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)
Ambitious and surprising. I’m genuinely impressed.
“Tell me a few of your ideas,” I say, meeting her eyes intently in the mirror.
“Well, for one, I think a lot of ride services focus on little things like snacks and drinks. But what if the experience went beyond that? Think reclining chairs and hot towels and pull-out screens similar to a first class airline ticket? Most limo services also focus on big events or regular whale clients who’ll use them all the time—people like you and your family—but I think there’s an untapped segment of the population who’d enjoy the luxury experience without needing it on a daily basis.”
“Doesn’t that fall under weddings and proms? You already do that,” I say.
“Not quite. If you think about the limo at a wedding, it’s still there for transportation first, and usually for large parties. They’re booked when there are just too many people to fit in a typical sedan or when the bride and groom want to ride in style. People will pay for several hours to keep an empty limo standing by just to have it for the half hour they actually use it. But I think if the ride was the experience, or at least a key part...then you could reach a totally new clientele. Business class is awesome. Sure, recurring clients will always be the backbone of this biz, but a six-hundred-dollar day trip for a family of four isn’t bad either. Plus, there are months and nasty situations where business travel nosedives.”
I hide my smile behind my hand, pretending to scratch my cheek. She’s really thought this out. Unfortunately, it makes her that much more enticing.
I hate the heat in my blood that flares and won’t go away now that I know Reese Halle has one hell of a brain to match her beauty.
“How would you make the ride the experience?” I ask, desperately hoping she’ll slip and say something stupid.
“By hiring drivers who accommodate all the usual services, but also act as guides on request. Whether that’s telling folks about the history of Lake Michigan or shuttling them around to the best Polish delis in Chicago. People might like a ride and a story.”
A chuckle rips out of me.
“What’s so funny?” she snaps, her eyes narrowing with worry.
“I can’t believe you’re finally talking to me like a normal human being. Are we past you shutting me out?” I ask, pushing my luck, almost hoping she’ll go cold so I won’t be so damnably hot.
She lifts her head up enough to flash a smile in the mirror.
“Like I said...you never gave me a chance to talk before. I think today might be the first time you’ve asked me anything that needed more than a one-syllable answer—or doesn’t involve shoving some weird gift down my throat.”
Touché.
The way my gut clenches tells me she’s right. Fuck. Maybe I am a swinging dick.
“To be fair, you rarely ask me anything either,” I grumble, looking to save face.
“Mr. Brandt, if a businessman has to be asked, he usually doesn’t want to talk about it.”
I smile. “You do know your market.”
She goes quiet then, those shimmering blue eyes studying me in the mirror.
Meeting her gaze, I clear my throat. “You know you can’t freeze me out again, right?”
“I didn’t know I ever froze you out. That’s a little harsh,” she says shyly.
“No matter how hard I tried, you wouldn’t give me the time of day. Now that you know we can talk, you can’t just sit in the front seat and ignore me, Halle.”
She doesn’t say anything.
“Miss Halle? I hope it’s better now that you know I’m a scandal-stomping ogre, but basically harmless.”
I hold my breath.
“Ehhh. I don’t know about scandal stomping or harmless. That lady at the convention seemed to think you wanted something scandalous.” There’s a cautious edge in her voice.
I snort loudly. “Who? The blonde? She was annoying as hell, trying to corner me. As if I didn’t know who the fuck she—”
“I Snapchatted it to my sister,” she cuts in. A second later, she looks like she wants to slap a hand across her face. “Um, sorry. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I just...it was an odd scene. You looked so pissed.”
Interesting.
“You did, huh? And why would you violate your boss’ privacy like that?”
I know, I’m a bastard.
Even so, I’m having too much fun when her eyes pop open.
“I apologize, okay? It won’t happen again. Abby, she just...she’s a sucker for the gossip blogs and you’re pretty famous. I think you’re the best-known Brandt, and the one most people like.”
Way to stroke my ego. I turn over her words, giving a slight nod to let her know I won’t flay her alive like Ward would if he were in my place.
“You didn’t really Snap me, did you? It’s unlike you,” I tease.