Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“You’re so smart,” she says, not a trace of sarcasm in her voice.
I start out of the lift toward the door of one of two planned penthouses.
“Leo,” she whisper-shouts.
I turn back, and her eyes widen like she’s expecting me to remember something I’ve forgotten.
“You should hold my hand,” she says.
I take in a breath and nod. She’s right. I should. Except…
I glance over at the waiters and waitresses pouring glasses of champagne and organizing trays of canapes. I turn back to Jules, who’s standing right in front of me. She reaches for my bow tie, giving it a little tug. “Very cute.”
“Cute? Don’t you mean commanding, powerful, with a little danger mixed in?”
She wrinkles her nose. “So, so cute.”
I chuckle and shake my head. When she’s finished, I scoop up her hand and lead her through the penthouse entrance and into the main living area.
“So this is the penthouse to New River,” I announce. I hope she’s impressed. Construction and the realtors have worked their asses off to get this ready for tonight’s launch.
“Do I get a tour?” she says, squeezing my hand.
“Sure, let’s start with the kitchen and see if it meets your high standards.”
“Tell me about the kind of buyer you expect to want a place like this,” she says.
“Well, it’s a five-million-dollar apartment, so I’m hoping they have some money behind them, but they can be young and self-made. This kind of place doesn’t require your parents to be rich. It’s aimed at someone who would have bought downtown ten years ago but is just priced out. They’re making money downtown though. I see our target buyers as young professionals who want to stay in Manhattan, who don’t have kids, or maybe older people who’ve moved upstate, want a pied-à-terre in town, but don’t want to pay Upper East Side prices.”
“Makes sense.” I watch her as she traces her fingers along the countertops of the kitchen, opening cabinets, peering into the oven. “It’s nice,” she says. “Modern with a twist.”
“Right. That was the look we were going for. And the finishes are good, right?”
“Better than you’d normally see in the area?” she asks.
“Right. The area is up and coming and this is one of the first new-construction residential blocks. People need an incentive to come here. They want a good price for good space and finishes.”
“I’m sold,” she says. “When do we move in? You can carry me over the threshold.”
Our eyes lock and I can’t help but picture that—her heels kicking in the air as I carry her inside. “We’ll have to find another place. I told you, I’m not living in my own development again.”
“Oh yes, that’s right. Does Bergdorf’s sell houses? Maybe I can pop out on my lunch break tomorrow and pick one up.”
I grin at her and we just stand there, facing each other and smiling like idiots. If I hadn’t had my ass handed to me by Nadia over the summer, if everything was different, I would have to kiss Jules right now.
Aesha interrupts. “Leo,” she calls, appearing just a second later. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but Tyler Groves is here and I thought you’d want to say hi.”
“Thanks, Aesha.” She’s right, I do want to say hi. He’s a dick, but he’s also one of the top agents in the city. I’ve known him since my bread delivery days. His father set up in competition with Caroline’s, and I remember Caroline being really cut up about it.
Jules slides her hand into mine and we head out. I glance down at the ring on her left hand and heat fills my chest. It’s a sense of possessiveness I’m not used to. I like seeing her wear the ring I bought her—a not-so-subtle message to the rest of the world that this woman is mine.
“Tyler,” I call as he spots me across the living space. His hair is slicked back and he has that year-round perma-tan. Some things never change. I drop Jules’ hand only long enough to shake Tyler’s. “Good to see you.” We greet each other and shake hands and his eyes slide to Jules.
“This is Jules Moore. My fiancée.”
“Whoa, congratulations,” he says, eyeing Jules up and down. “I didn’t know.”
He and Jules shake hands before Aesha calls me away to meet someone else. She asked me for names of people I wanted to make sure I spoke to tonight, and I gave her five. She said she’d make sure I saw them all, and so far, she’s being true to her word. She’s a good assistant. Jules did well recruiting her, not that I’m surprised.
I greet Andrew Feinstein, who is looking to invest in my next project in Harlem. I show him around and talk to him in more depth, but wherever we go, I’m aways aware of Jules. It’s like she’s my energy source or something, and I need to stay tethered to her in some way to avoid depleting my tank.