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)
“No, you’re nothing like the ones I knew growing up. Though, they could’ve used your pep and joie de vivre.” Especially Sister Mary. She had a permanent, sucked-on-lemons face.
“That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me in ages.”
“That you’re not a nun?”
“Mon Dieu. Non, la joie de vivre. J’adore le français.”
“France, huh? Have you been to Paris?”
“Only in my dreams. It’s easy to do with Google Earth. I’ve walked the Seine and stood near the Eiffel Tour. Also, there are live broadcasts all around the city. Someday, maybe it will happen.”
She’s maddeningly happy and pure of heart. I didn’t know people like her existed outside of Hallmark movies. My sister was addicted to them, thus I succumbed on the rare occasion—or with bribery on her part.
“I hope it does.” And I did.
“Thanks, Herb. You look like a man who’s traveled the world.” All I wanted to do was escape it.
“Used to be.” I left it at that. “Finished with your coffee?”
“Yep.”
I rose off the stool, relieved to stretch out my legs. “You probably have to get back to work.”
“I could call in sick.” She raised her brows, offering a questioning gaze. “Though, Wilsons needs me today.”
She grabbed her jacket off the stool and stood next to me. We tossed our empty cups into the trash can by the door, and I opened it for her.
“Thank you.” Her manners were polished and gracious. I bet she’d even write a thank you letter to the guy who found her shoe.
Not ready to part yet, we stood near the front entrance of the coffee shop. My hands and emotions were stuffed in my pockets, while she rose to her tiptoes then lowered back to the ground.
I decided to throw a question back at her. Go for broke. Why not? It wasn’t like I’d ever see her again. Besides, I was curious to know what a young woman full of dreams and idealism thought of love. Was she a fairy-tale princess waiting for her prince? Or in her free-spirited nature, did she love with open arms?
“You asked me about love. Rather bold, considering we hardly know each other. So, turnabout is fair play, correct?” She nodded, giving me my green light. “Have you ever fallen in love, Peaches?”
She glanced up at the sky, tapping her chin. When our eyes met again, I saw a light shining in hers. She had her answer, and I was all ears.
“I’m open to it and hope to find it someday. For now, I’m saving myself for marriage.” Her mouth tipped at the corners as her green eyes glimmered with a teasing energy. “Not that kind of saving. I’m not letting go of my heart until I know it’s him—the man I’ll pledge my life to. Sound corny?”
Shit.
It sounded beautiful. Perfect. She knew her worth and wouldn’t settle for anything else. A practical dreamer. The kind who found their happiness in the end. I truly wished that for her.
“How are you so mature, at what, twenty-three?”
“Raised by a single mother, and I’ve done plenty of Netflix and chilling in my days, old man.” She waggled her brow and swayed from side to side. So damn cute.
“Interesting how a streaming video subscription became a verb for screwing.”
“It was probably some college guys who started it.” She began talking like a college bro. “Hey, babe. Why don’t you come over and chill? I have Netflix.”
“Confession. I’ve never watched Netflix. I don’t do TV.”
“Herb, you need to stay in more often and just relax on your couch.” Little did she know, my thirty-thousand-dollar sectional was made of fine Italian leather and as comfortable as a wooden picnic table. There was no casual in my life.
“Promise me you’ll download it today and watch something. It’s under twenty dollars a month. About the price of one of the buttons on your suit.”
“Excuse me. They’re more like a thousand. Pure gold, then lacquered to a shiny navy.” She shook her head and sighed.
“All right. I’ll figure out how to get it to appear on my screen.”
“Good.” She clapped her hands together, overjoyed I’d agreed. “Start with The Office or Parks and Rec. People usually prefer one over the other. Kind of like how people are either a wiz at geometry or algebra. I’ve never known a genius at both.”
“Algebra.” I raised my hand. “Let me guess. Geometry?”
“Never met a right angle I didn’t like.” She gleamed up at me.
“Funny.”
I caught myself smiling again. My facial muscles were protesting this unknown activity. I knew what was next: leave or ask for her phone number.
I’d do the best thing for her and say goodbye, but I wanted nothing more than to go back in time—erase my sins from the past and be twenty-five all over again. Then I’d find out more about this green-eyed goddess.
I glanced at the window of the coffee shop, seeing us together in the reflection. A petite young woman standing on the sidewalk. She was full of life and promise, beautiful in a breathless way. I was chained to a life of survival and completely dead inside. Beyond a reasonable doubt, I would ruin her.