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)
While she’d been thinking about this, Erin’s mind had obviously gone down a different track. “As a journalist, I feel really bad promoting the fiction that my brother’s getting married in Scotland.”
Mila turned to her in shock. “You’re not going to sell out Arch to the Sea Shell, are you?”
Irritation was evident on her sister’s face. “Of course I would never do that. I’m just saying, when they find out, I’ll get in huge trouble. You know I will. This would be the scoop of the century for the Sea Shell.”
Mila could see her point, but still, family was more important than any job. She thought about it, and the best she could come up with was that maybe Arch could let the Sea Shell have an exclusive photograph. She shared this idea with Erin, who looked less than impressed. Then she shrugged.
“It’s not like I’ll lose my job or anything. I just feel bad, that’s all.”
“I get that. Jay’s been trying to get hold of me lately. I think he’s hoping I’ll put in a good word for him with Herschel. Which I never will.”
Erin said, “You can see where he’s coming from, though. It would be an amazing project. I mean, Herschel Greenfield is an absolute hero, and what a great part for Archer to play.”
Mila felt the familiar irritation rise in her that came every time that project was brought up. “Yes, I know it would be a great project, but it’s the man’s life. It’s his trauma, and I don’t think he wants to see it laid out on a big screen.”
Erin turned and looked at her. “You’re taking this really seriously. Are you sure it’s completely Herschel that gets you all worked up? Or is there still some of your own stuff about the accident that you haven’t dealt with?”
She looked down and stabbed a toe into the sand. “Sometimes you’re so smart I can’t stand it. I honestly hadn’t even thought of that. But maybe that’s what’s bothering me so much.”
“If somebody came along and wanted to make a movie of your life story, how would you feel?”
“Mostly awful, I think. And I’m pretty sure that’s how Herschel feels too.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I’m just thinking that maybe you should let him fight his own battles. He seems perfectly capable of doing so.”
She took a last sip of coffee and with an exaggerated sigh said, “Okay. I should head back and get ready for the office.”
They hugged good-bye, and Mila collected her board and walked home slowly. She hated to admit it, but Hersch and his steamy lovemaking had gotten under her skin, and her sister had gotten straight to the heart of her annoyance with Jay. What was it with her lately? She kept things in control—everything from her time to her love life. Now? She felt her control slipping, and she didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mila couldn’t believe she had actually done a pinkie swear with Erin, like they were twelve years old. But then, secretly maybe she was happy to have a reason to be forced to give Herschel a chance.
Erin knew her as well as anybody did, and if she could see that there was something special between Mila and Hersch, maybe Mila should listen. Besides, it wasn’t difficult to imagine spending a little more time with the sexy astronaut. She couldn’t stop fantasizing about getting wild with him again in bed. He had surprised her in every possible way. He could take charge in the bedroom while also making sure to check in with her, and he was unbelievably sensitive to her needs.
A couple of times, she found herself just gazing out of the office window, forgetting what she was working on. She was that blissed out.
When Hersch called her a little later, she was shocked at the way her heart jumped when she saw his name flashing on her phone. Instead of putting on her professional greeting voice, she just answered with, “Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” he said, his voice all low and sexy. “I want to ask you a favor.”
“Okay.”
“Archer put me in touch with your dad, and he’s lined up some local painters for me. I’ve got some paint samples like you suggested, but I don’t know which colors I like. Do you think you could give me a hand today?”
Mila laughed. “Wow, you work fast.”
“I like to be efficient.”
She respected that. But still, he wasn’t wasting any time. She checked her schedule and said she could be there by four. Then she plowed through her to-do list so competently that she did everything she needed to do by three-forty.
When she drove up to Hersch’s place, she was surprised to see her dad’s truck sitting in the driveway. She recognized a low stab of disappointment as it reached her belly. Part of her had hoped that the painting call was more of a booty call than an interior-design emergency. But she should have known better. Hersch was a man of his word—if he’d been calling for hot sex, he would have just said, Come over and get back in my bed.