Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Hey,” he says. “How’s my girl?”
“She’s looking at a vase full of gorgeous pink roses, actually.”
“Wow. Someone must not be able to stop thinking about her to send her flowers in the middle of a workday.”
I beam. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
“You are very welcome.”
“I have something to ask you.”
“Sure. What is it?”
A power tool starts in the distance, and I realize I’m bothering him at work. Suddenly, I feel bad.
“We can talk about this later,” I say.
“Or we can talk about it right now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Talk.”
I grin. “This is last minute and really ridiculous to even do—and I am not going to be upset if you say no and laugh in my face because that’s really what I expect. But … to make a long story short, Bridgit has offered to let me take off work this week to go to Silver Springs. I told her I doubt you can go, but I’d ask.”
The line stills.
“Jess, I know you probably can’t, and I probably shouldn’t have asked.”
“Um, yeah, you should’ve. Let me call Moss and my dad real quick. We’re just demoing this week, which the crew can do without me. And I haven’t taken a day off in like … maybe ever.”
I smile. “So … maybe?”
“Maybe. Let me call you back in a few.”
“Awesome. Thanks, Jess.”
“Anything for you. Talk to you in a bit.”
“Bye.”
I end the call and go back to researching potential retreat packages, the staff we’ll need to move to the new department, and the expected budgets for each trip. When the phone buzzes beside me, I realize a solid hour has gone by.
Jess: Sorry for the delay. Dad was in a meeting.
Me: No worries.
Jess: Dad is going to check on the guys this week. I’ll be with you.
I squeal.
Me: Really?
Jess: Really really. But I have to go now to get things in shape to leave. We go tomorrow?
Me: Yes. I’ll make all of the plans now.
Jess: Perfect. I’ll have to work late to get things squared away, but feel free to hang out at my house if you want.
Me:
Jess: But my house is always open to you. I want you to know that.
Me:
Jess: We’ll see.
Me: Okay. Thank you for making this work.
Jess:
Anything for you. He … what do you say to that?
“Let me treat you like you’re mine. Pretend we’re in a real relationship. Give me that. I want a real chance to make you fall for me.”
Damn you, Jess.
Damn you, Jess.
17
JESS
I place a pod in the dishwasher and close it. A few quick presses of buttons and the machine starts whirring.
“Done.” I grab a kitchen towel and dry off my hands. “Kitchen cleaned. Suitcase packed. Trash out to the road for pickup Wednesday morning. And I think that’s it.”
I toss the towel on the counter and start toward the living room. But as I move, I catch a glimpse out the window. Banks is walking down the road toward my house.
“Nope. Not tonight.”
Racing through the sitting area and to the foyer, I snap the locks on the front door. Then, before he can see me, I make sure the door to the garage is locked and the slider in the backyard too.
I wouldn’t put it past him to hop the fence and get in that way. Again.
The knocking begins. “Jess! You home?”
“No, I am not,” I say, grabbing my phone and heading into my office. I open my call log and press the top name.
“Hey,” Pippa says. “I was just thinking about you.”
“Then come over.”
She laughs. “I can’t. I have too much stuff to do.”
I sigh dramatically.
“Stop it. I can’t go away with you for three days if I can’t get my to-do list done.”
“Need help? I’m helpful.”
“If you come over, the only help you’ll be is helping me find what room I like you fucking me in best.”
“That’s necessary information. I can be there in fifteen minutes.”
The sound of her giggle is music to my ears.
I can’t imagine if this life was my life. What would it be like to have access to Pippa all the time? To know, for a fact, that I’m going to see her. To be assured that she’ll call me at some point in the day. To be able to send her flowers or lunch—to know she expects me to be there if she needs me.
There have been points in my life where all of that sounded like the worst thing that could ever happen to me. Most of my life, that’s been the case. The idea that someone thinks they can just call me up and change my plans for the day was annoying. I wanted no part of the pressure of making sure a woman felt special. All those things were more of an irritation than a privilege—until now.