Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Not for the first time, I felt like she was some kind of Jekyll and Hyde creature, and I wished the other Effie had stayed.
Chapter 23
FREYA
MY FIRST DAY IN Dublin was spent in the new Clover House Ireland office. It had flown by in a whirl of press requests, last-minute crises, and trying to understand what people were saying to me as we prepped for the opening. Everyone spoke so fast and worked so slow, chatting and laughing all the while. It didn’t help that Keegan had disappeared after lunch. Mick had told him there was something outside for him, and Keegan had looked out the window and then disappeared. But we had managed, and before long I found myself sitting in my hotel room, eating some room service sandwiches, and looking critically at the dress I had borrowed from Beatrix for the opening. I sighed and looked to the side at my hair in the mirror. It was enormous. I put the sandwiches down and got up to turn the TV on for some noise as I got ready. I treated myself to a shower, and the hot water felt gorgeous on my tired body. The image of Keegan came to my mind unbidden, and I wondered if he was back yet. Mick didn’t seem concerned. I wondered where he was; if he was showering in the room next door, maybe. I let myself think about that for a second, his tanned arms under the water… I let my hands wander over my stomach and between my thighs, and then stopped abruptly. What the hell was I doing? I felt like I was losing my mind.
I got out of the shower and began the long process of making my hair look less like a lion’s mane, and then it was time to face the dress. It fit beautifully, clinging to all the right places as Beatrix had tactfully put it, but it was way too low at the front, and I couldn’t seem to keep it in place. I tried everything I could think of, and then realized that this is why Beatrix had put a roll of tape into the dress bag. I had thought it was there by accident and had taken it out, but of course, it was tit tape. And I hadn’t brought it. I called down to the concierge to request a roll of tape and thanked god the receptionist was unfazed and simply sent a bellboy up with it. It took me ten minutes and countless attempts to stick the dress firmly to myself. Then I tested it, climbing onto the bed on all fours, and then jumping and then checking in the mirror to see if I was still in the dress. Success!
In the lobby, I met Mick, and the look on his face told me that Keegan was still not back.
“Have you heard from him?” he asked, hopeful.
“Sorry, no,” I replied.
“Shit, he better not let me down!” he said.
“He won’t. Trust me, he will be there,” I replied, with absolutely no certainty.
We made our way quickly to the front of the hotel where a taxi was waiting to take us to the opening. A shout made us pause, and we saw Keegan come practically sliding through the lobby, dressed in full evening tuxedo, but with his hair still off-duty, standing up all over the place.
“Jesus, Keegan, you had me worried,” said Mick, before laughing. “And sort out your head – you have fucking helmet hair, man!”
Keegan ran a hand through his hair and jumped into the taxi. “Sorry, lost track of time!”
It took no time at all to reach the new office building, and by the time we got there, Keegan had smoothed his hair into place and straightened his tux. I hated to admit it, but he looked incredible. When we stepped out of the car and I took off my coat to leave in the cloakroom, he followed me with his own. I left my coat and then turned, facing him. His eyes widened.
“Wow!” he said. “You look… that dress… I mean…”
“Thanks,” I said, not waiting for him to finish any of his thoughts.
The opening event was taking place in the wide-open lobby of the new office building, and it was a lot like Clover House Boston in style. I had been there all day, but now it looked amazing, decorated tastefully with low lighting and high top tables that had been brought in to give it a more formal atmosphere. The waiting staff were moving through the room with Champagne, and I was glad to take a glass, hoping it might calm the nervous anticipation I was feeling. Keegan seemed to feel it too, and he stiffened as he was approached by a sober-looking middle-aged couple.
“You made it on time then!” the woman said and kissed his cheek.