Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 282(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“Fuck.” He grunts. “Fine.” He takes the money, and even though he watched me count it, he counts it again. “Her next appointment is Thursday at one.”
“You have until the end of the month to pass your test or I’m turning you in, Victor.”
Without another word, I walk away from him, pulling my phone out of my pocket. I type in Haven Weston, determined to learn everything I can about her before Thursday.
3
HAVEN
I told myself all week that I couldn’t back out, and this is my last resort. I need to give it my all. I’m tired of having my guard up with everyone I meet. I’ve had my mind set with determination, but the day of my appointment, I start to talk myself out of it.
As I walk into the hotel, dread comes over me. I don’t want to do this. I mean, yeah, of course, I’d love to cure my intimacy issues, but I can’t see this helping me. The whole thing the other day with Victor was awkward, and it’s not something I want to have to deal with again. I’m already convinced this is not going to work without even giving it a good try.
I know that canceling this late will probably incur a cancellation fee, but I don’t care. I’d rather pay the hundred dollars and just go home to deal with things on my own.
As I’m walking into the hotel, I see Victor pacing back and forth. As soon as he sees me, he stops. “Hello, Haven—”
Before he gets into it, I interrupt him. “I’m sorry, I should have called yesterday. I don’t think this is going to work out, and I know you need to charge me a cancellation fee or whatever and that’s fine, I completely understand.”
“You can’t quit… I mean, look, I’m actually out here because I had—I mean—have an emergency, and I had to call in another cuddler for your case. He’s waiting for you now.”
“But…” I start, and Victor is walking backward away from me. “So if you can go talk to him… if you need to cancel, just let him know.”
“But…” I call after him, but he doesn’t stop, and he’s walking out the door without turning back.
I look down the hallway, and dread settles like a heavy ball in my stomach. Okay, so I guess I’ll go in there and cancel my appointment. Easy peasy.
I slowly walk down the hallway, and when I get to the office door, I pull my shoulders back, take a deep breath, force a smile that I’m not feeling to my face, and knock.
The door opens instantly, and I take a step back as I lean my head back to look at the huge man standing in front of me.
He’s tall with wide shoulders, and I take another step back. He looks to be in his late thirties or early forties, and he has muscles on top of muscles.
He’s watching me closely. “Hello, Haven. My name is Ridge, but my family calls me King. Won’t you come in?”
He takes a step back and gestures inside the room.
I know I should answer him or acknowledge him in some way, but I’m too busy looking at him. I’ve never seen a man as rugged yet handsome and put together as him. His jaw is strong and covered with a thin stubble. His hair is short on the sides, but the top hangs a little over his brow. His eyes, which are trained on me so hard that I feel like he can read my mind, are brown with gold speckles, making me want to stand on my tiptoes to get a closer look.
The thought freaks me out a little, and I take another step back so that I’m standing in the middle of the hallway. King still hasn’t moved. It’s like he’s frozen in place, looking at me with patience.
“Haven,” he says softly.
I wait for him to reach for me, and I know I’ll freak out, but he surprises me when his hands fist at his sides and he continues to talk to me in a soothing voice. “I’m standing in for Victor today. If you’re more comfortable out there, we can meet in the lobby if you prefer.”
“Uh,” I start, looking everywhere but at him.
My heart is racing, and my palms are getting sweaty. I try to say something, but I’m frozen in place, overwhelmed by everything I’m feeling right now. Why am I like this? Why am I reacting to him this way?
“Uh,” I finally stutter. “Cancel. I need to cancel.”
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, and besides the way his shoulders tense a little, that’s the only tell that he doesn’t like what I’m saying. He leans against the open door. “Why would you cancel, Haven?”
I swear his tone drops an octave every time he says my name. “Because last time…”