Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Do you need a ride out to the airport?” Sean asked as he started for the door. “I don’t think you’ve been on the jet before. The airport is this tiny thing.”
He could take a cab. Or… “Do they have a place to park?”
“Of course, and it’s secure,” Sean explained. “I want you to call me if you need anything at all. And please leave your cell on. I know it’s weird, but your mom feels safer when she can see a little blip on her phone.”
His mom still tracked him, and he didn’t mind. It wasn’t like he went anywhere interesting. But he was wondering if he shouldn’t drive himself. And maybe make a point. “I’ll leave it on, though you should know cell service is sketchy on the island. And I think I’ll drive myself. Thanks, Sean. I’ll see you when I get back, and tell Mom that Kyle is a whiny man baby when he’s sick and she should prepare for that now.”
Sean sighed. “I’ll let her know. I think he’s going to be stubborn.”
David chuckled. “You have no idea.”
Sean strode off toward Ian’s office, and David felt something settle deep inside. Why hadn’t they had that talk before now?
Sean wasn’t trying to take his dad’s place. He was simply trying to find his own. Like everyone was.
He noticed Tessa was standing outside the conference room, a worried look on her face. “Hey, I thought maybe we should talk. I should explain what happened.”
He was absolutely certain she would give him the “it’s me, not you” talk, and in this case apparently it really was her and not him. The trouble was that made him think he might have a shot with her if he played his cards right. It might be time to take a chance. But he had to do this right or he would lose her again. Luckily, he knew a lot about politics, and sometimes a smart man had to know when to bluff.
He gave her a bright smile. “Hey, don’t worry. It’s all good.”
She stared at him like she wasn’t sure she could trust him. “David, I should have called or at least replied.”
“It’s not a big deal.” It was huge, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. “I appreciate your willingness to go with me. I was going to take the Mustang to the airport. I don’t want to leave it in the garage when no one’s going to be home for a week. Do you want a ride?”
Her eyes went wide, and he could see plainly she did. “Uhm, I don’t…”
“We’re going to be stuck in a small metal tube for nearly ten hours,” he pointed out. “If you can’t handle a twenty-minute drive with me, maybe we should rethink.” Another thought hit him, one that made him sad. “Unless you don’t want me to know where you live.”
Warm brown eyes rolled. “What would you do with my address? Send me flowers?”
“Not now since you ghosted me.”
Her lips curled up. “Fair. All right, give me your phone and I’ll put it in.”
He handed her his cell. “You’ll have to put yourself in. I really did erase your number.”
She frowned. “That seems extreme. I thought you were just saying that.”
It was good to know he could surprise her.
He intended to surprise her a lot over the next week. Maybe a book wouldn’t be all he came out of this with.
Chapter Four
What the hell was she doing?
Tessa glanced down at her watch. She was standing in front of her building ten minutes early, and there was a big part of her that wanted him to be late. Really late. Annoyingly late.
There had to be something about the man that wasn’t perfect beyond his connection to her employer.
She’d come down when she realized if she stayed inside one minute more she was going to decide to change again. Because she’d been halfway to convincing herself that she could do a fine job as a bodyguard in that curve-hugging dress that gave her so much confidence. Lots of bodyguards wore four-inch heels and a push-up bra. Yeah, sure they did.
Coming down here had saved her so much discomfort because in her line of business, slacks, a sensible shirt and shoes, and a blazer were the only way to go. The blazer hid her shoulder holster in a way that off-the-shoulder sex dress never would. And she didn’t care that Hollywood assassins could stuff any number of weapons between their thighs. Hers did not work that way.
It’s not a big deal.
The words David had said haunted her. What did that mean? It’s not a big deal. It had felt like a big deal. Not texting that smart hottie back had been a big fucking deal to her. She’d agonized over it, and he’d just kind of let it wash over him. He’d taken his shot and moved on. She had thought of nothing but him for weeks.