Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“I love them.” She sighs. “I’m always looking for treasures like that, but I don’t have the time to scour the vintage shops the way I want to.”
I make a mental note to text Daxton later to suggest he set out on a hunt for hairpins like the ones I now own.
It would the perfect gift for her.
“Did you want to get an early dinner?” Penny asks. “I have to work tonight.”
We start in the direction of my apartment. “You have to go back to the office tonight?”
“No.” She lets out a heavy exhale. “Someone ordered a pet portrait from my Etsy shop. They sent me a few pictures of their cat this morning.”
She taps the screen of her phone to bring up a trio of pictures of a black and white cat. “She’s cute, right?”
Nodding, I smile. “Very. I’m happy for you.”
“It’s my passion.” She tucks her phone back in the purse that is slung over her shoulder. “Speaking of passion, have you experienced any lately. I’m talking the between the sheets kind.”
Have I ever.
When I was getting dressed earlier, I took extra care when I slid my panties on because my pussy physically ached a little. It still does, but I can’t tell if that’s the lingering feeling of Gaines’s punishing thrusts, or if my body just wants more.
It has to be a combination of both.
I take a play from Dr. Morgan’s handbook and expertly avoid answering the direct question just volleyed at me. “Have you?”
I already know the answer since I’m one hundred percent certain that when she gets in bed with Daxton, I’ll hear about it.
“Soon,” she confirms what I suspected. “I’m booked in for a wax two days before that because smooth is sexy.”
I’ve always followed that motto, so I smile.
We walk in silence, until I say what I know she wants to hear, “I started on your dress.”
She stops mid-step to turn and look at me. “Really?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“Can I see it?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. It’s bare bones right now, Pen.”
“You’ll let me know when I can see it, right?” Her eyes sparkle in the late afternoon sun. The gold flecks play off the color of her hair. “If you can’t tell, I’m eager.”
“Really?” I joke with a shocked expression.
She slaps my arm playfully. “I don’t want to creep you out, Els, but you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
My heart breaks a little at that confession because I felt that way about someone once too, and since they’ve been gone from my life, I haven’t allowed myself to make many new friends.
I consider my classmates friends, and my former roommates definitely fit that bill, but I haven’t had a very close friend, other than Astrid, in awhile.
“You don’t creep me out.” I smile at her. “I’m glad we met.”
“Same.” She glances to our right. “Do you like ice cream?”
“What kind of question is that?”
She lets out a high-pitched giggle. “Do you want to skip dinner and go straight to dessert? We can share a banana split if you want.”
“I want.” I nod. “With extra chocolate syrup.”
“You read my mind.” She grabs my hand to tug me toward the shop. “My treat since you, my friend, are treating me to the wedding dress of my dreams.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Gaines
“A cardiologist and a vascular surgeon walk into a bar.”
I don’t wait for the punch line to laugh. “What do you want, Evan?”
“If you let me finish, you’d know.” He pats my shoulder as he takes a spot next to me in front of a bank of elevators. “A cardiologist and a vascular surgeon walk into a bar.”
I shoot him a look. “Go on.”
“The vascular surgeon buys the cardiologist another drink to thank him for that kick ass album he bought him.”
“That’s not a joke,” I point out.
“Who the hell said it was?” He chuckles.
I shake my head. “I’m on my way to my office.”
“You and that fancy as fuck office.” He smiles. “You’re going to jump the ship that is this world class health facility and go all private practice on me, aren’t you?”
We step aside as the elevator doors slide open. Several people step off but two remain on. I shake my head to send them on their way without us because this conversation stays between Evan and me.
Once the doors slide shut, he elbows me. “I thought you were the nice guy. You just blew off two of our esteemed colleagues.”
“They’ll survive.”
“True.” He laughs. “Back to the private practice.”
I lower my voice. “I’m never leaving this place, but I can offer care there that I can’t here.”
“Like what?” He searches my face. “Are we talking lip injections? I’ve noticed yours has been swollen in that one spot lately. You may want to consult with Dr. Brentwood for some pointers on how to line the needle up correctly.”