Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
For the next hour, I regale my mom with countless stories of old hotels and inns, ruins, food, and museums.
By the time I’m finished, we’re in the kitchen fixing breakfast and laughing as my dad comes in to join us.
“I like this sound,” he says with a wink, leaning in to kiss Mom’s cheek before turning to me and doing the same. “How are my girls this morning?”
“Maya was just telling me stories from her travels.”
“I want to hear about it, too,” Dad says. “But first, I need to get to the hospital. I have a valve replacement this morning.”
Even in his sixties, Dad shows no signs of slowing down in his cardiothoracic surgery career.
“Okay. I’ll tell you everything later over dinner. I’m making enchiladas.”
“When do you head to Seattle?” he asks, sipping from a fresh mug of coffee.
I bite my lip and sit on a stool at the island. “About that. Maybe I shouldn’t move to Seattle. You guys could use me here, and—”
“You’re moving,” Mom says, using a tone that says she won’t hear any arguments. “You do not need to be here saddled with me. I’m fine.”
“She is,” Dad agrees. “She’s doing great, and we want you to go to Seattle to live your life. You’re young. Go have fun.”
I really do want to go to the Emerald City, where both my siblings are with their spouses. And I have a whole new circle of friends there. Plus, it’s fun. There’s so much to see and do.
Of course, I don’t have a job yet, but that’ll come with time. At least I know I have a place to live.
“Are you sure?”
“Completely,” Mom assures me.
“Well, then, I’ll probably drive out there next week.” Maybe. I’m still not entirely sure it’s the right thing to do. But Mom does look and sound so much better than she did before, and I really do want to go to Seattle. I’ll just keep a watchful eye for the next few days to make sure everything is as it should be before I go.
“Good. I have time to hear about Europe.” Dad sets his mug in the sink and grabs his wallet and keys. “See you this afternoon.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Once he’s gone, Mom turns to me with that mom look in her eyes.
“You’re going,” she says.
“I just said I would.”
“Yes, but I know you, and I know you’ll come up with a reason to stay here to look after me. I won’t have it, Maya Renee Sterling. I want you to go live your life in Seattle. I’ll come visit.”
“Do you promise?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter One
Derek
“You are such an asshole!”
I blink calmly at the woman standing in my office, her eyes flashing with indignation and anger, her breath coming fast, and her hands in fists at her sides. I can’t remember her name for the life of me, but she’s worked for me as an assistant for less than a week.
If looks could kill, I’d be a bloody heap on my desk.
“Your point?” I ask, tipping an eyebrow and finding it mildly amusing when her cheeks flush an even deeper red. I didn’t think that was possible.
“I fucking quit,” she says, her chest heaving. “No wonder you can’t keep an assistant. Since you’re British and everything, I thought you’d at least be polite, but the only thing the accent does for you is make you sexy. And trust me, all that goes right out the window as soon as you say anything, which is a shame. You’re demanding and rude and so freaking…mean. What the hell is wrong with you?”
I sigh wearily and flick my hand her way.
“Off with you, then. I’ve no time to listen to your whining.”
“Whining?”
“Yes. Get your things and get the fuck out of my office.”
Seething, she glares at me for a full three seconds before stomping out of my office and slamming the door behind her.
I simply pick up the phone and call the temp agency.
“This is Britney Carter. How may I help you?”
“Derek Langley,” I reply, and if I’m not mistaken, Ms. Carter sighs on the other end of the line. “I need a new assistant.”
“What happened to Chloe?”
Ah, yes, her name was Chloe.
“That wasn’t a good fit. She’s already quit.”
“Mr. Langley, you’ve run through most of my available people. There’s one person I can call, but she won’t be in Seattle until Monday.”
“It’s Tuesday,” I remind her.
“I’m aware.” Her voice is dry. “Perhaps if you were a little kinder, you wouldn’t blow through assistants so fast.”
“Perhaps if you had some people with thicker skin, they wouldn’t run out of here like rabbits.”
“Mr. Langley.” She sounds weary now. “I’ll send over one more person, but if this goes as the rest have, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I can’t keep sending people into a hostile work situation.”