Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 12803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 64(@200wpm)___ 51(@250wpm)___ 43(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 64(@200wpm)___ 51(@250wpm)___ 43(@300wpm)
Jenna decided to staff the new and improved Curvy Cuties magazine with her best friends. Since I have a degree in Journalism, I became the Assistant Editor. London, our fashion guru, has a degree in Fashion Design, so Jenna offered her the Fashion Editor position. Emery is the saleswoman of our group, and her Marketing degree works perfectly for the Advertising Executive position. Maddie, the last of us, worked hard to get the Feature Editor position. We thought life was perfect. Then the universe decided to stir things up for us.
Jenna met and married Wild Templeton, followed closely by Emery marrying Marco Grayson, London snagged a rock star, Bender Valentine, and Maddie fell for Fischer Mackenzie. They all have wonderful, supportive husbands while I have a secret fling with the love of my life.
Well, it’s not a secret from my best friend. A while back, I had a few too many margaritas at our girl’s night and ended up spilling my guts to Jenna when she drove my toasted rear end home. While my best friend doesn’t agree with how I’m handling the situation, she has begrudgingly kept my secret from everyone else.
“Mark is totally screwing up the new shoot.” Her words cause my heart to drop. I’m not sure I can handle dealing with our new photographer’s temper tantrums right now. We hired Mark thinking the experienced photographer would be able to handle shoots without us hovering over him. Too bad, we didn’t take into account his artistic temperament, which makes him a nightmare to deal with. We’re losing models left and right, and he’s blowing our schedule right out of the water.
I take a mental deep breath and pull up my big girl panties. First, I’ll fix the work catastrophe, and then, I’ll worry about the mess I’ve made of my love life. “When do I leave?”
Relief shines in Jenna’s bright blue eyes. “I already emailed you your ticket. Your flight leaves at two-fifteen.”
I glance down at my watch and groan, “That’s like six hours from now.”
“Oops. My bad.” She tries the sweet, innocent look that stopped working on me in grade school. I just glare back with a raised eyebrow.
“You are so going to make this up to me.”
“I promise.” She gives me a hug around her large belly. “Thank you so much. I owe you big time.”
“You definitely do,” I grumble. “You can start by having your husband stop by my place to pick up Romeo.” When I travel, Jenna and Wild babysit my spoiled kitty.
“Didn’t you get a cat because they’re pretty self-sufficient?” Jenna laughs.
“Don’t remind me.” It’s not my fault I somehow found a needy kitty. He hates being left home alone for long stretches of time and likes to demonstrate his displeasure on my shoes.
Keeping Romeo happy is the reason Dillon and I always stay at my place. I wouldn’t have any heels left if I dared to leave him at home without supervision for several nights a week.
While sitting near my gate at the airport, I pull out my phone to text Dillon my plans. Even though we don’t have a committed relationship, I don’t want him to worry when I don’t show up at his house tonight.
Me
I had a last-minute meeting come up in Houston. I’ll be gone for a few days. I’ll let you know when I get back.
He usually responds pretty quickly if he isn’t in a meeting. I wait patiently for his response, but none comes.
A few minutes later, they announce boarding for my flight, so I turn my phone off and grab my carry-on. God, I hope I don’t end up spending the entire flight fighting the urge to puke up my guts. Yay me. I’m quickly discovering that pending motherhood is so much fun.
I somehow manage to sleep the entire flight and wake up as the wheels are touching down. While I’m waiting for my luggage, I turn on my phone to see a whole slew of missed messages.
Hot Stuff
What meeting?
Hello?
When are you leaving?
I need to talk to you and it can’t wait.
Piper, answer me!
I’m going to spank your ass red for worrying me like this.
Why is he acting unhinged all of a sudden? Then it hits me why he’s freaking out so bad. A while back, a crazy nut held me and the other girls hostage at the magazine office. Since the incident, Dillon has had this weird tendency to keep tabs on me. In fact, it’s almost like we’re in a real relationship.
Out of the blue, I remember the test stick hidden in my purse and wonder if there’s another reason he’s acting crazy. Did he somehow discover my little secret?
Before I have time to talk myself out of it, I dial his number but instantly lose my nerve. I’m about to hang up when he answers. “Where are you?”