Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 59044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
We were still talking, in fact, when we were home and my phone started to ring.
“No clubs tonight,” Julian said, half pleading, half demanding.
I was never not up for the club.
But, suddenly, I was a lot more interested in just hanging out with him instead.
“It’s my father,” I said before swiping to answer, feeling really weird doing so while stark naked since Julian was still firm on his ‘you don’t get to hide from me’ thing.
“Hello?” I answered, letting Julian pull me into his lap.
“Scarlet, it’s your father,” he greeted me, and I just barely managed not to snort at that. Like I hadn’t seen his name on the screen.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, since friendly calls with my father were few and far between.
“I’m calling to let you know that I’m taking the yacht with me to Porto Covo, if your busy schedule will allow you to accompany me.”
“Portugal?” I asked, brows pinching. “For business?” I clarified, since my father was generally allergic to down time.
“Yes. I will be taking the yacht out, it may as well have more than me on it,” he added.
Such a heartfelt invitation, but I bit back my retort.
I glanced at Julian, a question in my eyes.
He simply gave me a shrug.
“Would I be bringing my babysitter?” I asked, getting a hard hair tug from Julian at the turn of phrase.
“To a foreign country where you could get into all sorts of trouble? Yes, Scarlet. You will need to bring Julian. There is more than enough room.”
There were six staterooms, in fact. Each with their own bathroom.
The megayacht was an exercise in extravagance. The ultimate ‘bigger dick’ contest in each marina.
That said, I freaking loved it.
In the past because it allowed for some of the best content for my socials. And opportunities to do sponsored brand deals for everything from bathing suits to scuba gear.
Suddenly, though, I wasn’t thinking about any of those things.
I was thinking about sunbathing with Julian. Of taking dips in the hot tub when my father went to sleep. Which he did at promptly nine o’clock since I was a child. I wanted to hit the beach with Julian, explore the markets with him.
It sounded like paradise.
Even if we would have to be careful about not being seen by my father.
The staff wouldn’t be a problem. They’d been keeping my secrets for me since I was a kid. But I definitely didn’t want my father seeing me sitting on Julian’s lap or his hands on me on the town.
Sure, he understood that I was an adult and had been in relationships in the past. But I was relatively sure that he wouldn’t be okay with my bodyguard banging me… when he was the one paying for it.
“Scarlet?” my father prompted.
“Yes,” I said, feeling excitement bubble up.
“Tomorrow. I need you there at eight.”
“We will be there,” I agreed before hanging up.
“So… Portugal,” Julian said.
“Do you have your passport?” I asked, panicking that maybe my hopes would be dashed.
“It was a stipulation of my employment,” he said, smoothing my hair. “What about Hugh?”
“If my father had given me more notice, I could have brought him.” But it was a process that involved paperwork and vet checks. Or risking quarantine at the other end. Which was out of the question.
I had multiple options depending on how long I planned to be away. For just a weekend, I would board him at his doggy daycare. He could spend all his time with his friends, then sleep in a private room. Not a cage. A room.
But it was eight days minimum each way to Portugal. Plus the time spent there.
I had a dog sitter that would spend the time in my penthouse. But I suddenly felt really protective of my space now that it wasn’t just mine.
“Drea,” I said, nodding.
“Really? Drea?”
“I know she can seem a bit wild sometimes,” I agreed. “But she has two rescue chi-mixes. They are treated better than most people’s children. They have a dog walker who takes them out three times a day. A chef who drops off their specially formulated dog food once a week. And when she goes out at night, she has a dog nanny.”
“A dog nanny,” Julian repeated, smirking.
“And once monthly visits with a dog psychic, so Drea can know what the dogs are feeling.”
“Christ,” Julian said with a chuckle.
“She makes me feel like a terrible dog mom. But there is no better place for Hugh to be for an extended period of time. He’s stayed with them several times before. He won’t even miss me.”
“That’s not true. But he will be content while he waits for you,” Julian said. “So, what am I packing for this?”
“Your usual,” I said. “Plus a bathing suit. And maybe something more laid back for when we get to Porto Covo. It’s kind of more of a fishing village than anything else.”