Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“So you want me to lie to you?” I ask, and she gasps.
“No, of course not.”
“Okay, since we know I’m not doing number one, at least not on purpose.” I give her a sly smile. “I’m assuming you won’t want to stay at my house while you’re here.” Her eyes widen. “I’m kidding.” I bite my lip as she stares at me. “Unless you really want to stay at my place.”
She shakes her head and laughs as she picks up another piece of sushi. “I will not be staying at your place. My cousin Gabriella has a place near here. I think I can stay with her.”
I grab my own piece of sushi. “I got you a condo not too far from where I live. That way I can give you a ride to and from the office.”
“There is no need to pick me up. I can make my way there,” she pushes back. “I just need to know what time you’re in the office.”
“I usually get in around six thirty, sometimes six… depending.” Shock is all over her face. “Most of my clients are on the East Coast, so I try to be available for them.”
“That makes sense.” She chews. “Are you done at three, then?”
“Usually around three. Sometimes I stay until five.” I shrug. “It all depends on what I have going on in the day really.”
“Those are long days,” she says softly.
“Long days for sure.” I pick up my sake glass. “But I’m very thorough when I put my mind to something.” I wink at her.
She puts down her chopsticks in front of her, placing her elbows on the top of the table and folding her hands. Her eyes light up even more and her lips almost form a smile, but then as she blinks her eyes, a shield goes up. This Zoey is all business, and if I have to say, she might be even sexier than the friendly Zoey. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t get involved with the people I work for or with. We will be nothing else except co-workers. I work for you and with you. Period. There is no gray area. It’s black and white in my books.”
I put down my chopsticks and lean forward just a bit. “But I’m irresistible.”
She shakes her head, looking down, and when she looks up there is a twinkle in her eye that wasn’t there before. “You might just very well be, but you are also very, very off-limits.” She picks up her glass of sake and does exactly what I did to her by winking at me. “And so am I.”
Five
Zoey
My phone beeps as soon as I slip on my shoes.
Nash: I’ll be there in a minute. Do you want me to come up and get you?
I shake my head; you have to give it to him for persistence. He isn’t going to let up, which gives me stomach flutters and then scares the shit out of me.
Me: I’ll be waiting for you.
I smirk right before I send the next one.
Me: Downstairs in the lobby.
I press send and take one last look at myself before heading to the lobby. I’m wearing cream-colored shorts, but they are so flowy they look like a skirt, sitting mid-thigh, with a long-sleeved silk top that has a flower print all over it. The gold strappy chunky-heeled sandals complete the look. I thought about leaving my hair down, but it's a mess this morning after coming home last night and crashing after I took a shower. So I pinned it up in a ponytail and then curled the ends for a beachy look.
I grab my light green purse and the black bag that holds my computer before grabbing the key to the door and making my way down. I press the elevator button and wait for the doors to open. The minute I step in, I swear a cold shiver runs through me. I press L and wait for the doors to close. I look down at my feet as I wait for the doors to open, and the minute they do, I see him.
The glass door shows me that he’s parked right at the door. He’s standing out by the passenger door with his phone in his hand. I watch him as I walk to him, his black suit tailored to his body. A body that I know you can bounce a quarter off because he’s so fit, it’s mouthwatering. His white shirt shows you a bit of his throat, and his black hair looks like he just ran his hands through it. I swear if I wasn’t so stubborn about my rule of not getting involved with a client, I would walk up to him and grab him by his lapels and pull him to me while I shoved my tongue down his throat. I shake my head to get rid of the picture of making out with him at eight in the morning.