Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Furious and embarrassed, I moved toward the espresso machine and flipped the switch. It came alive with a loud hiss and started drawing water. Relieved for the noise filling the apartment, I leaned against the kitchen counter, willing the heat to leave my cheeks. I didn’t want to appear flustered when Xavier and his date finally made their way downstairs.
Steps rang out upstairs, but I focused all my attention on the espresso unit. Unfortunately it was still heating up, so I couldn’t busy myself preparing a cappuccino, but I moved toward the fridge and took out milk. Did Xavier expect me to make a cappuccino for his date as well? Maybe even breakfast? That would be too awkward. Slowly I realized why he paid so much. Yet I had to admit the very brief glance at his perfectly formed backside had given me a tiny kick. He was magnificent from behind.
In my peripheral vision, Xavier’s tall form appeared on the winding staircase, and I couldn’t help but risk a full view. Xavier sauntered down the steps, the tall blonde woman behind him. He was wearing only gray briefs, Calvin Kleins, and they did nothing to hide him.
If my skin hadn’t already been burning up with embarrassment over what I’d witnessed, it would have started now.
Thankfully, the woman was fully dressed, even if her tight dress was wrinkled beyond saving and her makeup was smeared under her eyes. She gave me a curious look when she spotted me in the kitchen area. I recognized her from a few celebrity magazines I’d read in preparation for my job. She’d been part of the last Bachelor season but hadn’t made it past the first night of the roses. Shannon something or other. I couldn’t remember her full name.
“Next time you’d better announce your entry,” Xavier said with a cocky grin, his gray eyes scanning my undoubtedly bright red face in amusement. He didn’t seem to care that I had seen him with Shannon. He was toying around with me. Shannon didn’t seem overly embarrassed about the incident either. I supposed if you took part in The Bachelor you enjoyed an audience even while having your legs up a guy’s shoulders.
“Good morning to you too,” I said to Xavier, not wanting him to get the better of me. Then I turned to the woman and gave her a small apologetic smile. She regarded me as if she was trying to decide if I posed a risk to her, then obviously determined I didn’t qualify as Xavier-worthy material and gave me a fake smile before she turned back to Xavier with a much more convincing one.
Forcing down the urge to roll my eyes, I rummaged through the cupboards for cappuccino mugs.
Xavier leaned against the counter right beside me, arms crossed leisurely. I fought the urge to check him out. “Upper left cupboard,” he provided in a lazy drawl, one corner of his mouth tipping up in the most annoying way.
I sent him a glare, but regretted it immediately when my eyes dipped lower to that sculpted upper body.
Shannon swayed closer, and walked her manicured nails up from his abs to his pecs. “So,” she said flirtingly. “When will I see you again?”
I took down the mugs, wishing I were anywhere else. If this turned into another naughty episode I was out of here, shitload of money be damned.
My temple throbbed as more blood shot upwards. I could have cooked Xavier breakfast right on my forehead. Xavier stared down at Shannon’s fingers on his chest like they were a bunch of cockroaches he wanted to squash, then he regarded her with a badly played disappointed expression. “You see, the coach is being really hard on us lately. But if you give my assistant your number, I’ll give you a call as soon as he goes easier on us again. So Evie, can you please take…” It was obvious that he had no clue what her name was.
I raised my eyebrows at him with a sugary smile. It was as fake as the disappointed expression on his face.
He cocked one eyebrow in turn, making me want to pluck every last hair out of it.
“Take Shannon’s number? Of course,” I said sweetly, heading for my purse and taking my phone out.
Surprise crossed his face, then he smiled. “Exactly. Take Shannon’s number for me.”
Shannon turned to me with an air of importance as she started dictating her number. I keyed it in, then returned to the espresso unit. “So two cappuccinos.”
“Unfortunately, I have important matters to discuss with you, so Shannon can’t stick around.” Xavier touched the woman’s back and led her—or rather nudged her—toward the door. “I will see you very soon.”
She smiled as she walked out, then he closed the door in her face and turned to me with a shake of his head, looking like this morning had been a terrible inconvenience for him. I could hardly look at his shoulders without disturbing images popping up in my head, and he had the expression of a martyr!