Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
I glance up at him while I rub Jeb’s head. Yep, he’s laughing, or he was. Now, he’s just smiling at me like he thinks I’m funny. My cheeks warm. “I’ll be right back. The stuff for the cookies is on the counter with the recipe.”
He turns and starts down the hall, and I watch the muscles in his back move as he disappears out of sight. Looking down at Jeb, I drag in a breath and then wander to the kitchen. Because Brodie isn’t here to tell me I can’t, I give Jeb a couple of treats from his jar, then pick up the cookie recipe. I’ve never heard of kitchen sink cookies before, but as I look over the ingredients, I know they will be delicious. They have butterscotch chips, both dark chocolate and regular chocolate chips, pretzels, toffy bits, and coarse sea salt. They sound sweet and salty—my favorite combo.
“Ready?” I look up at Brodie when he walks around the edge of the counter and groan inwardly because while he did get dressed, he forgot a shirt. And since he’s a guy, he doesn’t technically need one.
“Is it safe to bake without a shirt on?” The question is out before I can stop it, and he grins, rubbing his hands over his ridged stomach.
“We’re not frying anything, so I think I’ll be okay.”
“Right,” I mumble, disappointed.
Walking to where I’m standing, I hold my breath when his big body presses into mine, and he reaches around me for the standing mixer on the counter.
“How was work?” he asks, plugging it in.
“Umm. Good. Busy.” I bite my bottom lip when he moves into my space again and starts opening the bags on the counter.
“I got our plane tickets. Our flight is at almost eight, so that should give you plenty of time to come home and get ready before we head to the airport.”
“Great.” I step to the side to give him some room—or me some room. Grabbing the butter, I open two sticks and put them in the mixing bowl while he starts measuring the sugar.
“My shoot is at seven a.m. on Saturday, so I figure you can sleep in while I take care of that. Then we can go have breakfast and explore the city. I know you said you’ve been to New York, but is there anywhere you want to go?”
“The library.” I glance over at him. “I haven’t ever gone to the New York City Library, and I know I can’t take any books out, but I’d like to see it in person.”
His smile is soft. “I can make that happen.”
“Thanks.” I smile back, and then the two of us work in sync, making cookies that are just as delicious as I imagined they would be. The movie we decided to watch, however, is absolutely horrible. But in the end, it doesn’t matter because everything seems a little better when I’m with Brodie.
Chapter 10
Reese
Picking my Red Bull off the bathroom counter in my hotel room, I yawn and then take another drink. I’m already exhausted and have at least another six hours before I can sleep.
Last night, Brodie and I got into New York late. By the time we got to the hotel downtown and checked in, it was after midnight, and we were both starving. Thankfully, we were in a city that never sleeps, so we could walk down the block for a slice of pizza. Then, because at that point I was wired, we walked to Times Square to see the lights. By the time I climbed into bed, it was almost two in the morning, and then I woke up at ten to Brodie knocking on the door. He had been up early for his shoot and looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, despite getting less sleep than I did. While I got ready and drank the coffee he’d brought, he lounged on my bed, talking to me through the open bathroom door. Then, the two of us wandered the city together.
We went to a cute little café for breakfast, the New York City Library, which was so cool to see in person, the Ghostbusters firehouse, and the abandoned Track 61. After all that, we wandered through Central Park, where we each ate a hotdog while lounging on the grass. The day was magical. Then again, being with Brodie anywhere was its own kind of magic.
With another yawn, I grab my makeup bag and start the process of getting myself ready. I never wear much makeup, and that is not changing tonight, but I did get talked into buying red lipstick the same day I bought myself my own pair of strappy heels from Neiman Marcus. I’ll wear it tonight like the girl at the makeup counter taught me.
With my hair tied back away from my face in a tight ponytail that I took extra time making look perfect—even wrapping an under piece around the hair tie and securing it with a bobby pin—I add bronzer to my face, some blush, a little gel to my brows so they stay in place, and then line my lips and add the lipstick that is supposed to stay put for twenty-four hours.