Total pages in book: 12
Estimated words: 11119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 44(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 11119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 56(@200wpm)___ 44(@250wpm)___ 37(@300wpm)
Why was she comparing her childhood trauma to a one-nighter? She really needed to grow up and stop overcomplicating things. Robert was probably like every other man, like her father, but it was up to her how she reacted to his rejection. She didn’t need to become a victim again.
She studied his face—the blueness of his eyes, the beauty mark on his jaw, and the sprinkling of grey near his temples. He was perfect. Could there have been more to him than just good looks and money? “Don’t you ever get lonely?”
Robert looked taken aback by her question. He took a while to answer. “I have plenty to keep me occupied.”
He took a section of her hair and twirled it around his finger absently.
“After the business deals are over and your staff are gone for the night, it’s just you in this big, empty house.”
He shrugged. “What about you, little one?” he asked, changing the subject. “I know nothing about you outside of your floral creations. Tell me something.”
“There’s not much else to know.” The fact her entire life focused on her business made her life feel empty. She’d never traveled, hadn’t even seen the attractions in her own city. Life was eight to six, and evenings were a mix of Netflix and broken dreams. But she was trapped with no way out, so she trudged on like everyone else.
“No man in your life? That’s hard to believe.”
“If I had a man, I wouldn’t be in your bed.”
He leaned forward, closing the small space between them, and surprised her with a kiss on the lips. Kissing changed everything. She was falling and couldn’t stop it.
“Well, you are here. Maybe I’ll keep you.” He was just teasing, but she probably wouldn’t protest. The thought of walking out of his house and his life like nothing happened weighed heavily on her. She felt like a teenager again, innocent and in love. But it was all smoke and mirrors. He was playing games, nothing more.
“Sure. You can add me to your collection of conquests.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Something wrong?”
She exhaled and shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just feeling sorry for myself.” And I’m an idiot. Karlee wanted to cuddle up into his arms and allow him to fend off the world. She craved the love and security an older man like him could provide. But Robert was no less a playboy than the gaggle of testosterone-ridden men in her city.
“Why, sweetheart? You’re young, beautiful, and amazingly talented. What more could you want?”
“I guess everyone wants what they can’t have.” Except you, she thought. He said he’d have her, and he did. Where did that leave her? She rolled away and began searching for her articles of clothing. This one-night stand needed to end before she was irrevocably damaged. Her daddy issues were fucking with her head.
As much as Karlee wanted to stay with Robert Black, she knew she had to get away. Every minute with him made her fall more in love. She was addicted just by looking at the man.
Karlee struggled to dress and tame her hair simultaneously as she made her way down the hallway. Robert called from behind, but she ignored him. She didn’t need his pity, payoff, or lies. She was a big girl, and she’d get over their little one-nighter ... eventually ... maybe.
“Karlee, wait!”
She never looked back. Karlee hitched a ride with one of the linen trucks and managed to get her SUV out of the impound lot herself. Now she was almost three hundred dollars in the hole. Hopefully she still had the job handling the wedding flowers for Elizabeth’s daughter. But she most definitely wouldn’t be delivering or setting up personally. Stella would have to do it for her. There was no way she could face Robert again—to see and not have. Not to mention the wedding planner and entire staff probably thought she was a world-class hooker.
That night, after closing the shop and turning out all the lights, she trudged up the dark stairwell to her apartment above the store. It was nothing like the Black estate. She was sure his en suite bathroom rivaled her entire place in size. Karlee dropped down on her sofa with a bag of chips. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering what Robert was doing. Was he thinking of her? Had he already moved onto his next target? Maybe the coffee shop girl or local dog walker. He seemed to like slumming. Her stomach turned just imagining him looking at another woman with the same mock affection in his eyes. Why couldn’t it have all been real?
Karlee would just pretend it had been real, like some kind of tragic romance novel.
Or she’d black it out of her memory forever. She was good at that.