Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I pushed them away violently and stared moodily at the white clouds. Even if there wasn’t the issue of her being a traitor, I didn’t want to have feelings for any woman. No thank you. I liked my life just as it was.
Business came first, second, and third.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend or upset you. I was just trying to help.”
I swung my gaze back to Lillian, and the expression of hurt on her white face made my stomach tighten in knots. For fuck’s sake! No matter how much I told myself she was no good, one wounded look from her and I wanted to punch myself.
I had no control over my hand when it reached out and touched a strand of her silky blonde hair, or my fingers when they trailed over the smooth flesh of her cheek. Only when my finger touched her trembling mouth did I realize what I was doing. I dropped my hand as if I had been burned by fire.
I took control of myself. I had two choices.
I could just confront her now, threaten to involve the police and scare her enough to make her confess. There was a good possibility though she didn’t really know who had hired her. It could have been a middleman making the transaction for some powerful entity. Which meant the opportunity to find out who my enemy/competitor would be lost.
The second option would be to pretend that nothing was amiss until I could smoke out the real identity of the person who had planted bugs.
There was no contest. The second option won hands down.
“I’m not upset with you, Lillian,” I said. “In fact, I’d very much appreciate it if you could help. I wouldn’t know where to start. I’ll text Chris and ask him if he wants a party. He is unpredictable.”
I quickly texted Chris.
He answered seconds later.
Hell yes!!
“Well, looks like he wants one,” I said, showing her the text.
Lillian laughed. “Of course, he does. What man doesn’t?”
I wouldn’t. I’d rather work than get plastered in a strip club in Vegas.
“You do know the rest of the best man’s duties? Like the best man has to make a speech?”
“Yeah, I got that much. What else?”
“Look after the rings.”
“I can do that.”
“Help the groom get ready for the ceremony.”
“I’m good with that. The hardest job is the bachelor’s party, but I have the best PA helping out, don’t I?”
Her eyes twinkled. “You do.”
I stared at her. Still unable to believe she could be pretending. To stop myself from giving the game away, I opened my laptop and forced myself to do some work.
We arrived home an hour and a half later. My driver was waiting for us and after stowing the luggage, he drove us home. The air in the car was suddenly tense as if neither of us knew how to behave now that we were back home. I told myself I was glad the fantasy was over, and I knew the truth, but who was I kidding? I hated it. It had been amazing to be living in my fool’s paradise.
I missed it. I craved it.
The car came to a stop in front of Lillian’s apartment building. I jumped out and opened her door before the driver could. She flashed me a smile.
“Should I go back to calling you Mr. Frost?”
I shook my head. “No.”
Then I took her weekend bag from the driver and walked her to the building entrance. “Thank you for an unforgettable weekend.”
An expression of sorrow crossed her features, but it was gone in a flash.
"I had fun too.” She smiled but it wasn’t the natural smile that I’d gotten used to. It seemed forced.
At that moment I knew. I couldn’t pretend nothing was wrong. My head was completely fucked. I needed space from her to think this out. Get my priorities in order. The more I stayed around her, the more involved I was becoming. The idea that one weekend with her would cure me was terrible. It was like pouring oil on fire to put it out.
I handed her the luggage and took a step back. “I won’t see you tomorrow because I’m away for a week?”
Her eyebrows rose. “But I have booked all kinds of appointments for you next week.”
“This is an emergency. Family stuff.”
“Oh!” Her face showed her confusion. “Do you want me to reschedule your meetings for the week after?”
“Yes, rebook everything except the Sanderson meeting. I can attend that via Zoom.”
She looked up at me. She seemed so authentic and warm, not a trace of pretentiousness or fakeness about her. Her beautiful eyes brimmed with sincerity… or a very good impression of it.
“Is there anything else I can do to help?”
I shook my head. “Not for the moment. I’ll contact you if I need anything else.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to another awkwardly. Deliberately, I said nothing. Let her make all the moves.