Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
“Yes, I’m talking Germantown. You text me what you want and your address. I’ll call in an order and pick it up on the way to your house. We can eat hoagies and binge some TV rather than braving the roads in case it keeps snowing.”
This earned me a hell of a kiss that I did not want to end. It was only when the snow hit the back of my neck that I called for an end to the kiss.
“Good plan,” Arden said. “This’ll give me time to clean up a little.”
I wanted to tease him about that too, but I couldn’t. My apartment was no better. Clothes covered various surfaces and dirty dishes filled the sink. Yes, going to his home was much easier.
Just before we parted, Arden’s fingers caressed the butterfly’s wings on my coat, causing my heart to flutter. There was such a pleased, slightly possessive smile on his lips. That pin would always be a reminder of an amazing first date at the Conservatory, and I hoped it would lead to a very good night.
Jumping into my car, I started it and hit the heater, cranking it as high as it would go. I shifted in my seat to pull my phone out of my pocket and grinned like a lunatic the second Arden’s order pinged through. It was nearly identical to my own. Steak hoagie with extra pizza sauce, cheese, pickles, and onions with an order of fries. Mine was without the onions, though.
Another text followed it with an address.
I didn’t recognize the street, but it would take two seconds to pop it into the GPS. No big deal.
I called Germantown and placed the order while waiting for my car to warm up and waved to Arden as he pulled out ahead of me. Let him have his head start. I’d be behind him by only ten or fifteen minutes.
As I ended the call with the restaurant, another call rang through.
From my boss.
My heart did a weird little skip at the sight of his name, and it wasn’t a pleasant one. Not that calls from Sebastian were bad. They just always contained work.
Please don’t call me back to work. Please don’t call me back to work.
“Hello, sir?”
“Kaylan! Excellent! I’m so glad I reached you. Are you okay?” Sebastian’s panicked voice filled the car.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied slowly. “Is everything okay with you? Do you need me to return to the office?” I winced, biting my bottom lip. Why the fuck did I say that?
“No! No! Everything is fine here. In fact, I’m sending people home. Don’t want them out in this snow.” His voice had returned to its normal light and breezy. “I was just talking to Byron, telling him about how I set you up on a date for Valentine’s Day. He’s very upset with me.”
Kaylan dropped his face into his hand while resting his elbow on the car door. Oh, Lord. Only Sebastian’s assistant Byron had the power to make that man sound wounded. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was the assistant and who was the boss between the two of them.
“Anyway, Byron was telling me I put you in danger by setting you up with this complete stranger. Especially since we know nothing about this Cupid matching system. Hmm…I wonder if I could buy the company and take apart the software. There have got to be other applications for matching people up. If I just—”
“Sir,” I interrupted. Sebastian could ramble on for hours when a new idea struck him, and I didn’t have hours. I needed to get moving soon, but I was afraid to start for Hyde Park until I knew what he wanted.
“Oh! Right! I’m just calling to make sure that you’re okay, and I didn’t inadvertently place you in the hands of a murderer.”
“No, sir. Arden is not a murderer or a rapist or some otherwise questionable personage threatening my body,” I answered.
“Excellent. That’s very good to hear.” There was a long pause that made my heart squeeze. Air rushed out of me as Sebastian continued, his voice softer and pitched higher. “So…how did the date go? Do you like him? Is he nice? Handsome? Funny? Does he appreciate how smart and efficient you are?”
I caught my laugh behind my teeth and converted it into a low chuckle. It was unlikely Arden appreciated my efficiency the way Sebastian did.
“Arden is very nice and handsome. We had a wonderful date at Krohn Conservatory. He’s a freelance graphic designer and has a great sense of humor. We share many of the same interests.”
“Yes! That’s great! Are you going to see him again? You should have asked him out for dinner! I know many great places. I can call and make you a reservation now.”
What he meant was that he’d shout for Byron and he would make the reservation, but I appreciated Sebastian’s support and enthusiasm all the same.