Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“What’s on your mind, sweetheart? Why the long looks?”
Her cheeks flush prettily. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.”
I take her hand and intertwine our fingers. “I like when you look at me, honey, so look all you want. But this time, I could tell that there was something on your mind.”
She nods, sips her drink, and then meets my gaze straight. “Have you seen Jocelyn around lately?”
I pause for a moment, making sure my expression doesn’t change. How odd that this would come up so soon after my unexpected encounter with the woman just a few days ago. Should I tell Patty? But instead, I decide to keep things simple and shake my head.
“No, not lately. It seems that crazy woman is finally keeping her distance, the way she’s supposed to.”
Patty’s silent for a moment, but then shoots me another look.
“Yes, but why is she so obsessed with you? Do you mind if I ask?”
Ah, there’s the real question. I run a hand through my hair, trying to decide how best to answer, and after a while, I let out a sigh. “No, it’s fine if you ask. About a year ago,” I say, “Jocelyn and I hooked up. It wasn’t anything, but yes, we had sex.”
Patty’s eyebrows raise slightly, but she says nothing.
“Our relationship—if you can even call it that—was supposed to be about nothing but the physical, but Jocelyn got it into her head that it should be something more. I broke it off when she told me she wanted us to get married. Can you imagine that? After a few short trysts in bed, she wanted a ring. But Jocelyn’s tenacious because she started following me around even after I ended things. That was plenty annoying, but when she broke into my apartment, it was the last straw and I ended up having to move. I even got that restraining order, but let’s face it: anyone in New York can find me because I work at Montgomery Holdings.”
“Wow,” murmurs Patty. “That’s pretty insane.”
I sigh.
“I know. She literally became a criminal, she was that determined. But it is what it is, and I think your presence is helping, honey. You’re my fiancée, and Jocelyn hasn’t come around since.”
The lie slides off my tongue so easily, but it feels right because I don’t want to worry Patty. Meanwhile, my girl nods while running her finger up and down the condensation collecting on her cup.
“I’m sorry I asked you something so painful. It’s just that I’m in—” she stops, her cheeks flushing again. “Sorry. I just wanted to know more about what I’m getting into.”
I smile. “No, it’s fine and I don’t blame you for being curious,” I say. “I’d want to know if there was a madwoman around, but fortunately, Jocelyn has backed off. Now, pretty girl, are you ready to keep shopping?”
She nods and pushes away from the table before heading back into the fray. The mall’s pretty crowded now, but it feels like Patty and I are walking in a bubble, our hands linked.
“Do you miss working at the piano bar?” I ask idly. “I know you haven’t been back since we got engaged.”
She smiles ruefully.
“I don’t want to say that I miss it exactly, but I do miss my old coworkers. Sometimes, I wonder if Jamie’s has hired a new piano player because management hasn’t reached out to me.”
“You liked it there that much?”
She smiles. “Like isn’t the right word for it, but yes, I’m definitely nostalgic because Jamie’s is the first place that gave me a chance to show off my musical chops. Before, it was just babysitting and odd jobs. So that makes it special.”
“Hm. Maybe I should get my mother to come by to see you sometime then.”
Patty gasps and playfully punches my chest. “Don’t even joke!” she exclaims while I laugh. “OMG, it would be such a disaster if your mom came to Jamie’s because let’s face it: Martha’s too classy for a joint like that. The whole place smells faintly of stale beer, and there are some really weird people who hang out on any given day. There’s Fat Jack, Big Momma, Kid Cuzo…” she shakes her head. “I really like them, and I miss them even, but I feel like your family would never look at me the same way.” Then, she pauses for a second and chuckles. “But come to think of it, I guess this arrangement of ours is the second gig I’ve gotten based on my ability to play the piano.”
I laugh and take her hand in mine. “Yes, you’re right because what could be more fitting for a billionaire’s wife? I love the fact that you’re a professional pianist. It’s very classy.”
She giggles. “Yes, but how about you? Did you ever play an instrument?”
I nod.
“Yeah, cello when I was a kid, and it was a fucking disaster. I think I accidentally set that thing on fire.”