Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
How does he do that?
“Moving on,” I say, flustered. “I would like to tour that house. I’m not completely sold on it but it’s worth a look.”
“Absolutely. But don’t feel pressured. I only sent you that link yesterday to get you to text me.”
I grin. “What? Did hello stop being an icebreaker?”
“No, but hello is overused. It’s simple. Basic. I needed something … more. Something that you couldn’t resist replying to.” He bites his lip. “I was trying to be polite. The last time I tried to get fancy you—”
“You sent me a picture of your abs when I was out to dinner with Eton.” I try to be serious, but I can’t. “What the hell?”
“You obviously hadn’t seen a nice body for a while, so I was doing you a favor. Trying to brighten your day.” He looks at me innocently. “I’ve never gotten such a blasé response to a picture before. Or since, really.”
“Most of the recipients don’t know you as well as I do.”
“True. But the nice thing to do would’ve been to appreciate the picture—I even used a ring light to get a better quality.”
I start laughing.
“You were supposed to send one back, know,” he says. “That’s how it works. It’s a trade. A pic for a pic.”
“Poor you. I’m sure your messages are devoid of pictures.”
He shrugs. “I mean, they’re not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want one of yours.”
“I have no interest in being in your fangirl collection, sir.”
He lifts a brow and leans forward. “You’d have your own collection. I wouldn’t dare put you with the rest.”
“I’m flattered.”
Fire burns in my stomach as I watch the same flame flicker in his eye. What’s happening right now? And why is Maddox turning up the heat on his flirting lately?
Not that I’m mad about it …
“Well, for the record, I might’ve accidentally not deleted your picture,” I say coyly.
“You were looking at it to get off, weren’t you?”
“No!” I laugh in disbelief. Although, I thought about it. “But I bet that’s why you wanted mine, huh?”
I don’t know how to read the look on his face. I only know that it sends shivers down my spine.
“Why do we do this?” I ask, fanning my face. There’s no sense in hiding it.
He exhales and reaches for a pen. “Because we are two good-looking people who know each other well enough to play around.”
If only …
The space between us thickens, making it harder to breathe. I fidget with the arm of my chair.
“Do you want me to schedule some properties for you to look at next week?” he asks. How can he seem so unaffected?
“No, actually.” I clear my throat. “I’m going out of town. But the week after would be great.”
“You’re going out of town?”
I nod.
A question lingers in the air. I can read the thought bubble over Maddox’s head—Where are you going, Ashley?
There’s no way I’m telling him that I’m going on my honeymoon alone. No way in hell. For one, it would bring Eton into this conversation, and I’m over talking about him. And for two, telling Maddox that I’m going to the Bahamas solo is a bit embarrassing. I don’t know why. It’s fine, and I know he wouldn’t think anything of it, but he’d start quizzing me about being careful and drive me nuts. I don’t need any more stress.
“Hey, how’s Paige?” I ask. “The last I heard, your sister had moved to Savannah. Is she still up there?”
Maddox groans. “Yeah. She’s shacked up with her boss and his kid.”
“I take it you’re not a fan?”
“Yeah, well, he’s not a terrible guy. No felonies or restraining orders. She’s happy. Dad likes him. So …” He shrugs.
“How do you know all of that—the felonies part?”
“Remember Skylar Schultz? He was a year younger than us in school.”
“Yeah. He stuck a paperclip in an outlet in fifth grade.”
“That’s him.” He grins. “Well, he’s a cop now and Banks and I had him do some digging.”
“Of course, you did. Poor Paige.”
We exchange a simple smile. Once his dimples begin to settle in his cheeks, it’s time to go. His dimples and my starved libido isn’t a good mix.
I’ll just go to Becca’s and use that picture.
“I need to get going,” I say. “I’m finalizing a trip for a couple to Bora Bora, and I need to pack.”
“You just got here.”
I glance at my watch. “Thirty minutes ago.”
“Really?” He checks the time. “Too bad you can’t just sit in here while I work all day. Time flies when you’re around.”
“So charming,” I tease. “Thanks for making time for me today.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
I start to respond when another voice rings through the room.
“Oh, we’re talking about pleasure with Ashley. This should be fun.”
I whirl around to see Jess, one of Maddox’s older brothers, standing in the doorway. His jeans are filthy, and the way his white T-shirt is stretched over his barreled chest should be illegal.