Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
The feel of his skin against hers was remarkably intimate—warm. She tried to control the shiver that ran through her body and failed. Her arm sagged against her body, and Aspen realized that the back of his hand pressed against her plump body. Immediately, she flapped her arm out away from her body to prevent him from being repelled by the extra flesh she hated around her bra straps.
“Stop,” he commanded quietly, and without hesitation, she obeyed. Traffic moved around them in the popular cafeteria, creating a bubble of privacy.
“Relax, Aspen. I lose clues about the path if you hold your arm rigidly away from your body. I can have Boston follow you if you would be more comfortable without me touching you,” Tim explained.
“Oh, I’m just not in great shape. I didn’t want you to have to touch me. You know—get grossed out,” she whispered, feeling her face blush with heat. What a conversation to have with your new boss before your first official day as his admin!
“Lush bodies do not repel me, Aspen. If you’re okay with my touch, let’s try again.”
“Okay,” she whispered, and relaxed her arm back against her side. Lush?
“Perfect. Now, lead us to the ice cream,” he requested, drawing her from that word vibrating in her mind.
“Almost there.”
When they stopped in front of the counter, the attendant greeted her, “Hi, Aspen. Today’s special is chocolate hazelnut.”
“Yum. Hi, Samuel. This is my new boss, Tim Simmons.”
“Hi, Tim. Welcome to Edgewater Industries. What kind of ice cream do you like?” Samuel asked cheerfully.
“Definitely, chocolate,” Tim answered. “What’s your darkest flavor?”
“Double dutch dark,” Samuel supplied. “It’s fantastic in a sundae.”
“I bet. I’ll take a scoop of that,” Tim agreed. “What would you like, Aspen?”
“I’ll try a scoop of the special in a sugar cone,” she answered.
“Put mine in a cup, please,” Tim requested. “Could I also have a small cup of whipped cream as a treat for Boston?”
“Of course.”
Within a couple of minutes, Samuel had created their treats and carried them to the cash register. Aspen led the way and leaned away slightly to grab her phone wallet from her pocket to pay.
“This is mine, Little girl,” Tim growled quietly next to her.
She froze and pushed the case back into her pocket. She could tell from his tone that she shouldn’t protest. Curious, Aspen watched him pay with his credit card. It hadn’t ever dawned on her how much you’d have to trust vendors if you couldn’t see. They could put any amount on the card. To cover her observation of his actions, Aspen grabbed a bunch of napkins.
“Find a spot for us to sit where Boston can be out of the traffic lane, please,” he requested after situating the two cups in one hand and replacing his hand on her arm.
“Got it. Let’s go over here.”
Aspen guided the way, licking her ice cream cone to keep it from dripping. She should have gotten a cup like him. That would have been much neater. “This one is good. If you sit here, Boston can be away from everyone.”
“Thank you.” Within seconds, they were situated.
Tim’s first concern was for Boston. She liked that they took care of each other. Tim’s fingers tangled in the dog’s soft black fur, and she could feel the silent communication between the two. With his tail thumping happily, Boston lapped up the whipped cream treat before licking his owner’s hand.
“Good boy!” Tim praised him before settling the dog under his chair. “How’s the ice cream?”
“Delicious!” Aspen answered. “I think you’ll like it. They get it from a local dairy so it’s super fresh.” She tried not to watch as Tim maneuvered the spoon into the dish and carried it to his mouth.
“Yum. This is delicious.” After taking another bite, he added, “I’m counting on you to let me know if I have chocolate on my chin.”
He sounded more cheerful than he had since they’d met. That gave her the courage to ask, “Why did you call me, Little girl?”
“Am I wrong?”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean by that?” Aspen asked, trying to cover her growing panic.
“I think that is the first lie you’ve told me, Aspen. Perhaps I’m miss-reading you, but I would bet almost anything other than Boston that you understand the term ‘Little girl’ and identify with it.”
Tim’s directness took away any disguise she might have hidden behind. “How did you know?”
“Just a feeling. The way you hold yourself, your kindness, your enjoyment of little things like the flowers and butterflies as we crossed the green space are notable. Most of all, I sense from you a desire to please and to be appreciated.”
Aspen stared at him. No one ever looked at her that closely. She laughed. “I like that person you’ve imagined in your mind. She sounds amazing,” Aspen said to deflect the question that still loomed between them.