Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
He brushed his mouth across hers. “I like both. And I really like this nipple ring.” He thumbed it through the towel. “I’m going to enjoy playing with it. Often.”
“As long as those psychic hands don’t start playing with it in public.” Her eyes narrowed as a lopsided smile curved his mouth. And she knew she’d just stupidly planted that idea in his head. She should just slap herself. Really.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
For Harper, everything about this particular spa created a serene, peaceful, and deliciously restful atmosphere. Not just the warm and cozy décor, but the incense burners, the relaxing soundtracks, the herbal aromas, the low lighting, and the snug fluffy robes. But right then, she wasn’t feeling restful. In fact, as Belinda stood at her side reading out the itinerary for the next day, Harper just wanted to whack the she-demon around the room with her own clipboard.
Harper was at the spa for a reason – a surely perfectly obvious reason: to relax. Simple.
Of course, it wasn’t an easy thing when she was extremely conscious that the shindig would begin the following evening. By some miracle, though, Harper had been relaxing. As the massage therapist had kneaded and stretched her skin with fingers coated in a tingling oil, her body had loosened until she was like melted wax against the padded table.
Now she was clasping the edges of said table to stop herself from taking a swipe at the cambion, who had barged into the private room with her little clipboard firing out reminders… as if there weren’t four half-naked women being massaged right in front of her.
She wouldn’t let Belinda get to her. She wouldn’t. Inhaling a deep breath that was filled with citrus, Harper concentrated on the hands that were working magic on her muscles and the feel of the warm stones on her back. Her muscles were a little sore, thanks to her last flying lesson. God bless spas and —
“Are you even listening to me?” asked Belinda.
Harper sighed. “Honestly? No.”
Belinda planted one balled up hand on her hip. “The event takes place tomorrow evening. There is still a lot that needs to be done.”
Devon groaned in annoyance. “You do realize we brought Harper here to get her mind off all that stuff, right?”
Belinda gave Devon a haughty look. “This is much more important than a massage. These things need to be addressed now if the event is to run smoothly.” She turned back to Harper, but her gaze was on her clipboard. “A beauty team will arrive in the afternoon to take care of your hair, make-up, and other such things.”
“Not necessary. I can deal with all that myself.”
Belinda gaped. “You can’t seriously prefer to do this yourself. For heaven’s sake, you can’t do this yourself.”
Khloë looked up from her magazine. “Why can’t she?”
Belinda ignored the imp. “Harper, surely you want to look your best for Knox. You don’t wear much make-up; you would have no idea how to —”
“If I covered my face with layers upon layers of make-up and did my hair in some fancy twist, it would piss him off,” said Harper. “He doesn’t want a fake version of me.”
Belinda’s lips flattered. “I’ll speak with Knox about it.”
“Snitches get stitches, you know,” Khloë told her.
Glaring at the imp, Belinda spoke. “My job —”
“Is not to hang around him like a bad smell,” said Khloë. “But you use every little opportunity to call him or go knocking on his office door.” Khloë flipped her page extra hard. “Just so you know, he thinks it’s pathetic. We laugh about you, like, a lot.”
Cheeks flushing, Belinda turned back to Harper. “I’ll cancel the team.”
“Wasn’t so hard, was it?” said Harper.
Belinda flapped her arms, almost knocking over the tray of oils and lotions. “I’m trying to help you, Harper. If you go to that event looking like nothing but a warmed-up version of yourself, you will embarrass him in front of the other guests. Is that really what you want?”
Harper arched a brow. “What, pray tell, about me is so embarrassing?”
“Yeah, tell us,” said Devon, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
Belinda straightened her shirt. “I just mean that you want to look like you’ve made an effort.”
Khloë smiled. “Ooh, good save.”
“I thought so,” said Raini a little drowsily, head leaning on her folded arms.
Eyes gleaming with exasperation, Belinda said to Harper, “The other guests will be elegantly groomed.”
“Not all of them.”
“You’ll stand out like a wet lemon,” said Belinda. “If you see people tittering at your appearance, how will it make you feel?”
Was that a trick question? Harper puffed out a breath and answered honestly, “I can’t say I’ll care.” That seemed to really piss off Belinda.
Devon’s massage therapist chuckled and looked Belinda up and down. “You don’t know anything about the Wallis family, do you?”
“They’re not people pleasers,” said Raini.