Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I finish my pie just as Diana is taking her last bite.
“That was absolutely delicious. Crazy that a pie at this little hole in the wall in Denver is better than my aunt’s.” Then she clamps her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God. I didn’t mean to imply—”
“Don’t apologize.” I gesture around the small diner. “This is a hole in the wall. It’s a dive. But I like it.”
She smiles at me then, and it’s a warm and genuine smile. “You know what, Dragon? I like it too.”
Chapter Eleven
Diana
Silence between us doesn’t seem so awkward. Once we’re back at the penthouse, Dragon goes to his room.
Fine with me. It saves me from having to make conversation.
Seems a waste of my last Saturday night before I’ll be working my ass off, but really, what else is there to do?
I could call some friends. Maybe go out to a club.
My friend Teddy Holmes is an executive assistant at the architecture firm where I did my internship. She’s always up for a good time, although she probably already has plans.
Still, what the hell? I grab my phone from the counter where I set it when we got home, and I’m about to call her when it buzzes.
It’s Brianna.
“What’s up, Bree?” I say into the phone. “Aren’t you supposed to be humping your new husband on your honeymoon?”
“Don’t be so gross,” she says. “Jesse’s in the shower, and I wanted to give you a call. Thank you again for what you’re doing for Dragon.”
“Consider it my good deed for the week.”
“How’s everything going?”
“He just moved in today, Bree.” I glance toward the door to Dragon’s room. It’s closed, probably locked. “But it’s fine. Once I start work, I’m not going to be here for more than sleeping, so we certainly won’t get in each other’s way.”
“Thanks for doing this,” she says again. “It means so much to Jesse and to me.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me. I’m glad to do it.” Maybe not glad exactly, but it’s not imposing on my life that much. “What are you guys up to?”
“A lot of lying on the beach… A lot of sex…”
My little sister is having way more sex than I am, but oh well.
“How are you liking Jamaica?”
“Oh my God, loving it. The food is to die for, the beaches are gorgeous and serene, and the people… So friendly.”
“I was surprised you and Jesse didn’t decide to go back to Europe after you didn’t get to finish the tour with them.”
“We’ll go to Europe eventually. But Jesse just spent several months there, and he totally needed a relaxing honeymoon. And Jamaica is so relaxing. Even the activities we’ve done—hiking up Dunn’s River Falls and horseback riding on the beach—it’s all been sublime.”
I scowl at the thought of hiking on a vacation. “A hike was sublime?”
“Absolutely. You actually hike up the waterfall, but remember we’re at sea level, Dee. Compared to living at elevation in Colorado, there’s so much more oxygen in the air here, not to mention the oxygen pouring off from the water molecules… It’s invigorating. An amazing experience.”
“Sounds awesome. Maybe I’ll get to Jamaica myself sometime soon.”
“You totally should. That’s where your next vacation should be.”
I laugh out loud. “I’m not going to have a vacation for a while, Bree. This new job is going to keep me on my toes. I have to prove my worth if I want to get on that mountaintop project.”
“You will. You’re the best they’ve got.”
I smile into the phone. My little sister and I have always gotten along pretty well. We’re four years apart and different as night and day. At her age, she can keep her svelte body without even thinking about dieting. Now that I’m inching toward my late twenties, the same can’t be said about me.
Of course, Brianna also runs ten miles a day and works a lot of calories off outside in our family’s orchards. She’s a cowgirl all the way, whereas I’m more comfortable in an urban setting, despite how I grew up.
“I’ll let you go,” Brianna says. “Thanks again, and don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
I chuckle. “You’re kidding, right? You really want to give me carte blanche to call you while you’re on your honeymoon?”
She giggles into the phone. “You know what I mean. If you need anything or have questions about Dragon or whatever. Jesse’s the guy to ask. He knows Dragon better than anyone.”
I look back at Dragon’s door and frown. “I get the feeling that no one really knows Dragon.”
“You may be right,” she says. “Jesse has kind of alluded to that, though he’s pretty sure he knows Dragon better than anyone else does. Besides Dragon…maybe.”
“Jesse and his therapist at rehab, I guess,” I say. “Have a great time, Bree. Soak up that sun and as much relaxation as you can. I’m a bit envious.”