Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Okay then. I guess we play by the rules.” I take a hesitant step forward to get a better look at the table. “Nice spread. A lot of food, though.”
Aria shrugs. “Is it?”
My eyes damn near bug out of my head. “You don’t think so?”
She shrugs again, looking away as if she’s embarrassed. “It’s just how dinner is around here.”
“Wow,” I say and take the seat across from her. “It’s an impressive spread even if it is a shit ton of food.” I start to grab a chicken salad with oranges in it and shrimp skewers to start. There’s all kinds of shit that makes this feel like a holiday meal. “You eat like this all the time?”
“I don’t eat everything if that’s what you’re asking.”
I laugh. “If you did, I’d ask where in the hell you put it all.”
“I eat,” she insists, sticking her nose in the air.
“There’s the Aria I know.” I laugh at her expression, so confused she doesn’t know what to do with herself. “I know you eat, but if you ate all of this, there would be a lot more to you than there is.”
“Thanks,” she sighs. “I think.”
Savoring each bite of this fine feast, I chow down like I haven’t eaten in weeks, when Beatrice and Frannie waltz in to take our plates. “Hey,” I say, my fork dangling mid-air. "Is there a time limit on dinner?”
Frannie laughs. “Oh, Mr. Lucky. The first course is over.”
My gaze swings to Aria. “Rich people can’t eat family style?”
“We can, but we don’t.” She shrugs again. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“No fun,” I assure her. “But how am I supposed to know what I need to save room for if I don’t know what’s coming out next?”
Her lips curl into a slow grin. “Good point. Beatrice. Franny. Bring out the rest of the meal, please.”
I bat my eyes at Beatrice, laying the charm on thick. “And while you’re at it, Bea, if you ever feel the need to admire this ruggedly handsome mug, you’re more than welcome to circle back. Feel me?”
Pink dots form on her cheeks, as she dismissively waves a hand in my direction. “You’re trouble, Lucky.”
“I’m just plain Lucky, Bea,” I say and raise an eyebrow.
She chuckles under her breath and shakes her head before waving to Frannie to follow her out of the dining room.
“You’re good with people,” Aria says with a smile as she stabs at her salad. “It seems to come easily to you.”
“You mean my stunning facial artwork doesn’t detract from my charm?” I ask, pointing at my face.
“No, just something I noticed about you. You fit in everywhere you go. It’s a quality I envy.”
“It’s one I adopted over the years,” I tell her, opting for honesty. “I was a scrawny little kid back in the day.” I shake my head at the memory. “Anyway, where I grew up, I was a target for all the bullies, so I had to learn to talk my way out of an ass whooping or two or a few dozen.”
“A few dozen?” she says with a note of alarm. “Tough neighborhood.”
“One of the toughest,” I confirm. “But it worked more often than it didn’t. So, then I learned to use the same skills to woo the ladies. Some might say my mouth is my second best asset.” I wiggle my brows until she laughs. The sound is genuine and feminine as fuck.
“You are truly ridiculous, Lucky.”
“A mighty fine compliment from a woman who eats a three-course meal in the middle of the week. Talk about ridiculous.”
“It’s not my rules.” She’s not saying that for sympathy, I realize, just as the housekeepers return with the rest of the food.
I keep an eye on Aria, watching how she smiles at the staff, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Everything is kind of wooden, as if she’s going through the motions but not really present.
“Thank you, beautiful ladies, for this fine feast,” I say to the women.
Frannie says, “Enjoy your dinner,” and they make their exit.
As soon as they leave, I pile more food on my plate and make exaggerated, appreciative noises because, for some fucking reason, I want to make the princess feel better.
“I promise not to eat everything, Lucky,” she laughs. “Feel free to slow down.”
I nod and dig into the butteriest mashed potatoes that have ever been in my mouth. “Damn, these are delicious. Eat up. Butter is good for the curves.”
She takes about half the amount that’s on my plate and the same is true for all the other dishes. “Happy?”
“More for me,” I shrug and keep eating. For a few long minutes, we eat in silence, and it’s nice. The tension is gone, and it’s quiet. “Aria.”
She freezes, and her gaze slowly crawls across the table before eventually meeting my eyes. “Yes?”