Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
She shuffled from side to side. Shoot. She really had to use the bathroom, but she didn’t want to slow him down.
“You need to pee, girl?”
“What, no . . . actually, yes.”
He nodded at a door. “Through there. I’ll wait out here.” He moved over to a set of drawers as she dove into the bathroom.
Jeez, Maeve.
She quickly peed. She hated having such a nervous bladder. Why was she all nervous anyway? She was being silly.
He was waiting when she walked out. As he led her down the back stairs, she looked over at him.
“You don’t have to take me home.”
“Of course I have to take you home,” he replied, sounding incredulous. “Did you check a jacket?”
“Uh, no.”
He stilled, staring down at her. “What?” His voice was a sharp bark that made her jump.
Um, was that so bad?
“You came out in freezing cold temperatures without a jacket?” he asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t call it freezing cold. More like chilly cold.”
“Girl, don’t try to be cute right now.”
She hadn’t been trying to be, had she?
“You can’t be walking around in these temperatures without a jacket.”
It wasn’t that she’d wanted to come out without a jacket, but her two choices had been her velvet coat, which she’d nearly ruined last time, and a thin red rain jacket that had seen better days and wouldn’t have kept her warm anyway.
Still, it seemed that perhaps she should have worn one.
“I’ll wear it next time,” she promised.
With a grumble, he glanced down at himself. She expected him to give her his jacket, instead he led her to the coat check.
“Mr. Hawkins,” the woman said behind the desk, a soft purr in her voice. Wow. “What can I do for you?”
“Have you got any coats that have been left behind?” Gray asked impatiently.
“Yes, you want another jacket?” the woman asked, confused.
“Not for me. For Maeve. Can you make it quick? I’ve got somewhere to be.”
The woman glared at her, then turned away with a huff.
“You really don’t have to drop me off. I can take a taxi.”
“Girl, if I’m not right on top of you, you’ll get yourself into trouble.”
“I will not.” She was highly insulted by that. “I take care of myself every day just fine.”
He grunted. “Did you eat dinner tonight?”
“What?” What did that have to do with anything?
“That dizzy spell upstairs . . . did you not eat dinner?”
Well, hell.
Okay, he was far more observant than she’d given him credit for.
“I was nervous.”
The woman returned before he could say anything. She was carrying the ugliest coat that Maeve had ever seen. It was a brown color that reminded her of poop and the fake-leather had worn away in patches. It actually looked like someone had been using it as a mop.
She wanted to cry at the idea of wearing that. And she knew she was being silly. Who cried over clothes? But she didn’t want to wear it.
“Here you are.” The woman gave her a sickly sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
She reached out to take the jacket, unsure what else she was meant to do. Maybe this was all they had that had been left behind.
“What the hell is this, Sarah?” Gray snapped, making Sarah startle. He took the jacket before Maeve could.
“It’s a coat . . . like . . . like you asked me to get.”
“Don’t even test me like that. I know that you chose the ugliest jacket you could find. This is a man’s jacket and it stinks. Go back, find something nicer. Maeve isn’t even touching this.”
Sarah stared at him in shock. And while Maeve should probably feel sorry for her or even be horrified by the way he spoke, she couldn’t be.
Had the other woman deliberately brought her an ugly jacket because she was jealous? Maybe. There was nothing to really be envious of. Was she one of Gray’s former lovers?
Okay, now Maeve was feeling jealous.
Stop being ridiculous.
The woman returned hastily with a black jacket. Black wasn’t a color she’d typically wear, but it was a lot nicer than the other jacket.
Gray took it from her without a word, holding it out for Maeve. She put her arms in it. The inside was lined. This was a really well-made jacket.
Gray turned away, but Maeve looked back. Didn’t seem right to just leave.
“Thank you.”
The woman just sneered.
Okay, then.
At least Maeve would sleep easier knowing she’d used her manners and been a good person.
“You’re too nice, Maeve,” Gray told her.
“What do you mean?” she asked, looking up at him.
“Sarah was being a total bitch just now, getting you that smelly old jacket that should have been thrown out. And you would have just taken it without a word. And then, you tell her thank you when she didn’t deserve it. Too nice.”
He led her toward a door set off to the side of the building that said private. They weren’t going out the front?