Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 161434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 807(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 161434 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 807(@200wpm)___ 646(@250wpm)___ 538(@300wpm)
31
Cinderella-ish (Reese)
Two Months Later
Nick sits in the chair behind his desk, and I’m in his lap. “I should probably move.”
“Why would you do a silly thing like that?” He tightens his grip, holding me in place.
“Won’t people talk?”
“You’re having my kid. Anyone stupid enough to run their mouth is already doing it.” He chuckles and closes a window on his computer screen with his free hand.
“What?”
“The Chicago Tea is calling you Cinderella. A compliment for once.”
“They are? Why?” My breath stalls.
“Because you snagged the Windy City’s most eligible billionaire bad boy, and he’s completely fucking smitten. Duh.”
“You’re arrogant enough for your title, Prince Charming,” I tease.
“They just don’t know me like you do.” He kisses me then.
Of course, I melt all over him.
I’m destined to meltdown for this man for life.
“They’re right,” I whisper. “And God forbid they ever do.”
He kisses me again, deeper this time, so possessive I gasp before he pulls away.
“We should get to your party.”
“The totally unnecessary ’happy trails’ party, you mean?” I say with a snort.
He shrugs. “We just like office parties. You’ve worked here long enough to know the drill.”
“This doesn’t feel like my last day,” I say, biting a finger at the corner of my mouth.
“It’ll hit you soon enough when you’re a business owner. You’ll still see everyone. Brandt Ideas is your first client, right?”
I grin. “But I hope not just because we’re together.”
He shakes his head. “Nah. Contracting with a known driver was easier than hiring a new one. Plus, since you’ll have your own crew, we don’t have to find someone to keep up with the insane schedules around here.”
We share a smile. The party is mine, because Nick still technically works here, but it’s more or less his last day in this office too.
“I’ll miss working with you,” I joke.
He smirks. “Lucky for you, Brandt Dreams is your second client. You’ll still be driving me around plenty. Although sometimes it’s feeling strange to have my girlfriend driving me all over hell for business...”
“You drive me enough.”
“Only off the clock,” he reminds me.
I pat his face. “Come on now. You’re too slow for rush hour traffic.”
He pats my butt, and I stand. We walk into the lobby together, hand in hand.
Granny Bea and Paige are here today for my big send-off.
Bea hugs me instantly. “Oh, Reese, I hate losing you. But I’ll see you at my house every other Sunday for dinner, yes?”
“I’ll be there,” I promise.
“Can’t wait to have you on the girls’ team for family dinners. Somebody else needs to take the spotlight,” Paige whispers, grinning.
Ward comes up from behind, wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her backward.
“Like hell. You love Grandma fawning all over you.” He kisses her forehead.
“I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
One huge pregnancy perk: I can skip out of almost anything.
This party is sweet, but I’ve never liked crowds. And since I drove for the C-suite, mostly, I don’t know most of these underlings popping in for free food and bubbly cider.
Paige knows what I’m doing.
She’s right behind me, heading into the waiting area in front of the restrooms. She sits down on the couch. “Already had your fill of the party?”
I sit beside her.
“It’s awesome. Just...really big. I’m more of a one-on-one kinda girl. That’s why I like driving cars versus tour buses or whatever”
“But Nick takes you to all of his events.”
I nod. “I’m a work in progress. Actually, since I’m kind of trash-tabloid famous now...it’s not like I have a choice.”
“Oh, yes. It happens when you’re with a Brandt,” she says, the only other person who can possibly understand.
“Yesterday, I walked into the ice cream shop across from his building. This girl comes flying up to me and says, ‘You’re Reeserella!’ I had no clue what she was talking about. Then she screeched ‘You’re Nick’s girlfriend’ in my face and...I was out. ASAP. Some of these crazy fans think they know us personally.”
Paige throws her head back and laughs.
“I know, I know. It’s happened to me a few times. Thankfully it’s not as bad with Ward. He doesn’t have a big media footprint these days and sends Nick to most events. I can see why you get smacked with the brunt of it.”
I smile. “He’s worth it, and honestly? A teeny little part of me loves that my boyfriend is so hot the whole world wants him. The only woman who ever bothered me was Carmen. Now that she’s cooling her heels in a top-notch mental health facility, it’s smooth sailing. The rest can slobber in jealousy.”
“Oof, talk about a falling star. I noticed she’s not coming up in movie talk anymore. That drug bust-stalker thing must have hit her hard. Good riddance. I’m glad Nick never took the bait and found someone better.” Paige shudders and then winks at me.