Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 115(@200wpm)___ 92(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
But my problems shouldn’t always be solved by someone else. I didn’t get into Princeton on my own accomplishments, so really, this situation is my doing. If I’d been more grateful for the advantages I’ve been given, maybe I would have been accepted to the college all on my own. I’m responsible for this mess—so I have to face the music and get myself out of it. I refuse to trouble my father when he’s already had to go to such great lengths to help his daughter.
“I need dark chocolate.”
With a groan, I drag myself up off the floor and flounce down the stairs. The only other person home right now is Leeza, so I don’t bother tying my short, silk robe. Our maid has seen me in various stages of undress since I was a pre-teen, so my panties and bare breasts don’t even register anymore.
“Leeza,” I call, my hand trailing down the banister. “Do you remember where I put the dark chocolate? We didn’t eat it all last night during Housewives, right?”
I round the corner into the kitchen and skid to a halt.
Ezra.
Is here.
In my kitchen.
“Oh shit,” I wheeze, stumbling back a few steps, my heart soaring to the sky despite my best efforts. “Oh no.”
Upon seeing me, Ezra entire body flexes, like one big, rippling muscle and good gravy, he’s even hotter than I remember. The top of his head almost reaches the kitchen chandelier and he looks like he’s been bench pressing SUVs since the last time I saw him. In faded jeans and a black T-shirt and scuffed boots, the walls of this posh mansion have never seen anything like him. His eyes are sizzling coals that rake me head to toe, leaving fire in their wake. “Ophelia?”
I open my mouth to say, “Hello Ezra,” but of course it emerges like a string of gibberish.
Leeza steps in between us, her gaze pinging back and forth between us. “Do you two know each other?”
So this is awkward. “Um…”
He advances on me with slow, measured steps, fury vibrating those mountainous shoulders. “Where have you been?”
“Here and there.” I force my chin up, trying look brave. “Mostly here.”
“You…” He looks around, taking in the expensive décor, seemingly for the first time. “You live here?”
“Ezra,” Leeza chuckles, trying to insert herself between us again. “I’ve worked for Ophelia’s family for many years.”
“You didn’t tell me about her in any of your letters. I’d have remembered the name.”
“Of course I didn’t tell you about the wealthy family I work for.” She clucks her tongue. “What if another inmate got a hold of the letter and showed up to rob them when they got released? I’m nothing if not discreet.”
Leeza is the least discreet person on the planet.
It’s part of the reason I love her. She’s impossible to scandalize and says whatever is on her mind. Apart from Sienna, she’s easily my best friend. We do facials, binge bad reality television together and share hair products. She knows me better than my own mother. But I haven’t exactly gotten around to telling her Ezra punched my V card.
And if I’m being honest, I wasn’t planning on it.
What I didn’t anticipate was him showing up here, which was pretty shortsighted of me. It’s totally normal for a son to visit his mother at work.
Ezra is still processing the fact that Leeza is our maid. I see something darkens in his eyes and my stomach hollows out. Here it comes. He’s going to write me off as a privileged debutante and totally disregard me.
Unless.
Unless I do it for him.
And then I’ll never have to know if he planned to blow me off.
Remembering my body is on full display, I belt my robe with a precise movement and cross my arms, doing my best to embody the brattiest brat on the planet. “Leeza, where is my chocolate? I want it now.”
Leeza snorts at me. “Get it yourself.”
I wrinkle my nose at her. All right. Attempt one: fail. “I’d like to have a bath drawn for me. With rose petals and—”
She snorts again. “Bitch, please. It’s my nap time.”
With a growl, I spin on a heel and leave the kitchen, but Ezra’s heavy tread follows me and prickles climb my spine. I barely make it to the staircase before his arm wraps around my waist and I’m pulled back against his chest. “Why did you run away from me?”
“Because we were finished and I was bored.”
“Liar,” he rasps, pulling me more fully against his huge, hot body. “Don’t you ever wear clothes?” His teeth clamp down on my ear. “Or do you just walk around all day with those naked titties jiggling around?”
Goosebumps cover me head to toe and I forget to breathe. “L-Leeza doesn’t mind.”
“What about your daddy?” His big hand yanks one end of my robe belt and it falls open, allowing his calloused palm to scrape over my breast, squeezing. “He ever around to see you like this?”