Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Harley shrugged, stretching his legs out on the chaise part of the sofa. “Your couch is comfortable.”
“Uh. Thanks.”’
“It’s a sight better than my truck.” He nodded like he’d come to some conclusion, but I still wasn’t sure what conversation we were having. “Go to bed, Ambrose. I’ll be here.”
“Here?” I squeaked, which was possibly worse than sounding pathetically grateful. I made myself take a breath. “You don’t have to stay.”
“I know I don’t, but you shouldn’t be alone tonight.” His tone was pragmatic. Reassuring in its matter-of-factness. “You’re still coming off the mild concussion and all. Rousting your sister or someone else when I’m already here seems silly.”
“Well, what’s silly is me needing a night nanny.” I shifted against the couch. “I’m forty-one.”
“Congrats. I’m forty. We’re both old enough to know better and that much closer to AARP membership. But last time I checked, the young didn’t have a monopoly on having adrenaline crashes after an ordeal.” His serious expression said he was talking from personal experience, which made me a little more willing to take him up on the offer. “It’s okay to not want to be alone tonight. Tomorrow, you can look at other options, but tonight, let me do this for you, boss.”
“All right.” I was too tired to keep arguing against what I really wanted. “But you don’t have to take the couch. I have a guest room. ”
Pushing myself off the couch, I motioned for him and Hercules to follow me.
“I can sleep pretty much anywhere, but I won’t turn down an actual bed.” He trailed after me as I passed the door for my suite, continuing down the hall to the guest room. And hell, I’d forgotten that I’d arranged the room with a sense of nostalgic whimsy the last time Hester and her fiancé had visited. The bed was covered with a fluffy pink quilt with a trio of stuffed animals: a hippo, giraffe, and lion. The pale-blue walls had a series of storybook prints.
“I…uh…the stuffed animals are from when Hester and Lex were little. Not mine. Not that that would be…” God, now I sounded weirdly defensive. Shouldn’t have said anything. “I should probably just go to bed.”
“The animals are cute.” His smile was so fond I could almost pretend there was something other than amusement in his warm eyes. “I like your place.”
“You do?” I tilted my head, trying to decide whether he was serious. I liked my home plenty, but it was undoubtedly too fussy for someone like Harley. Except, apparently, I really did need to stop with the assumptions because he nodded.
“You can tell you thought about each element. Most of our clients use professional decorators, but I can tell you put some work into the house.”
“I did.” I smiled, and he returned it, and this little frisson passed between us. Not exactly a sizzle, but something. With another person, this might be where I’d drop a hint that my own bed was bigger than the guest room queen. Make a move. But not here. I owed Harley far too much to risk making him uncomfortable. Boundaries. I forced a more professional tone. “There’s an attached bath. Feel free to shower or whatever else you need.”
“I’m good. Night, boss. Be easy on yourself. You’ve had a rough few days.”
“I’ll try.” And I’d try not to let this crush on him get out of control, keep things from getting awkward.
Chapter Six
Ambrose
“You’re back.” Keely greeted me as I wove my way through the used car lot where we were filming a foot-chase scene. It was Friday, the end of my week from hell. Cressida had made me rest Thursday, but two days was about all my psyche could handle away from the show.
“I am.” And today was a huge scene. No way was I going to miss it, even if my head still throbbed and all my various bumps and bruises ached. I might be moving slowly, but I was here.
“We’ve missed you.” Keely smiled widely, handing me a copy of the day’s schedule as Cressida strode over. Hercules was still in his carrying case, so I had my hands free.
“See?” Cressida accepted her copy of the schedule before patting my back. “You’re utterly indispensable.”
Keely flitted away with her stack of schedules, leaving me standing alone with Cressida near a couple of older sedans.
“You shouldn’t have made me take the extra day of rest then.” Even as I complained, I had to privately admit I’d needed the rest. I’d slept a full twelve hours, waking up to Cressida arriving with coffee and Harley having left for work, thankfully before Cressida showed up. He’d left a note, but I’d been cranky because I missed him. Hanging around the house all day did nothing to improve my mood, but I also hadn’t been up to much work other than a few brief attempts at urgent emails.