Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Alec opens the door for me and waits for me to settle into the passenger seat before he walks around to his side of the car. His strong hands grip the leather steering wheel as he pulls out of my apartment complex. I have to pull my gaze away before my thoughts drift to memories of those hands on me. That night. The chemistry between us.
“Any questions before we get there?” he asks, navigating toward The Orchid.
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth. “What have you told them about your girlfriend?”
He cuts his gaze to me for a beat before bringing it back to the road. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, who am I supposed to be tonight?”
One corner of his mouth hitches up in amusement. “Just be you, Sav. That’s all you need to do. This doesn’t have to be complicated.”
Oh, Alec. You have no idea. “Is it okay if I talk about what I do?”
He narrows his eyes. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I mean, are you okay with your family knowing?” Will you be embarrassed if your fancy family knows your supposed girlfriend is a personal trainer? I know my family would be. If I still spoke with them.
“I don’t understand.”
I blow out a breath. “Alec, you’re a big deal in the business community, and your family has money. Jobs like mine aren’t glamourous.”
“But you’re about to interview to be a premier instructor for The Rage. That’s a big fucking deal.”
“And it’s little more than a shot in the dark. They have hundreds of applicants—probably thousands. Right now, I’m just a personal trainer and fitness instructor.”
He furrows his brow. “When we were in Vegas and you told me about what you do, you didn’t make it sound like just anything. Your job matters. You empower women.”
His words are a warm hug around my heart. He gets it. “I love that you heard me when I explained, but not everyone does.”
“Brinley told me you don’t feel comfortable around money. Is that what this is about?”
I open my mouth to argue but snap it shut. Growing up a Downing taught me how to step into a room with the richest people in America and act like I belonged. I give zero shits if the people around me have money, but what Brinley likely picked up on was my discomfort around those who are always chasing more. “I can handle it. I’m thinking of you. Of how what I do and don’t say about myself can make this better for you.”
“I don’t care what my family thinks about what you do,” he says. “I think you’re amazing. I want you to be yourself.”
I swallow. “I appreciate that.” I hesitate a beat. “Who all will be there tonight?” I ask. If there are a hundred ways to get reassurance that Oliver isn’t going to show up, I will try one hundred and two. But it’s more than that. I’m also nervous about meeting Alec’s family because regardless of my history with his half-brother, Alec means a lot to me. For better or worse, I want his family to like me.
Alec’s family. Oliver’s family. It’s not like I ever met them, and Oliver made it perfectly clear that he didn’t share the details of his personal life with them, but what if that’s changed? What if somehow someone here recognizes me and tells Alec about my history with his brother? What if Alec thinks I’m the whore his father accused me of being?
He turns toward downtown and hums, thinking. “Obviously my sister, Rose, and her fiancé, Jared. My mom and Jared’s mother. And I think Rose’s maid of honor, Caroline, was also going to make it to town.”
I blow out a long breath. “Okay. I can handle that.”
“Listen, my mother . . .” He takes his eyes off the road to glance at me. “She’s pretty protective of me.”
“Aren’t all mothers protective of their sons?”
“She’s had a complicated life, and she’s not an easy person to deal with. Just don’t take it personally if she comes off as abrasive tonight. We’re actively crushing her dreams of marrying into the Mayhue family.”
I nod. “I deal with difficult women all the time. I’m sure I can handle her.”
Alec parks the car and reaches across the console to take my hand. “You’re shaking.”
I close my eyes. I hadn’t realized the quivering in my stomach had invaded my limbs. “I’m nervous,” I admit.
Alec lifts my hand to his mouth. As he kisses each of my knuckles, I remind myself that this is not what friends do, but his gesture is too comforting to stop.
“You have nothing to worry about,” he says. “They will love you.”
I bite my bottom lip. “Is this a mistake? Lying to them? What if they . . .”
“Figure us out?” He drops his gaze and studies his thumb as it strokes across the back of my hand. “It’ll be okay. I’ve talked about you enough that it won’t be a huge surprise to have you here as my date.”