Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Hey, asshole…how about apologizing?” Reed growls at someone. I look up to see a big, beefy guy standing there looking at Reed blankly.
He’s looking blankly because he’s not comprehending he did anything wrong, and I’m going to guess that’s because he’s drunk.
I turn around to face Reed, tilting my head to look up at him. He’s staring fiercely over my head at the guy with what looks like a need to do bodily harm.
“It’s okay, Reed,” I say as I place a hand on his chest. “I’m fine.”
For a brief moment, Reed doesn’t acknowledge me, but continues to glare at the man who knocked into me. I have no clue what he’s doing, as I’m afraid to look away from Reed.
Finally, his face tilts and he brings his eyes to mine. He studies me for a moment before giving a curt nod. I sigh with relief as Reed grabs my hand and leads me around the guy, muttering to him, “Watch where you’re going next time, dude.”
To my relief, the guy says nothing and I’m guessing either he was thoroughly put in his place or maybe he recognized Reed and was starstruck, but we manage to make it out to the parking lot unscathed.
“You sure you’re okay?” Reed asks as we walk toward a small white sedan I assume is our Uber driver. He hasn’t let go of my hand yet and it feels both right and slightly awkward.
“I’m totally fine,” I reassure him, and wait for him to drop his hold on me.
He doesn’t, though, until we reach the back door and he opens it for me. I slide in and he steps in after me. After he closes the door, I look to him to find that his brows are drawn inward as if he’s still angry. Reed rattles off his address to the driver and we pull away from the restaurant.
“What’s the sour look for, Olson?” I say teasingly, hoping to draw him out of his funk.
That’s all it takes. His face relaxes bit and he turns his head to smile at me. “I just hate drunk assholes that don’t watch what they’re doing. Besides, he was openly leering at you as you were walking toward him. Pretty sure he knocked into you on purpose.”
That makes me blink in surprise, both that someone was leering at me and that Reed would take offense to it. Surely that’s not what it was.
“I’m sure he wasn’t leering at me,” I say dismissively but lightly so he knows this really isn’t a big deal.
“He was totally checking you out inappropriately,” Reed says adamantly, and I’m warmed clear to my toes when he adds, “You got the whole Hot Doctor Barbie thing going on today.”
Still, I refuse to read anything into this, so I downplay it. “I look nothing like a doctor right now.”
“Yeah, but I know you’re a doctor,” he says suggestively with a waggle of his eyebrows. “And you got the hot thing for sure going on.”
“I’m not hot—”
“You’re totally hot and you know it,” he smirks. “Just like you think I’m hot. Nothing wrong with two hot friends hanging out, right?”
“Right,” I say with a firm nod of my head. “Want me to protect you from any Barbie dolls that come on to you?”
“Hmmm,” he says as he looks upward pensively. When he looks back to me, eyes are sparkling with mischief, he says, “You better let me check them out first before you make any command decisions to run them off.”
I reward him with an elbow to his ribs and take great satisfaction when he grunts from the hit.
We end up chatting on the way home. He tells me he’s going to a Durham Bulls game with two of his teammates, Marek Fabritis and Holt Craig. I pretend to act dumb and ask him about the guys, but I know a little bit about them. I may have read up on the Cold Fury since meeting Reed and I recognize their names. I figure if I’m going to be neighbors with Reed, I could be a more dedicated fan I suppose. Besides, I do nothing but work and sleep, so this expands my horizons.
When the Uber driver pulls up in front of Reed’s town home, I can’t even offer to pay since it’s done through the app on Reed’s phone.
We get out and Reed actually walks me up to my door. As I’m pulling my keys out, he casually says, “Be ready to go tomorrow at 8 P.M.”
My head snaps up. “Excuse me?”
“Tomorrow, 8 P.M. I’m taking you to a Cold Fury party. Every member of the team gets to spend a day with the Stanley Cup, and tomorrow there’s going to be a huge party at our captain Alex Crossman’s house.”
“Are you telling me or asking me?” I stare at him reproachfully.