Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Good. Try not to screw it up, Lucy likes Sasha and she thinks she’s good for you.”
I smiled. “She’s right. Lucy is a smart cookie.” Sasha was good for me, the only question left was did Sasha think I was good for her.
Only one way to find out.
Chapter 26
Sasha
“Tip’s already taken care of, ma’am.” The fresh faced delivery guy flashed a smile while I signed the electronic keyboard, took it back and handed me a lavender and yellow box. “Enjoy.” He was gone, whistling as he made his way back to the elevator.
I frowned at the box. It was different than the other packages that had been arriving all week from the companies Alex had endorsement deals with, which were often baskets filled with expensive gourmet foods and alcohol, high end wedding gifts even though we didn’t have a registry and a few even sent swag. It was odd and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before and I had to keep reminding myself that this was all just a fantasy. It was a real fantasy that I would be living for the next couple of years but none of it was real.
None of it, except my feelings for the man who would be my husband in less than a week. Luckily for me, Alex seemed completely clueless about my feelings, which suited me just fine. He had plenty of time to admit his feelings and since he hadn’t, I knew for sure that this was just another part of the convenience factor.
Oh sure, he liked me well enough. He was attracted to me. But Alex didn’t want to keep me around beyond the point I was useful.
“What’s in the box?” Henrietta’s question and her smiling face pulled me from my thoughts and I realized I was just standing in the middle of the living room holding the box while I got lost in my thoughts. Again.
“I don’t know. Let’s see.” I followed Henrietta back to the kitchen, casting a quick look at Dixie’s sleeping form on the way. I lifted the lid and gasped at the sight of a smaller version of our wedding cake. “German chocolate cake.” Tears sprang to my eyes and I felt foolish. A cake had come last week as well. It was waiting for me when I returned to the penthouse after shopping for a wedding dress.
“Another one? Alex is wooing you,” Henrietta said with a sweet smile.
I shook my head, automatically rejecting her words because if I allowed them to seep into my mind and my heart, for even a second, they would take hold and I might start to believe it. “He’s just being thoughtful.”
“Sasha,” she sighed. “Men like Alex don’t have to be thoughtful and no offense because I love the boy like he’s my own, but he’s not exactly known for being thoughtful. This means something,” she insisted. “You mean something to him.”
That much was true. The question was, what did I mean to him? Was it just affection or something more? “I’m taking care of his daughter.”
Henrietta frowned at me. “You’re determined to be obtuse about this, aren’t you?”
“No, not determined. I’m just protecting myself.” Alex hadn’t given any indication that his feelings have changed so I won’t assume they have.
Sympathy flashed in her dark eyes and she nodded as if she understood. “All right, if you insist. That cake smells incredible.”
I laughed, grateful for her change of topic. “Let’s not wait another moment to dig in, then.”
Alex found us enjoying large slices of cake and coffee when he returned from practice with damp hair that hung adorably over his eyes. “Cake?”
“Yes,” I smiled at him. “Thank you for another cake,” I laughed. “But I’m not sure if my clothes will thank you.”
Heat flared in his green gaze and they raked over my body as heavy as a caress. “You look good to me,” he growled. “And we can always buy new clothes.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I said with a smile as I cut another slice and plated it up, sitting it beside me. “Because there’s enough to go around.” And because I ate half of the last cake on my own.
Amusement flashed in his eyes as he took the seat beside me. “Thank you.” He leaned forward and smacked a kiss against my cheek.
I inhaled his fresh, masculine scent deeply. He smelled clean and manly, and familiar. The truth was, Alex smelled like home and when he gave out such easy affection it was enough to fool my heart into believing that it was all real. “You’re welcome,” I answered in a breathy voice.
“Well, I got laundry to do,” Henrietta said with a glint in her eyes. “I’ll let you lovebirds enjoy your cake in peace.” She shuffled off and every part of me wanted to call her back, to tell her we weren’t love birds and didn’t need any time alone, but she was fast.