Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Not that there had to be a conflict. There didn’t. She just didn’t want him to think that their having sex meant he could push her into not going through with her plan. She’d made the decision. He had to respect that. If that meant he didn’t want to continue with their lessons... Well, that was something she’d just have to deal with.
Unless he doesn’t want to continue for a different reason...
“You okay?”
She blinked and tried to focus on her sister’s face. Becka changed her hair color with the seasons and today it was a bright blue that was the exact shade of her eyes. Her lip piercing glinted in the light of the little hipster bar where they always met up. She had the cute-alternative look down to a science. She never had problems with men, despite her lamenting about dating.
Lucy tried to smile. “Just a crisis of faith. You know, the usual.”
“Don’t do that. If you don’t want to tell me, that’s cool, but don’t pat me on the head. You don’t have to protect me anymore, Lucy. You know that, right?”
“It’s not about protecting you.” And it wasn’t. They’d had a fine upbringing. Decent—if distant—parents. A solid middle-class lifestyle. Nothing traumatic happening to make waves in their lives.
But Becka was still her little sister. When they were growing up, Becka had been the shy one, the bookworm who was a little too odd to fit in with the rest of the kids in her grade. It led to bullying and, when their parents had failed to notice, Lucy had taken care of it.
She’d been taking care of her little sister ever since.
Though these days, Becka fought her own battles.
But her sister had a point. Holding on to the turmoil inside her wasn’t doing Lucy any favors. She’d talked about it to Gideon, but he wasn’t exactly a neutral party. Neither was Becka, for that matter. “I just... I know it’s been two years, but I still have Jeff’s comments rattling around in my brain. It’s pathetic and I should be over it by now, and I am over him. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Nothing’s wrong with you.” Becka grabbed the wine bottle on the table and refilled her glass. “It’s not like you had a monthlong relationship and turned around and let it mess you up for the rest of your life. You and Jeff were together for...what, like four years? You were going to marry him.” She narrowed her blue eyes. “Though he better hope we never cross paths, because I’m going to kick his ass one of these days.”
“Becka.”
“Lucy.” She mimicked her voice perfectly. “But that day is not today. Either way, I’d say you were having a normal reaction and that’s that. Why’s this coming up now? The whole matchmaking thing is kind of out there, but it’s not like you’re jumping into bed with these guys to give them a trial run.” Becka grinned. “Though there’s an idea.”
She tried to imagine it—taking a single night with each of the guys on Gideon’s list—and instantly rejected the idea. “No way.” It felt wrong and she didn’t want to spend too much time thinking about why. I promised Gideon to be exclusive. Sure, that was it. Definitely.
“Worth a shot.” Becka ate a few more chips. “You’ll be fine, Lucy. I promise. Dating is weird and it’s hard to get to know people, but you have a matchmaker in your corner. It’ll all work out.”
She couldn’t tell her sister that Gideon Novak was the so-called matchmaker in question. Becka had met him on several occasions and she’d lose her shit if she knew. Since they’d managed to get through this conversation without her thinking Lucy was out of her mind, she’d like to keep it that way. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“I am.”
Lucy’s phone rang and her heart leaped in her throat at the sight of Gideon’s name on the screen. “Hello?”
“I’ll meet you there ten minutes early, so be ready.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry—what?”
“The date, Lucy. Please tell me you haven’t forgotten about it.”
She bristled at the irritation in his voice. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. But I was not expecting you to be attending.” She was nervous enough about going out with Mark Williams without having to do it under the watchful eye of Gideon. “That’s unacceptable.”
“My rules. Be there ten minutes early.” He hung up.
Lucy set her phone carefully on the table and looked up to find her sister watching her. “What?”
“I know that move. The ‘gently set your phone down so you don’t chuck it across the room’ one. Who pissed you off?”
“It’s a long story and, unfortunately, I have to leave in order not to be late.” Not to be late to being early. I’m going to kill him. She dug out her wallet and flagged down the waitress. “Same time next week?”