Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 81745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“I thought you were going to say something else.” She shakes her head. “I hate hot tubs.”
I look at her, shocked. “How can you hate hot tubs?”
“Because of all the sex people have in them.” She scrunches up her nose. “It’s just a pool of bacteria festering.” She shakes her head. “But I love the infinity pool.”
“Well, no one has had sex in that hot tub.” I point at the tub. “And there are steps on each side leading down to the grass where I have my outside workouts,” I say, pointing at the large green yard. I don’t tell her that it’s enough space to put a treehouse and for kids to run around free.
I point over to the second covered lanai in front of the great room. “And if you walk this way.” I walk all across to the third covered lanai. There is an L-shaped couch set with a glass table in the middle, facing a wall with a television and a built-in fireplace. I stop and point at the windows. “This is my bedroom.”
“Smooth,” she says. “Trying to lure me into your bedroom.” She finishes her drink. “I’m going to need a lot more than one mimosa.” She chuckles, and I step closer to her. Grabbing her empty glass, I put it on the table next to me.
Walking back to her, I see her eyes follow me, and if someone asked me, I would say she looks nervous. “When I get you in my bedroom,” I say, my voice going low, “it’s not going to be because you’re drunk. It’ll be because you are begging me.”
She shakes her head. “That’s a lot of confidence for a man who has been chasing me for the past four years.”
“Well, I was confident enough to get you here,” I say and then lean in. “Even if you did have to buy my time.”
She pushes me now. “Fuck off. It was for charity.”
“Is that your story?” I say, tucking my hands in my back pockets. Otherwise, I would reach out and touch her, and the last thing I want to do is push her away. I already feel like she has her guard up.
“That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it,” she says, folding her arms across her chest.
I throw my head back and laugh. “Does that mean you don’t want the grand tour of the house?” I point toward the bedroom where you can see the chair in the corner as well as the white cover on the big king-size bed.
“I think we can save that tour for another time,” she says. I clap my hands and smile so big my face feels like it’s going to hurt. “What are you clapping about?”
“You,” I say, getting close enough to her that I can feel her breath on me. “Just admit that this”—I point at her and then at me—“will happen.” Her mouth falls open, and I lean in farther. “Good to know we are on the same page,” I tell her right before I kiss the corner of her mouth. “Now, let me refill your drink.”
Chapter 13
Layla
I can’t seem to take my eyes off him while he walks away. The date or whatever we are calling this is going great. I look around the yard and then back at the window that I now know belongs to his bedroom, and I wonder what it looks like. I mean, not that I care, but I do wonder if it matches the rest of the house.
I will admit I thought I would see a bachelor pad with a man cave, but instead, I found a sleek modern home. “Here you go.” I hear him say and look back at the sound of his voice. “Were you trying to peek in my room?” he says, and I roll my eyes.
“You caught me,” I say. Our fingers graze as I grab the glass of mimosa that he’s holding up for me, making me shiver. I blame it on the wind right away, but the tree leaves haven’t moved. “I was wondering how fast I can get in and out.” I take a sip of the mimosa, hoping like fuck my mouth just stops talking at this point.
“Oh, gorgeous,” he says, winking at me. “If you’re in my bed, nothing is going to be fast.”
“Oh, good God,” I say, trying to show him that I’m not affected by his words. He throws his head back and laughs. “Good one.” I point at him. He walks toward the door, but I don’t follow him. He looks over his shoulder.
“Come on and check it out.” He opens the two doors. “I promise I won’t bite.” He takes one step in and then smirks at me. “I mean, unless you want me to.”
“You are the most annoying man,” I say, walking to him. “I’m going to check out the bedroom just to prove to you that I don’t care.”