Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Under normal circumstances, I might take him up on the offer. He was actually not bad to look at with his boyish grin and too-long hair peeking out from under his hat. But I didn’t live a normal life like most girls. Most girls weren’t afraid of every man they came into contact with. And even though Sam seemed as nice as they come, I still was in no way comfortable with it.
“Sam, that’s so sweet and I am really flattered that you would ask, but I really don’t date. I’m sorry,” I replied, hoping to make him understand.
I briefly saw a flash of something, possibly anger, in his dark eyes, but it was quickly replaced by hurt.
Well, dang. I upset my deliveryguy.
“Lia, hear me out,” he began. “I have been delivering packages here for several years now. We’re practically friends. Surely you can have dinner with a friend. It doesn’t have to be a date. What do you say, friend? Dinner tomorrow night? We both have to eat. I’ll pick you up at seven?” He pulled off his cap and ran his fingers through his longish hair as he waited for my response. Poor guy was acting so nervous.
Can I do this?
Can I be friends with a guy?
Against my better judgment, which I seemed to completely be ignoring today, I nodded my agreement. Sam’s face broke into a huge grin that reached his eyes.
Okay. I can do this. It’s just dinner—nothing more. Maybe having a guy friend would help me come out of some of my fears. I definitely can do this.
The next morning, I proudly clicked my new Choos across the tile as I strode to my desk.
“Girl, you are in a good mood. You get laid?” Anj asked in her usual blunt way.
“Anj! No, I did not get laid. I got a new pair of Choos yesterday,” I replied, sticking out my newest pair for her to see.
She rolled her eyes but smiled at me. “You just wait till you have kids one day, little lady. They’ll suck your Jimmy Choo money dry!” she teased.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Anj, you know that is never happening. Like never. Ever.”
Anj didn’t know my story. She thought that I’d come to Jonestown a “hot mess,” as she liked to refer to me at times. In the beginning, when I would shake as I got ready to call a client, she’d whisper things like, “Get ‘em, girl,” and “You got this.” I would forever be grateful for her inspirations long ago when I’d needed it most. Now that we’d worked together for several years and I was slowly becoming a fragment of my former self, she’d settled nicely into teasing me for her entertainment. But, God, I love that girl.
Before Anj and I could get into any more discussions about my love life—or lack thereof—Pops burst out of his office. “Lia, Mr. Reeves will be here at ten. Get the conference room ready and put a pot of coffee on. We’ll meet in there. You can take notes for me while he and I discuss the terms of our business,” he barked. “How did the inspections go by the way?” he asked as he approached my desk.
Great. I had completely put yesterday’s events behind me, but now, they were suddenly coming back to me, causing my cheeks to flush.
“Um, well, everything went fine,” I lied, avoiding his penetrating stare.
He studied me a few moments before he nodded, appearing unconvinced, and walked back into the office.
Whew. I’d dodged a bullet there. Pops had an uncanny way of knowing when things were wrong.
I busied myself with the draw requests and the inputting of the inspection results. Since it was nearing ten, I hurried to the coffee maker in the conference room to get a pot started. When I was just finishing setting up the room I heard Pops calling me from his office. I rushed into his office and was nearly knocked off my feet when I ran right smack into my new favorite chiseled chest, his hand instinctively reaching out for my arm to steady me.
What the hell?
“Cale? Did you follow me?” I demanded, angry that he’d found out where I worked.
He captured me in his baby-blue gaze, still rimmed with red from the mace. “Something like that.”
“You two know each other?” Pops inquired, seemingly interested in our exchange.
When I tore myself from Cale’s eyes and looked at Pops, realization hit me. Oh, God, please no…
Pops eyed me knowingly. “Lia, meet Mr. Reeves.”
Shit. Shit. Shit!
“Mr. Reeves and I are going to discuss some matters beforehand, but I’ll call you in when I’m ready for you,” Pops told me.
I nodded dumbly and walked to my desk, quite horrified at the turn of events. I got new shoes, dammit. This was supposed to be a good day. Pops was going to be pissed when he found out how I’d treated his new big client.