Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Isn’t Carter there?”
“I’m her brother,” I said. “It’s different.”
“But you can’t live your life based on Vanessa,” she said. “She wouldn’t want you to.”
“The idea of her living in that big city alone while we’re all five hours away makes me anxious. When she finishes school, I’ll think about it again. I know she’ll move back to Tuscany when she’s done.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. She wants to live on her own for a while because she needs her independence. But she’s really close with my mom, and she loves being home every time we visit. When she moves back, I’ll consider it.”
“Great. Because I would love to live there too.”
I stared straight ahead, but I felt my heart beat quicker in my chest. She spoke of our future together like it was certain, and that filled me with both joy and terror. If she were still living with me two years from now, the relationship would feel more serious. I’d already been with her longer than any other woman in my life. That would be a whole new kind of commitment. For a man not looking for love or marriage, that sounded like the very thing I was trying to avoid.
So, I forced myself to stop thinking about it.
Muse stretched out underneath the sheets, pointing her toes and bringing her arms above her head. A quiet moan escaped her lips, and her eyes fluttered open a moment later. “I’ve never slept so well on a plane before…”
I lay on my back with her beside me, my tablet held up so that I could look through my emails. Everything was set for the show, and the girls were already in New York. I went through the performance over and over in my mind, but there was nothing left to change. It was ready to go.
But I couldn’t deny I was nervous.
Everyone questioned whether my best model would be in the show, and if she weren’t, it would affect my work. But if she were on my arm for the evening, pulled into my side with affection in her eyes, that should still be good enough. She wasn’t my model anymore because she was the woman in my bed.
The world would know I was the one fucking her.
She turned over and cuddled into my side, her arm draping over my waist and her cheek resting against my shoulder. “Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
“Why are you nervous?”
“Never said I was.” I set my tablet to the side, knowing I wouldn’t be able to read when she was in the mood to talk.
“I know. But I can tell you are.” She propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at me. “I’m just not sure why. You have nothing to be nervous about, Conway. Those women are so proud to model for Barsetti Lingerie that they’re going to give everything they have. And the designs you’ve created are absolutely beautiful. Any woman could wear them, and no one would deny how stunning they are.”
I looked up into her face, seeing the softness in her eyes and the rosy color in her cheeks. Her brown hair was slightly messy, and it was pulled back from her face, showing off her incredible features. Makeup or no makeup, she was ready for the runway at any time.
She placed her palm against my chest and gave me a gentle rub. “So, don’t worry about it.”
“I’m not the kind that worries.”
She couldn’t stifle the laugh that flew out of her mouth. “Yeah, okay. You’re the biggest worrier I know.”
“Incorrect.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever you say.” She lay back again on the soft sheets. “This is the only way to travel.”
“I’m glad you approve.”
“I’m serious. I’ve never slept like that on a plane before. They’re always so uncomfortable, and there’s always a baby crying somewhere…no offense to babies.”
The attendant knocked on the door. “Mr. Barsetti, we’ll be landing soon. Take a seat and buckle yourself in.”
“Can we just stay here?” Muse pulled the sheets up and released a happy sigh.
“Unfortunately, no.” I kissed her shoulder before I got out of bed. “But we can sleep on the way back.”
“Yay.” She pulled on her clothes and fixed her hair before we returned to the seats toward the front of the plane. The plane landed on the runway smoothly, and then we were escorted to my car that was waiting for us on the runway. The transfer was easy, and within minutes, we were in the heart of Manhattan.
Muse stared out the window and looked at the street corners and the shops that were along the road. Her gaze didn’t change as she examined everything, and it was difficult to tell how she felt about being back in her hometown.
I watched her, noting every single time she blinked and pursed her lips. I’d give anything to know exactly what she was thinking at any given time. Her mind fascinated me. I wanted to know everything about her, even the unimportant details.