Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
ME: That’s what Meg said.
ABBY: Hmm. Interesting. Yvonne never goes to bat for anyone.
ME: Not even her own marketing team, the way Meg’s been talking about her lately. She’s ready to throw her out of the fiftieth-floor window.
ABBY: I might know of a couple of positions opening up soon that Meg is qualified for—one would be a promotion. I’ll reach out to her this week.
Sigh.
I loved my agent.
ME: You’re the best.
ABBY: In exchange, I want words from you.
ME: Yes, boss.
ABBY: Five chapters. Tomorrow.
Oh.
That meant I was going to have to write two chapters by tomorrow, and I had no idea what was going to happen next.
Sure, my hero and heroine had bumped into each other, and he’d replaced her coffee as an apology, but that was it. I wasn’t quite sure how to bring them back together yet in a way that was believable.
I eyed my computer on the coffee table.
I’d already done a ton of work today, and if I didn’t know now, I wouldn’t know in an hour. I was going to have to pace myself and hope inspiration struck tomorrow morning.
Sod it.
I was going to play The Sims.
• • •
Inspiration did not strike in the morning.
What did strike was Winston.
He was nowhere to be seen, which meant he really did have a secret way out of the house.
It also meant that I had to go out and attempt to find him.
Preferably before the grumpy man known as The Duke of Windermere did.
It was seven a.m. and far too early for an earful from him.
I tied the laces on my trainers and headed out. I was wearing workout gear so I could pretend to be running if I happened to come across Max.
He didn’t know me.
He didn’t know that I didn’t like running.
I could run, I just didn’t like it. I certainly didn’t do it by choice.
Not like he seemed to. If I had any luck, he’d be out running this morning and would avoid seeing Winston at all costs. Unfortunately, I didn’t think I was that lucky, so I was going to have to be quick.
I shook out my limbs to get my blood moving and took off in a gentle jog. I had a treat packet stuffed in my pocket, and I shook it and gently called Winston’s name every few seconds.
I really needed this little shit to show up, and soon.
Five minutes ago would have been great.
“Wiiiinston,” I whispered, looking under a hydrangea bush. I walked around it, moving the branches slightly in case he was hiding right under it.
“Looking for something?”
I jerked up at the sound of Max’s voice. “I thought I saw a rabbit.”
His bright blue gaze was so intense, I knew instantly that he saw right through me.
I’d never been the best liar.
“A rabbit,” Max replied dryly, never taking his eyes off me. “Have you never seen one before?”
I shrugged. “I like rabbits.”
“You know it’s a wild one.”
“No, I assumed you had a whole range of purebred cashmere rabbits that you let roam your estate.”
“Perhaps we do.”
“Really?”
“Of course not. We do keep them, but just regular rabbits. And the wild ones, naturally.” His gaze drifted to my pocket. “Why do you have cat treats in your pocket?”
I shoved them inside properly. “I have a cat. I always have cat treats in my pocket.”
He stared at me.
“I overheard your grandma yesterday talking about the barn cats when she was at lunch with her friends and thought I’d make friends with them.”
“Winston escaped again, didn’t he?”
I pressed my lips together. “No.”
“Has anyone told you that you’re the most dreadful liar, Ellie?”
“They don’t need to. I already know that,” I admitted woefully. “I swear I don’t know how he got out. All the windows and doors were locked. I triple-checked before I went to bed.”
Max sighed heavily. “He hasn’t brought you any gifts yet, has he?”
I shook my head. “They’re usually crows and magpies when he does.”
“Well, at least he catches the vermin when he does hunt,” he muttered. “I suppose I’ll help you look for him, just in case.”
I blinked at him. “You’ll help me look?”
“I’m not pleased that he’s out again, so it benefits us both.” He glanced around. “And it’ll stop you slinking about the estate like you’re trying to break in and steal diamonds.”
“I’m not sure how to respond to that.”
“It’s merely an observation. You’d be an awful ninja.”
I eyed him. “At least I’d be a ninja with manners, unlike yourself.”
Max sighed. “Let’s get moving. I have things to do today that don’t involve tracking down your escapee feline.”
“Fine,” I mumbled, stepping away from the hydrangea bush.
Great.
I’d fallen at the very first hurdle.
Of all the gifts my mother gave me, why couldn’t her infallible ability to lie be one of them? My life would be so much easier if I could.
“I didn’t expect to see you running.”