Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
I drain the last of my coffee while trying to think of a solution. It comes to me when I’m dressing. It’s not the ideal solution but it will leave me feeling like less of an asshole. It won’t protect Jace but maybe I can save one person from feeling betrayed.
I trudge to my bedroom to dress for work. Today is one of those days that I wish I could stay home, tucked between the sheets, reading, or watching a movie. With Jace next to me of course.
We have less than two weeks together before Sarah comes back to work. My heart rate picks up. I wish I could just disappear from Jace’s life than have to tell him myself that I’m not who he thought I was.
Chapter 32: Jace
“Boy, am I glad that it’s Friday.” It’s been a hellish week with fertility clinics in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Plus, we’ve all been banded together as unsavory and out to make profits from our poor, desperate patients. The only bright side to the week was the evenings. Olivia and I spent every night together.
“Me too,” Olivia says, the wind blowing strands of her hair in her face. She looks so young with her hair held back in a ponytail and very little makeup. She smiles at me. “This was an awesome idea. The best you’ve ever come up with.” Her eyes twinkle with merriment.
This is how I want Olivia to be all the time. Relaxed and with a quick smile. I’m feeling relaxed too even though we’re heading back to the office after lunch.
“I’ll ignore that wisecrack,” I say and sip on my iced tea. “It’s hard to believe that we’re less than thirty minutes away from the city.”
Olivia giggles. “I know. It feels like we’re playing hooky,” she says.
The atmosphere changes as soon as Olivia says that. Her features droop with a sudden sadness. The future looks very uncertain because Olivia won’t discuss our relationship when she stops working for me. I’ve tried and each time she swiftly shuts me up with a kiss or says they’ll be time enough to discuss it when the time comes.
I’m growing more frustrated by the day but I promised myself not to push her. To let things stew and evolve naturally. The problem is, I’ve never been the kind of guy who sits back and waits for things to happen. I like to be out there, making them happen. It seems that the world is determined to forcibly teach me patience.
“Tell me something about you that I don’t know,” I tell Olivia, tired of the frustration growing inside of me.
She cocks her head to one side, but before she can answer, our food it brought by two servers. The fresh chicken salad that Olivia ordered looks like it can feed a family of five and my steak, well, let’s just say I won’t have to eat for the next week or so.
“Is that all mine?” Olivia asks, her hazel eyes wide open adoringly. She has the kind of looks and disposition that makes you want to put a ring on it before someone else steals her away from you.
“It’s so delicious, you’ll be asking for me when you’re done,” one server, a red-haired woman says with a smile.
Olivia raises an eyebrow at me, and we stifle our laughs. There’s no way Olivia could finish the salad. Not even half of it. The servers withdraw and we pick up our forks and knives to attack the food.
“You were asking me to tell you something about myself that you don’t know,” Olivia says and when I nod, she continues. “That’s a difficult one because you know me so well.” She’s thoughtful for a while as she chews her salad and ponders over the question. “Ah. I’ve found one. I’m a model by night.” A mysterious expression comes over her features.
“No.” I would have known if she dabbled in something else. “You spent most nights in my arms.” Still, my mind is racing trying to see if there’s something I’ve missed.
She laughs. “You’re right. I’m not a model and I have no such aspirations. I’m more of a mascot for Chris. He calls me when he wants a human as the subject or in the background of his pictures.” She makes a face. “He hasn’t called me in a while now. I guess my services are no longer needed since he started dating Misty.” She laughs.
“I wish I could see some of those pictures. I’m sure you’re very photogenic.” Why is this different, I want to ask. Why does Chris get to photograph Olivia but I can’t be in the same picture as her?
She shrugs. “I’m as photogenic as the next person.” A smile teases her lips. “Your turn. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.”