Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
He huffed, narrowing his gaze at me. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
Because he knew I was right.
So I changed the subject. “I was very serious about helping out at the front desk.”
I honestly wasn’t sure what the harpy had done other than flirt with the delivery guys and run drugs, but I could figure it out.
The way Owner cocked his head and scrunched up his face said his thoughts were very similar. “What do you think she did all day? I just created the position because they asked me to. Before, I just had the main phone forwarded to my cell.”
Hmm.
“Well, I’m not sure we’ll need anyone to flirt with the delivery guys anymore.” That just made Owner chuckle. “If you don’t get many phone calls or visitors on a regular basis, we could forward the phones to my cell and put a buzzer up front for when someone wanders in?”
I raised an eyebrow, wondering if he thought that sounded lazy.
“Hmm.” He shifted in his chair, looking delightfully thoughtful and sexy. “Would you mind? I’m sure there’s someone else I could pass the phone part off to, but everyone else has their hands full right now. We’re so close to being finished.”
He might’ve been close to finished on this project, but I’d seen the notes he’d been making about the next collection. They were always going to have their hands full. Making sure the phones got answered so he didn’t miss anything important seemed like it would be my job.
They were just lucky I was a juggler at heart and could keep a lot of things in the air at one time.
“I think it’s the best plan.” Aiming for confident and in control, I nodded and gave him a shrug. “There might be a few times a week where I can’t be in charge of that aspect of the business, but I’m sure we can work out a schedule where I have an assistant to help out.”
Owner’s lips twitched again.
“You know, businessman doll is very sexy when he talks about partnerships and assistants.” Owner’s face didn’t give away everything he was thinking but he was wonderfully predatory as he smiled. “It makes me wonder how you’d look if we were talking about mergers and acquisitions.”
Oh.
Was there a good way to ask about mergers where it wouldn’t sound like I was asking to be fucked?
I’d taken enough business classes to be able to do some wonderful euphemisms with those kinds of terms, but it wouldn’t be easy.
“I’m a very good doll and I can be played with in a variety of ways.” Yes, that wasn’t too forward. It sounded cute and slightly flirty without being too blatant. “It would be up to my Owner to decide how to play with me.”
Because I was very patient.
“Hmm.” His exaggerated thoughtful expression sent a shiver through me, even though I couldn’t have said why. “You know, what if I decided just to keep my doll because there are so many ways to play with him, I’d never get bored?”
Oh.
Had he finally realized he was going to keep me?
I’d known it from the very beginning, of course, but sometimes it took creative people a while to realize what was happening in the real world.
Eli said they were special and we just had to be patient.
“Well, Owners do need their dolls and really shouldn’t be shuffling them around like party favors.” That wouldn’t be good for anyone. “So I think that makes very good sense.”
Owner couldn’t seem to decide if he wanted to smile or shake his head, stunned by my insight, so he did both. “I would have to agree with you, pretty one.
“You’re mine.” He reached out and took my hand, caressing over the back and sending a shiver through me. “I don’t share my toys, but of course, I’ll let other people look at my pretty doll.”
Aww, he was so sweet.
“Thank you, Owner.” Turning my hand over to stroke my fingers over his palm, I pushed the questions that were bouncing around in my head to the back of my brain. “Looking is fun, but I want you to remember that I belong to you.”
Spelling it out had him squeezing my hand again, nodding. “I know, pretty one. I think I finally understand.”
Oh, please let him understand.
I needed to belong to him. The half-owned, half-free life I was living was frustrating. I shouldn’t be on my own. I should be a very treasured possession and either locked up or well labeled so he could find me again if I got lost.
Before I could make those very valid points, Owner smiled softly. “Let’s go home, pretty one.”
Home.
That sounded perfect.
“Yes, Owner.”
We were going home…but going home took a very long time. First, there was finishing our food, and then we had to find our server who’d kept wandering off for ridiculous lengths of time, and then the worst was having to drive home in Owner’s car, keeping my hands to myself.