Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“All good things,” he says, but it doesn’t sound the least bit arrogant.
I pat the center of his bare chest. “All great things. You know that the billboard is the highlight of many people’s visits to Times Square.”
His hand reaches to cup mine so I can feel the steady beating of his heart. “I know that when we passed it yesterday, you snuck a look at it.”
“Guilty as charged,” I admit. “Now that I know it’s you, I can’t help but look.”
“You can touch all you want, Champ.” He guides my hand down his chest toward his stomach. “All of this is yours for the taking whenever you want.”
I want it always and forever.
More than that, I want his heart.
I think I’m falling in love with him.
It may be too soon or too fast, but it feels like love, and it’s more intense than anything I’ve felt before.
“Kiss me goodbye.” He leans forward. “I want to taste you on my lips until I see you again.”
I shoot up to my tiptoes to press my mouth to his.
Our kiss is slow, torturous, and literally weakens my knees. I lean into Sean to find my balance.
“That was…” His voice trails. “Heaven, Calliope.”
“Think about me today,” I whisper.
“I do. Every single second.” He kisses me again. “I can’t help it. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Sean
“Today is the day!” Calliope’s smile brightens the overcast streets of Manhattan as soon as she exits our building.
For someone who spent all of her weekend immersed in work, she looks like a million bucks.
Her hair is pinned up in a messy bun. Her body is wrapped in a fitted black dress with lace trim at the hem, and the black heels on her feet give her a few extra inches in height.
She’s a dream to look at and incredible to touch.
Since we’re on the sidewalk outside our building with people milling about, I resist the urge to pull her in for a kiss.
Instead, I stare. I outright stare at her as she approaches me.
“Hi, Sean,” she says as she nears me.
I flash her a smile. “Hey, you.”
Her gaze trails over the dark gray suit I’m wearing. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
I step toward her because even though it may not be appropriate for me to kiss her the way I want to right now, I need to be closer to her. “You look phenomenal.”
“It’s all smoke and mirrors.” She twirls, giving me the full three hundred and sixty degree view. “I’m dead tired.”
“Yet, you’re excited for today,” I point out.
“How can I not be?” Her gaze trails from my face to the approaching traffic. “Delora is going to blow you away with her presentation today.”
I hope to hell she’s right.
Delora needs to impress me, but she has to sell the subscription idea to Declan as well.
I have the authority to give it the green light without his approval, but I won’t. I need him to be as much on board as I am.
“You’re confident that it’ll be a go.”
She nods. “I know it’ll be a go. We put our all into this.”
Seeing her like this makes me want to push the project forward sight unseen.
“Jurgen’s coming.” Her finger darts in the air, pointing over my shoulder. “I can’t wait to get to the office.”
“Champ,” I say her name to lure her attention back to me. “I’m proud of you.”
Her bottom lip quivers before she sinks her top teeth into it to still it. “Sean.”
I can tell those words hit her deeply. “You’ve been working very hard. Let me cook for you tonight.”
“I’m cooking for you tomorrow night.”
I glance to where Jurgen is parking the SUV next to the curb. “You are?”
“For everyone.” Her hand waves toward the entrance to our building. “I ran into Mrs. Sweeney yesterday. I asked if she could come for dinner tomorrow. She said yes, and passed it along to Mrs. Fields and the Durkmans, so I texted Brandi this morning to see if they are free, and they’ll be there.”
I take that all in as she approaches the open car door.
“I wanted to invite you in person,” she says once she’s settled on the seat. “You don’t have plans, do you?”
If I did, I’d cancel them. “I’ll be there.”
“Good.” She lets out a sigh. “Tonight, Delora is taking Justin, Rory, and me out for dinner to celebrate.”
I reach to grab her hand as Jurgen slams the car door shut behind me. “Let’s get to the office so I can see what you and your co-workers came up with.”
She leans closer to me. “You’re about to be blown away.”
Two hours later, I close the door to the conference room when Delora leaves.
I don’t need to face my brother to know how he feels about what just happened.
He was mesmerized as Delora presented details on how the subscription model would work. She also laid out a host of innovative marketing ideas and some creative approaches to using our current social media followers to bump up interest in this campaign.