Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
His tired expression melts away to one of unmasked appreciation. I don’t particularly like the way he devours her with just one look. Yes, based on the PMU hat he’s wearing, he’s a college kid and close to her age, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it or approve of his blatant ogling.
I clear my throat, demanding his attention. “You remember a woman who came through here this morning? Probably ordered the matcha green tea. Blond, pretty, older. Looks just like her.”
The guy eagerly darts his gaze back to Aubrey. “I think I’d remember a hottie like you.”
“Think,” I demand, voice edging past cordial, the irritation of his flirting with Aubrey bugging me. “It’s important.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, man. It’s crazy busy every Sunday. I barely have time to even take a break. This is the longest break I’ve had talking to you two.” He chuckles and jokingly says, “Need a job?”
Aubrey shrugs. “I could take an application with me.”
I think the fuck not.
“No,” I clip out. “You’re not working here.” With him.
She snaps her head my way, brows bunching in confusion. “Why not? They’re hiring. I need a job.”
The cashier nods, grin wide and authentic this time. “I could put in a good word with the owner. Might get you started by tomorrow.”
“I said no,” I growl, pinning the guy with a hard stare. “She has a job.”
“I do not—”
“You do too. I need another assistant.”
Someone behind me taps on my shoulder. “If you’re not going to order, kindly get out of line. I have two toddlers who are seconds from a meltdown if they don’t get their pink sprinkled donuts.”
Rather than tell the frazzled woman they’re out of those particular donuts and a meltdown is imminent, I quickly thank the cashier before grabbing Aubrey’s wrist to tug her out of the shop. Once outside, she pulls her hand free from my grip and frowns at me.
“What was all that about?” she demands. “You were rude. Like…”
Like Spencer.
Ouch. That hurts.
“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I huff out. “I just…this place is too stressful. Too beneath you. Come work for me instead. The pay will be a hell of a lot better. That much I can assure you.”
Hiring Aubrey to spend every hour of every day with me, all because I got a little jealous of some college dweeb checking her out, is high on my list of stupid decisions. But it’s a decision I stand by nonetheless.
She’s quiet as we get back into my car. I don’t immediately start the engine, waiting for her to speak again. Finally, she turns her unsure gaze on me, fingers nervously picking at the frayed edges of her jean shorts.
“You seriously want me to work with you?”
Now that I’ve said it, it’s exactly what I want.
Not what I need if I plan on keeping my dick in my pants around her, but it’s what I want, that’s for damn sure.
“Absolutely,” I say with a genuine smile in an effort to warm her to the idea. “With this campaign, everything is a lot busier than usual. And I can’t trust just anyone to fill in those gaps. I want you, Love.”
Her cheeks pinken and she’s unable to hold my stare. She’s fucking adorable. I’d also be lying if I said my ego doesn’t love how she seems to hang on my every word. It feels great even if it is the worst thing to be fixating on.
“I don’t have anything appropriate to wear,” she murmurs, gesturing at her bare, tattooed thighs. “All my clothes are like this.”
I allow myself to linger my stare on her legs since she’s pointing them out and clearly wants me to look. Casually, I rest my hand on my dick to hide the fact I’m getting harder by the second.
“We’ll go shopping today.” My voice is gruffer than usual. “I’ll buy you whatever you need.”
She perks up and grins at me. “Maybe by the end of the summer, I’ll be making enough to buy a car.”
I’ll buy her a car, too, if that’ll make her happy, but I’m not going to overwhelm her right now.
“Is that a yes you’ll accept the job then?”
She nods and then leans over the console to hug me. “Yes. Thank you, Hugo. You really are the best man I know.”
Unable to resist, I give her naked thigh a quick squeeze and kiss the top of her head. “I told you I’d take care of you, Love. You’re my sweet girl who deserves everything good in this world.”
Good, though, would be letting her work at the donut shop, free to date dorky PMU students who awkwardly flirt with her. Good would be removing my hand from her goddamn thigh. Good would be refraining from getting a hard-on every time I’m near her.
She thinks I’m the best man she knows…