Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Hersch cleared his throat and said, “A bed. For a primary bedroom.”
In a deep, reassuring voice, Ted said, “If you’re going to be purchasing your main bed, then may I suggest one of these three?”
Since she was a salesperson herself, Mila immediately respected his approach. A good salesperson knew instinctively to narrow down the choices to something that Hersch could handle. She could see Hersch’s shoulders droop with relief that he had to think about only three beds. Of course, they were high-end beds, but she suspected that was the kind of thing Hersch was looking for anyway.
Her personal opinion about beds was that since you spent a lot of time on them, you should buy the best you could afford. She didn’t have to voice that, because she strongly suspected Ted would have the same opinion and would give Hersch the guidance he needed.
Another couple called Ted away, and he recommended that they try the three mattresses and see what they thought. He promised to come back over and check in with them. Mila was happy they would be able to do this bit of shopping without Ted watching them. It wasn’t exactly relaxing to lie down in front of a complete stranger, and to test a bed properly, you needed to try to imagine it was in your own room already.
She said as much to Hersch, who obediently got on the first bed and then looked up at her. “Aren’t you going to join me? I feel like an idiot lying here by myself.”
She didn’t have to be asked twice. She’d been thinking about this since she’d first seen him. Although it wasn’t as private a space as in her fantasies, she settled beside him. He smelled wonderful—like fresh air and healthy male. She fixed her gaze on the ceiling in case he saw the desire in her eyes. In the most neutral tone she could muster, she said, “You should move around a bit. See how it feels against your body.”
He rolled so he was on his side, staring at her, and then she did the same. As soon as she looked into his eyes, she knew that he mirrored her desire and couldn’t hide it any more than she could. They didn’t speak. The sensual sparks were doing all the talking for them. What’s more, those sparks were so hot she thought the mattress might catch fire.
Finally, he said, “This one feels good.”
She nodded. “You need to compare it with the others to be sure.”
But clearly neither of them wanted to move. A few more seconds of staring into Hersch’s soulful eyes passed before Mila made herself roll over and swing her feet to the floor. “Let’s try the next one.”
As they settled on another luxurious mattress, Mila’s heart began to race. She wanted to rip off Hersch’s clothes and run her hands over his impressive body. But they were in public. It was a special kind of scintillating torture.
Again, they shifted their bodies to face each other. Again, she knew they were both imagining what it would feel like if they were under some covers rather than on top of a bare mattress in a store. Again, it took them an age to move on to the third mattress.
When they’d tested them all, Hersch got to his feet and extended a hand. She accepted it, a thrill coursing through her body as she felt his firm grip help her up. He was so darned strong.
“It was the first mattress for me,” he said, and she noted his voice had turned a little husky.
Oddly, it was the same mattress Mila would have chosen, so she was able to give her unqualified approval.
He bought the mattress and arranged to have it delivered, and then as they left the store, he turned to her with a slightly sheepish look. “I know you’ve done so much for me already, Mila, but is there any way I could convince you to come to the house to take a look at the swatches there? All your advice and guidance so far has been so valuable.”
If such a thing were possible, her heart simultaneously soared and sank. She was thrilled that Hersch wanted to spend more time together, even if it was over paint swatches. But she was also mentally going over her to-do list.
He could see her hesitation. “I’m sorry. I’ve taken up too much of your time already. Forgive me for asking.”
But, she decided, there wasn’t anything that couldn’t wait, and if anyone needed her, she had her phone with her. So she said in her flirtiest tone, “How about I do it just because I think you’re cute?”
He opened and then closed his mouth before his cheeks flushed. Clearly, her teasing flustered him. She had to admit she quite liked that she could make this big, muscly astronaut blush.