Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Jay clapped his hands and said, “Arch has done an Ironman. Just one, though—not fifteen.”
Hersch shuddered a little at the research Jay had obviously been doing. But luckily Archer stepped in and said, “It’s hard work and a lot of commitment. I’m not sure I’ll ever do another one.”
Archer had a warmth and sincerity about him that immediately put Hersch at ease. “I’m not sure I’ll ever do another one either,” he admitted. “Now I run to keep in shape.”
“I run too. Clears the mind.”
“Yes,” said Jay, “that would be a great way for you guys to get to know one another better. You see, Herschel, for this movie, we want to go deep into character. We want it to be an authentic character study. From your modest beginnings, through to your training for the space program, a successful mission that leads to near tragedy. And you, making sure everyone else got out safely. It’s going to be comprehensive and gut-wrenching, and I just know it’s going to inspire millions.” Jay sat back, looking pretty pleased with himself.
Hersch was about to protest when he heard a woman’s voice call Archer’s name—a familiar voice—and in walked Mila, holding what looked like the dress bag she’d been carrying the other day. His stomach flipped. Every time he saw her, she took his breath away. She was wearing worn jeans and a loose sweater, and her long hair was wound into a bun at the nape of her neck. She knew how to be a goddess on sea and land both, and it never failed to amaze him. What was she doing here?
Mila obviously hadn’t expected to see him either. A split second of confusion, and then her eyes lit up. She was as pleased to see him as he was her. He wanted to leap up from his seat and kiss her senseless and take her far from here to somewhere private. Like his bed. From the way her eyes opened wide and her cheeks flushed as she took in the scene, he was almost certain she was experiencing the same fantasy.
Archer said to Mila, “Can’t a man have some privacy in his own home? You ever heard of knocking? I gave you all the key code for emergencies, not so you could waltz in here like you’re about to sell the place.”
Mila quickly recovered her composure. “Is this a secret boys’ club meeting? Shall I go and leave you to your treehouse?”
Arch laughed. “What are you doing here, anyway? And what is that?”
“I came to drop something off for Tessa,” Mila explained. “And no, don’t ask me any more. It’s none of your business.”
Hersch smiled a small smile, enjoying their sibling squabble.
“Come on, you two,” Jay said fondly, clearly having been a witness to their banter many times before. “We’re having an informal meeting. No biggie.” He looked at Mila and then Hersch and back again.
Hersch suddenly felt exposed. Could Jay tell that he had a crush on Mila as big as the moon?
Jay said, “What would you think about your brother playing Herschel in a biopic?”
Mila turned on him. “If you bullied him into this, Jay, I swear I’ll—”
“We’re just talking,” Hersch interrupted.
Archer jumped in and said, “Yeah, we’re talking about guy stuff here. Why don’t you go upstairs and do whatever secret girl thing you and Tessa have planned?”
Mila rolled her eyes. “First, we both know I could take you down in under five seconds. And second, I’m pretty sure ‘guy stuff’ isn’t dressing up and pretending to be someone else. So, yeah, I’d definitely rather go upstairs.”
She turned to Hersch. “Good to see you.” To Jay, she said, “Wish I could say the same,” with a teasing smile, and disappeared upstairs.
A few minutes later, Hersch heard her come down, and then the front door clicked shut. Jay and Archer had long gone back to talking about the movie, but all Hersch could think about was Mila. Their surprise encounter made him think that maybe she wanted him as badly as he did her. Hersch wasn’t the kind of guy to sit around and do nothing. He was going to win over Mila Davenport, even if she would give him only one night. Casual sex had never been his thing, but at thirty-five years old, maybe it was time to try something new. Having made that decision, he felt better than he had in days.
Because once he’d made a decision, he tended to act on it right away.
Chapter Nineteen
“Mila Davenport.” Mila answered the call in her business voice, even though she knew it was Hersch calling. Her true feelings for him had been written all over her face when she’d bumped into him at Arch’s, and now she felt a little embarrassed, as though she needed to claw back some mystique. Especially since she was the one who’d kissed him in the first place.