Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Humming to herself, she stepped beneath the shower and let out a little gasp as the cold water washed over her body. She’d forgotten to give it a second to warm up. Crossing her arms over her chest, she tilted her head back and waited. The moment it warmed up, she turned in the water, giving it a chance to warm her bones.
It felt so good, so very good.
Once she was all wet, she soaped her body, and then shampooed and conditioned her hair, taking her time. Wasn’t that what women did for a date? Took their time? Had fun?
She was so not used to this kind of thing.
After her shower, she wrapped her hair in a towel, dried her body, and went to her closet to grab the only cocktail dress she owned. It was black, and she’d worn it to a funeral. She had no other use for it, so with some new black lingerie she had a weakness for, she pulled them on, followed by the dress, and started to get her hair ready. There was no need for her to even contemplate makeup. She’d never taken the time to get used to wearing the stuff, and now, it would only make her more frazzled.
Calling a cab, she waited for it to arrive as she stared down at the text.
They were going to meet in a small restaurant bar near the mall. She could do this. It would be super easy. Nothing too intrusive.
Her cab arrived and one last look at her home, and she slowly left, trying to think of a really good excuse not to go.
Instead, she locked the door and headed toward the driver.
Giving him the location, she climbed into the back of the car, finding her nerves were shot. Her hands shook, and her palms were sweaty. She could do this.
She really could do this.
Even as she thought this, though, she felt a little sick at the prospect of meeting some strange man and having drinks.
You can do this. Just don’t accept a drink from him. You don’t want him to spike your drink. Order a salad, even though you hate cucumbers. Just order one.
Over and over in her mind, she kept on repeating what she should and shouldn’t do until she started to get all panicky and worried.
There was no time to panic though because the cab driver pulled up, and any chance she had of leaving was gone.
She paid the cab driver his price and climbed out of the car, staring at the building where she would meet her very first date.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped toward the door, and when she opened it, she felt incredibly sick and nervous.
This would be easy.
She had to start somewhere to find her soulmate. With that in mind, she stepped into the restaurant with a little spring in her step.
Chapter Two
Max wanted to go and take Aria home, but he’d made a point of sitting in Trey’s tattoo parlor to prove to himself he’d not gotten an obsession. However, he wanted to make sure she got home okay, and the only way to do that was to go and be with her.
Dale and Trey were laughing over some joke and he’d missed half of it, so he was pretending to get it, when in truth, he wanted to walk Aria home.
When had he gotten so pussy-whipped?
The bell above Trey’s door rang out, and Max turned to see both Molly and June entering.
They all had a cooing moment over the baby, but he was more interested in what Aria was doing.
Not that he hated kids. He didn’t. He loved kids a lot. In recent months, he’d even considered having a family of his own, and yes, that was certainly not a direction he ever thought he’d be taking.
“Where’s Aria?” he asked, cutting through all their bullshit conversation. He was tired of pretending not to be interested. He wanted to know where Aria was so he could make sure she was okay.
Their conversation this morning hadn’t sat well with him, and well, now, he wanted to make sure she was fine.
June smiled. “She’s on a date. I already got a text to say she arrived and the restaurant.”
She handed him the phone, and he saw the name of where Aria was. “She went on a date?”
“Yes. I think it’s good for her. She’s nervous though,” Molly said.
“What’s wrong?” Trey asked.
“When are you going to admit you’ve got a thing for Aria?” Dale asked.
All of his friends were fucking morons.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous it is for a single woman to go on dates? They could get raped or killed, and you just let her go.”
“It wasn’t about letting her go. She’s old enough, and Aria wants things in life,” June said.
Max ran fingers through his hair. He needed to go home, get changed, and then get to the restaurant. “You’re all a bunch of fucking assholes.”