Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
When the door opened, it wasn’t Emily, though. It was another girl.
I cleared my throat. “Hi. I was wondering if Emily was home.”
The petite blonde stumbled over her words. “Uh…”
It took me a moment to realize she was acting strangely because she’d recognized me.
She pointed. “You...you’re...”
I held out my hand. “Tristan Daltrey. Nice to meet you.”
“I know. Um...wow.” She shook her head. “Emily...yeah. She’s at work.”
“Where is she working?”
“She got a temporary position with a local company. Marketing coordinator for a project.”
“I see.” I nodded. “Does she like it?”
The girl ran a hand through her hair. “She seems to.”
“What time does she get home?”
“Around six. You’re welcome to stay here and wait.”
That was hours from now. Kind of dumb of me to expect that Emily would be home in the middle of the day. “I don’t want to bother you,” I said. “I can catch her later.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. But would you do me a favor, please, and not tell her I’m in town? I don’t want to distract her. I’ll just come back later when she’s home.”
“Okay...” She blew a breath up into her hair. “Won’t be easy to keep this a secret. But I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you.” I took a step back. “I appreciate that very much.”
What the hell was I going to do in Henderson without being recognized for the next three hours? I was in no mood to interact with people today. I probably should’ve traveled with someone, had security or something, but I hadn’t felt like dealing with that, either. This was a trip I wanted to make alone, and anyone I would’ve trusted to come along was in Europe at the moment anyway.
I decided to go back to the hotel in Vegas and hide out in my room. After stopping for a few autographs in the lobby, I was finally alone again. Why I hadn’t rented a house was beyond me.
I sat on the bed, contemplating my return to Emily’s later. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I ordered room service and ate as I flipped through the channels, never able to settle on anything. I just kept watching the clock, counting the minutes until I could go back to Henderson. I prayed that my being here wouldn’t be an unpleasant surprise. I hadn’t warned her I was coming, because I was curious about seeing her in her element, not via some contrived scene she might prepare for me.
At 5:45, I left the hotel and drove back to Emily’s neighborhood.
I’d been prepared for her to seem shocked when she saw me, but the fact that she was standing outside her house, looking like she was waiting for me when I arrived told me that her roommate hadn’t kept her word.
Emily looked even more beautiful than I remembered. She wore a black skirt and white blouse—very professional. I’d never seen her so dressed up. It made me feel like I’d missed years with her, not a few months.
As I stepped out of the car, she walked toward me.
“Hi, Tristan,” she said calmly.
She’d definitely been expecting me.
“Hi, gorgeous. I take it your roommate told you I stopped by earlier?”
“She did. She managed to wait until I got home, though. But then she couldn’t hold it in anymore.”
“At least she waited until then. I didn’t want to upset you or distract you from your work.”
“It doesn’t upset me to see you.” She smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I still had no idea what that really meant. “Fuck, I’m so tense right now.” I let out a long breath. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous. But I’m so damn glad you’re okay with me being here.”
“Tristan…” she whispered, placing her hand on my cheek.
I took her hand in mine and kissed it. “I missed you,” I said, my voice hoarse. “So much.”
“I missed you, too.” She turned toward her door. “Come in.”
“Thank you.” I followed and wiped my feet at the entrance before stepping inside.
I looked around. Everything was freshly painted and new. “Cute place.”
“Thank you. It’s obviously a rental. But the rent is very reasonable for a house.”
“Where is your roommate now—what’s her name?”
“Cami. She works at a casino most nights. So she just left.”
“Ah. Do you always have a roommate?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t afford it otherwise.”
Right. Not everyone has money coming out of their ears, asshole.
I’d buy her a house if she’d let me. But something told me she wouldn’t accept it and might think the gesture was a little crazy.
There was a cream-colored sofa with flower-patterned throw pillows and a small coffee table with some candles and a coffee table book. In the corner was a large white bookshelf with the spines of books arranged by color.
“Are those your books?”
She shook her head. “Cami’s. She’s a huge bibliophile.”
“You get along with her?”
“Yeah. She’s really nice.”