Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
“Oh. Okay.”
“The thought of you with another man makes me feel irrational.”
I smiled. “I feel the same way.”
He leaned across the table. “I’m glad we’ve had this talk. I thought it was torture to be near you and not know what it feels like to be inside you. But apparently there are way worse things than not fucking you, such as imagining that someone else is.”
I laughed. “Well, put that thought out of your head. How was your trip?”
Grant shook out his napkin. “Productive. We’re buying a building on the east coast and going to relocate a few of our smaller businesses’ headquarters around the city into one building. It’s a good time to buy.”
“Oh, that’s exciting.”
“I thought it was. Though I’m realizing how much time I’m going to have to spend out there to get it done. I like New York, but it’s a long trip.”
“I haven’t been there in years. I’d like to go at Christmas. I’m sure it’s touristy, but I think it would be nice to skate at Rockefeller Center and wait in line to see the windows at Bloomingdale’s.”
“You sound like Leo.”
“He wants to go to New York at Christmas?”
Grant nodded. “Maybe we’ll take him.”
I got that warm, fuzzy feeling in my stomach again. He didn’t hesitate when he spoke of things in the future, like it was a given we’d be together.
The waiter came over to take our drink order. I loved that Grant remembered the wine I liked, yet looked to me for approval when ordering it. I also really loved the five o’clock shadow lining his masculine jaw, and the blade of a nose that was his profile when he handed the wine menu back to the waiter.
I’d been hesitant to mention that a bunch of us had booked hotel rooms down the block from Mia’s wedding. It would be odd to not stay in the same room, and yet I hadn’t been sure I was ready for that. Though we’d just confirmed we were in an exclusive relationship and were talking about plans a few months away, so what was I waiting for? God knows desire wasn’t the problem. I only had to look across the table to get my feathers all ruffled.
So when the waiter walked away, I decided to go for it. “Umm…this weekend… Most of the wedding party is going to stay at the Park Place Hotel down the block from the restaurant. This way everyone can indulge and not have to worry about getting home. And Mia is having a brunch the next morning at the hotel restaurant. I have a room booked, if you would want to stay.”
“Is that really a question?”
I laughed. “I guess not. But I wasn’t going to assume.”
“Let me make it easy for you in the future. If the invitation involves you and the potential of you being naked, count me in.”
What had started as an awkward arrival with the green dress now turned into a fun and comfortable dinner. Shannon passed by a few times, and I could honestly say Grant didn’t notice. He had a way of making me feel like the only woman in the room without even trying. I felt all of his attention, because I actually had it.
I needed to use the ladies’ room, so I excused myself after Grant ordered a slice of cheesecake for us to share with a wink. When I finished up in the stall, I opened the door to find Shannon lining her lips in the mirror. Her eyes slanted to mine in the reflection. She wasn’t surprised to see me.
“How long have you and Grant been together?”
I stepped to the sink to wash my hands. I had no desire to chitchat with this woman, or any woman Grant had slept with. But a sadistic part of me was curious.
“Not too long.” I tilted my head and flashed an insincere smile. “He mentioned you two were…friendly.”
“Is that what he told you? That we were friends?”
I dried off my hands. “No. But I thought it sounded nicer than fuck buddies.”
She squinted at me. “We were together for about six months.”
That surprised me. Though I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing it. Instead, I followed her lead and started to line my lips in the mirror. She watched me in silence.
I blotted and looked at her pointedly. “Did you want to tell me something else?”
“I thought I’d give you a little woman-to-woman advice. When he tells you he’s not cut out for a relationship, believe him. He says one thing and acts another way. It’ll make you think you’re different than the rest. He’s very convincing. I remember one time my car had gotten towed, and I asked him if he could take me to grab it after work from the impound lot. When I walked out of work, my car was parked in my usual spot in the parking lot. He’d even gotten it washed for me. He’s very sweet when he wants to be. Took me a year to get over him.”