.
TUESDAY
A Day for the Naughty List
4
A PRIEST, A MONK, AND A MISSIONARY
Ellie
By the next morning, I’m eighty-two percent unpacked. Efficiency is kind of my thing. The entertainment industry is chock-full of unknowns and uncertainty, so staying on top of my daily life is necessary for my sanity.
Granted, I didn’t lug much stuff cross-country from New York for my relo, partly because I rented a furnished home here. When I left my cute walk-up in Greenwich Village, I gave away my beloved purple couch to my neighbor and bestie, Veronica, and my bed to an actress friend. Then I shipped most of my clothes and books. As well as sex toys, overnight and fully insured, of course. Then I flew to San Francisco with my little lady on my lap. Gigi insisted on first-class travel, and I would never deny her. Or me, to be fair. After visiting my brother in Pacific Heights for a few days, I picked up my new electric wheels at a custom car shop, then drove the rest of the way here.
The little one-bedroom has plenty of space for Gigi and me, and I survey it happily. “I see you’ve already taken custody of the couch,” I tell my critter, who’s stretching out on the soft gray cushions. “You do know you were descended from wolves? Then you discovered couches.”
She closes one eye, unamused. Chihuahuas were descended from royalty, not wolves, I imagine her saying.
She makes a reasonable point.
Everything looks good. I’m ready to hit the ground running. I have a slew of meetings later this week, with show production beginning next week. Today, though, I have all the time in the world to get to know my new hometown. The best part? Veronica is in LA for a client event, along with her sister, so I don’t have to go into friend withdrawal yet.
After I shower and do my makeup, adding sparkly eye shadow because…why not, I tug on a little black cotton dress and lace up my pink Converse high-tops. Then I hop in my convertible to motor off to Santa Monica and meet my gal pals for breakfast.
When I find Veronica and her sister, Hazel, at a sidewalk table at The Tree House, the Pacific Ocean crashing majestically far on the other side of the street, I greet them like it’s been years.