Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I set my coffee cup on an empty, pub-height table. Herb could’ve easily placed the bag on the table and escaped my clutches, but he didn’t. I couldn’t suppress my smile.
I glanced down, hoping he wouldn’t notice the big grin on my face, and saw my goofy shoes. I needed to change into matching ones. Then it dawned on me. I was missing something that cost me a small fortune on my underemployed salary: the partner to my Marc Jacobs stilettos that flew out of my hand when I fell.
“Oh my God, Herb. It’s gone.”
“What are you talking about?” Herb would be scratching his head if he wasn’t holding his coffee and my tote.
“Anyone see where my shoe landed?” All eyes turned toward me as I ignored my deep-rooted southern manners and used my outside voice. “It’s a black Marc Jacobs. Four-inch heel.”
From behind the counter, a barista waved his hand at me. I wanted to run toward him, but I had two shoes on that didn’t match. I ended up doing a horrible two-legged limp jog.
“I found it in the sink.” The barista held up my lost stiletto, looking no worse for the wear.
“Thank you, kind sir,” I gushed as he handed the shoe to me over the counter.
“I wiped off the water for you. It should be good to go.” The barista gave me a wink and acted like he didn’t have other orders to fill. His sly smirk and gaze down my body gave me the feeling he’d like to work on me when his shift ended. I thanked him again and backed away. I had a hot suit waiting for me.
Wobbling back to Herb, I noticed he was holding my flat in his hand. He must’ve reached into my bag and pulled it out like Prince Charming returning Cinderella’s lost slipper. Miraculously, I didn’t swoon.
Also, it felt like a win that he didn’t scoot out the door as soon as I’d walked away to get my missing heel. Admittedly, I was a lot to handle for most people. Add a sexy guy talking to me, and I bordered on being a public nuisance. I blamed it on a hormonal reaction to testosterone that was beyond my control. Pure science. Tessa called me boy crazy. It was a hard thing to deny.
“Herb, were you digging in my purse?” I teased, and he huffed.
“I’ve had enough of you falling and probably dying for one day.” I swore the corner of his lip tipped a smidge.
Did I somehow reach behind this grump’s hard exterior? Not one to press my luck, I played it cool and took the shoe without making a fuss.
“I don’t want to die on a Wednesday. I’d rather meet my maker on a Sunday. Then I’d throw a last weekend celebration with one less Monday morning to endure. Make sense?”
This time, he did scratch his head. Not a good sign. Since I forgot the “be chill” part, I tried basic denial and pretended those words didn’t blurt out of my mouth.
I wiggled my rear onto a pub stool and changed out my stiletto for a flat. Going for broke, I patted the seat next to me, hoping he’d take the hint. And holy heck, it worked. He folded his tall frame down onto the stool, his long legs extending under the table to the other side of the base. I wondered if his feet hung over the end of the bed at night. A girl would be lucky to find out.
He was sitting so close; I caught the scent of his cologne. I closed my eyes as the smell filled my lungs. I wanted to remember it—and him. The chances of meeting an older, refined man like him again were next to zero. The aroma was woodsy, like an old desk polished with a mix of leather and musk. I wanted to sink my teeth into him. He smelled divine.
I opened my dreamy girl eyes to find him staring at me, searching my face. I bit my lip and shrugged. How did you explain trying to absorb someone’s smell without sounding like a lunatic? I kept my mouth closed.
“You know, I’ve never met someone like you.”
“First time I’ve heard that.” We both laughed at my lie.
His small chuckle felt like a major breakthrough for a contained guy like him. I affected him, and he let me see it. A warm flush rushed over my skin. My lust was hitting nuclear levels. I wanted to slide into his suit pocket and let him take me home, but with a hot guy like him, I’d probably never want to leave. Yeah, I was schoolgirl crushing over him hard.
7
Lucas
“I’m curious…” I paused, rubbing my chin to make her stew for a moment. My plan failed. This woman seized on the silence quicker than a cat chasing a mouse—the mouse being me.