Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“So, we’re going to an apple orchard on our second date?” Stella asks and smiles over at me from the passenger seat of my car. “How…cute.”
I smirk and take in her dark denim jeans, pink sweater, and sneakers. “It’s a company party.”
“Wait, what?” She sits up straight and stares at me. “Go back. I have to change. Shit, Gray, I’m dressed too casually.”
“No, you’re perfect,” I assure her and gesture at my jeans. “It’s at an orchard. Heels wouldn’t work where we’re going.”
“I didn’t fuss with my makeup at all. I just did the bare minimum because I thought this would be the laid-back outing you said it would be.”
“It is.” I reach over and take her hand, giving it a squeeze. “People are bringing their dates. It’s a BBQ spread with an open bar and a DJ. It’s not a fancy affair. McMasters, our president, saves the fancy shit for mid-December when they do the holiday thing.”
“At least I brought my lucky lip gloss,” she mutters and fishes the tube out of her purse, smoothing it on her lips using the mirror on the back of the visor.
“You look fantastic,” I assure her and retake her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You take my breath away.”
I can feel her gaze on me as I merge onto the freeway.
“You’re charming,” she says at last.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Not a bad thing, just sometimes difficult to trust. People can be charming and say what a person wants to hear to get their way.”
“That’s called manipulation. There’s nothing charming about that. I’m not a liar, Stella. I won’t say things to get on your good side or for any other reason. If I say something to you, it’s because it’s fact, and that’s how I feel. You’re a beautiful woman. And you do, indeed, take my fucking breath away.”
“Glad we cleared that up,” she says brightly and makes me laugh out loud.
“You are unlike anyone I’ve known before, I’ll tell you that.”
“Good.” She checks herself one last time in the mirror and then sits back to enjoy the ride to the orchard just outside of Seattle. “How often does your company throw these parties?”
“A couple of times a year,” I reply. “Usually, when someone wins a big case and McMasters wants to celebrate.”
“And what case was won?”
I shrug a shoulder and guide my car onto the exit I need. “One I’d been working on with Brandon for about a year.”
“Wait, this party is to celebrate you?” she demands, her sexy voice going a little shrill. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I just did.”
“This is a big deal.”
“It’s just a party,” I reply and turn down the road that leads to the orchard. I park next to a brand-new Mercedes, and when I get out of the car, I walk around to open Stella’s door for her.
She nervously brushes her light blond hair over her shoulder. I just kiss her temple and whisper in her ear.
“You’re amazing. Don’t even worry about this. Easiest party you’ve ever been to.”
She sighs, and with her hand clutched firmly in mine, walks over to where they have the tent set up with tables and chairs under it. People mill about.
“Babe!”
Stella and I turn at the sound of Danny’s voice. He sweeps her up in a big hug.
“I wasn’t expecting to see my wife here,” Danny says with a wink and then tips his head back and laughs. “And those are words I never expected to hear come out of my mouth.”
“Welcome, Stel,” Brandon says and kisses Stella on the cheek. “I’m glad you came.”
“Oh, God. Me, too,” Danny says. “With you here, it won’t be so incredibly boring. Sorry, B, you know I love you more than anything, but I’m only here because I love you to the moon and back.”
“The sacrifice is noted and appreciated,” Brandon replies with a grin. “Let’s go grab a seat, shall we?”
“Oh, crap,” Stella says and immediately reaches for my hand.
“What’s wrong?”
“That woman hates me,” she replies and nods to where Mrs. Hadfield stands speaking with a woman I recognize from accounting.
“Why do you think that?”
Stella shakes her head and blows out a breath. “It doesn’t matter. I just hope I don’t have to talk to her.”
I pull Stella aside and stand directly in front of her, my back to the crowd so she can’t see the others. “What happened?”
“Let’s just say that if that is the face you want greeting everyone when they come into your offices, you’re setting people up to immediately be on edge. She was rude and treated me like I was in high school and got caught giving a blowjob in the bathroom. I’ve never had someone look down their nose so hard.”
I feel my mouth drop. I’m not accustomed to being at a loss for words—in any situation.