Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87993 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“So, what got you into writing romance?” Wade asked.
With a shrug, I responded. “Jane Austen. I fell hard for Mr. Darcy, and the rest is history.”
He gave me a blank expression.
“Please, tell me you’ve read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.”
Nothing. His gray eyes seemed to be lost. “Nope.”
I clutched my chest while he put the boxes in the back seat of his truck. “Wade, tell me you’re kidding. You had to have read it in high school.”
“I remember The Scarlet Letter, but no Prejudice and Pride.”
My knees wobbled. He couldn’t even get the title right.
“There has been an injustice in your life. This is something we have to fix. Right away. Immediately.” My fingers went to my temples. “I’m not sure we can be friends right now.”
Wade laughed. “Why don’t you read it to me on the way back?”
I nearly pulled a muscle in my neck as I looked back at him. “You want me to read Pride and Prejudice to you?”
He shrugged. “Why not? Unless you don’t have the book on your phone or you need to work.”
The way my head was spinning was not good. Wade Adams was inching his way into my heart. The heart that I had on lockdown. No man was ever going to break it again.
Before I could stop myself, I was agreeing. “I’m actually ahead on my word count goal. What makes you think I have it on my phone?”
He flashed the smile that made me want to rip my panties off and tell him to take me right in the cab of his truck. “My mother loved to read. She had a Kindle app on every device she owned. Phone, laptop, iPad. She could access any book at any given moment. When one device’s battery died, she just powered up the second or third. I figured you were the same. I mean, you have to have a love of reading to be a writer, right?”
I want this man. Like…right…this…second.
“You’re killing me.”
He frowned. “Huh?”
Shit. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. With a wave of my hand, I brushed off my outburst. “Nothing. You’re right. I have it on my phone. I’ll read it off my Kindle, though, since it’s also on there.”
Reaching into my bag, I pulled out my Kindle Fire, causing Wade to chuckle.
“Hey, laugh now, but I promise you, you will be in love with Mr. Darcy,” I shook my head and giggled. “I mean, you’ll be in love with Elizabeth Bennet within the first few chapters.”
“Bring it on.”
I pulled up the book and cleared my throat. My heart was racing, and I couldn’t help the heat on my cheeks. I had no idea why I was so nervous. Maybe because I was sharing something with Wade—something I loved.
Before I started, I glanced over. With a smile, I focused on my Kindle and started to read aloud. We were soon lost in the world of Mr. Darcy, Charles Bingley, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mrs. Bennet.
Before I knew it, Wade was parked in the driveway and I was still reading.
Hitting the top of my Kindle, I bookmarked the page and turned it off, stowing it in my bag.
“What are you doing?” Wade asked.
I tried to hold back my smile. “We’re home.”
“So? What happens next?”
I stared at him. “Are you for real? I mean, you check on April. You adore kids, you like classical literature. You’re like a dream man.”
He smiled. “Your dream man?”
My heart plummeted. I had the urge to say yes. Instead, I winked. “You wish.”
Before he could say anything else, I grabbed my bag and got out of the truck, my pulse racing. I had never walked so quickly up the steps of my parents’ house in my entire life.
“Hey!” Wade called out. “What do you want to do with your swag?”
I stopped and spun around. “I’ll put it in my office.”
“You have an office?” Wade asked.
I stood there like an idiot. No, I didn’t have an office. I shared one with my mother. I had taken up half of it storing boxes of books and swag items.
I started to have an anxiety attack. What if things do go to the next level with Wade? Or any guy? I have no house! I still live at home, for fuck’s sake!
The feel of Wade’s hands on my arms caused me to jump.
“You okay, Amelia?”
Wade’s eyes were filled with concern. Tears filled mine, and I had no idea why. “I still live at home. I’m almost twenty-three years old, and I still live at home and share an office with my mother. How sad is that?”
He leaned down, eyes level with mine. “I don’t think it’s sad. You’re lucky to be able to get along with them well enough to live with them. Besides. Your parents’ house is damn huge. I don’t think I’ve even seen them in passing one time.”