Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“My room is right down the hall if you need me.”
“Is that an invitation for sex?”
“Only if you want more.” He looked me up and down. “Do you?”
“Can you just take me down right here?” I asked. “I don’t think I can walk that far.”
He smiled, kissing my lips and pushing me toward the bed. “Absolutely.”
* * *
In the morning, when I opened my eyes, I realized that I wasn’t in bed with Tyler anymore. I was tucked under dark gray silk sheets in my bedroom—alone—and the wall-length window was treating me to a picture-perfect view of Seattle.
I was also four hours late for work.
Shit, shit, shit.
Pushing off the covers, I opened the door and found myself face to face with an older brunette.
“I was just about to wake you, Miss March.” She smiled. “We have a busy day ahead of us.”
“We?” I blinked. “Who are you?”
“I’m Zoey, Mr. Carrington’s estate manager,” she said it as if I should’ve already known that. “I couldn’t resist crossing the pond with him. Anyway, it’s my job to make sure his overnight guests are well taken care of, and he’s left quite a list of demands for you. You two must be very good friends.”
“Something like that,” I said. “I don’t mean to be rude, but can you step out of the way, please?”
“I’ve run a soft warm bubble bath for you in the second master suite.” She clasped her hands together. “A hair stylist will come and tend to your tresses after, and then we have a few shopping trips to make.”
“What happens if I just walk out of the front door?”
“Mr. Carrington’s security will send you right back inside.”
“I really need to get to work,” I said. “I have two ARCs to read and one of my top authors is having a mental breakdown, so I need to talk to her.”
“Mr. Carrington says otherwise.” She crossed her arms. “He gave very strict orders, Miss March. Don’t make my job more difficult than it needs to be.”
I looked over her shoulder, trying to see if she could catch me, wondering if his guards would really send me back.
I don’t even have the energy…
“What’s it going to be, Miss March?” she asked.
“Lead the way to the bath.”
“Excellent choice.” She resumed the walk, escorting me down a winding hall and into a bathroom that was ten times the size of my apartment.
White bubbles foamed atop a massive clawfoot tub that stood in front of a window, and a tray of fresh grapes, pineapples, and strawberries sat within reach.
“Enjoy.” Zoey placed a robe on the counter. “The water is a safe temperature for you and your babies, and if you need anything else, please press the gray button on the edge of the tub. I’ll come retrieve you for the shopping in two hours. We’ll need plenty of time to exhaust his suggested budget, I’m sure.”
“What’s the budget?”
She smiled. “There isn’t one.”
She left the room without another word, and I quickly undressed and slipped under the suds.
* * *
“Yes, Chloe?” Tyler answered my call on the first ring, his deep voice startling me in the Versace dressing room.
“I didn’t make it to work today.”
“Okay?” There was a smile in his voice. “I’m quite aware of that.”
“I need to check with you regarding something on my calendar.”
“I’m not discussing work with you until tomorrow,” he said. “You need to relax.”
“Even if it’s something high priority?”
“You think everything is high priority.” He paused. “What is it?”
“The Happily Ever After box mockups in my top drawer,” I said. “Can you ask Sandra to take out the one on top and make sure it gets to the copy team tonight?”
“I can do that.” He agreed. “Tell me something. How much shopping have you done today?”
“Not much. I’m just looking, buying a few things I need, trying on things for fun.”
“Hmmm. Can you give Zoey your cell phone, please?”
“Sure.” I opened the door and motioned for her to step inside the dressing room. Then I handed her my phone.
“Yes, Mr. Carrington?” She held it up to her ear. “Yes, sir. I would say so. Not as stubborn as she was when she woke up, no.”
I crossed my arms, straining to hear him.
“I’d say we’ve spent about four thousand pounds so far,” she said. “Yes, yes. I understand. Okay, I will, sir.” She ended the call and returned the phone to me.
“Are we headed back home now?” I asked. “Was he upset about the four grand?”
“No, and no.” She smiled. “He doesn’t want you to return home until you’ve spent twenty times that much…”
One Week Later
A Nice Change of Pace
Chloe
Seattle, Washington
16 weeks, 4 days pregnant
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to “living” with Tyler. It was almost too good to be true, and my routine felt more like a dream than a lifestyle.