Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
I tilted my head and gave him a look that called him on his bullshit. “Things are crazy because you made them that way. I warned you that we were taking on too much, I told you that I wouldn’t be responsible for your over-extending yourself, and I told you I needed a break. Well, I’m taking it now. You can either find a way to cover for me by yourself, or you can hire an assistant or two. Derek has offered to provide us with a staff multiple times, and Eli has been wanting you to take on an interior design intern from Rawhide University. Take them up on their offers. Either way, I’ll be off the clock at midnight which is in… a couple hours.”
Mason wheezed.
I fought a smile as I said, “Oh, and Georgiana and Petal are your problem now. Good luck with those two crafty kitties.”
“Nooo,” Mason moaned and clutched his head. “They are so high-maintenance. In every sense of the word. Fuck, why do they have to be so good at what they do?”
Laughter burst out of me as I thumped my friend on the back, torn between concern that my buddy might finally have been stressed into a heart attack, and laughter at Mason getting what he deserved.
“You can’t leave me alone with Petal and Georgiana, that’s unfair,” he said after he’d finally sucked in and expelled a couple breaths. “And there’s Spirit Week. I need you on the ground, making sure everything goes smoothly with the people we’ve brought in. This is the first event staffed strictly by people we’ve recruited for it. I need you giving these people some face time to reassure them that we’re here if they need us.”
“Oh, I’ll still be there. As an attendee.” I grinned at Mason and he stared at me with wide eyes. “I found a girl. She’s here for Spirit Week and I want to see if I can get her to spend it with me. I’m telling you, Mason, she’s something else. I saw her and just like—bam—instant attraction.”
He squinted, then held a hand to my forehead. “You don’t feel warm, but your eyes are kind of glassy.”
I smacked his hand away. “I don’t have a fever. Wait until you see us together, then you’ll understand. When I look at her my whole body feels like I’ve been hit by lightning and—”
“You’re right,” Mason interrupted me, “you have been working too hard. Take some time off. I’m worried about you, buddy. You’re not acting like yourself.”
Ignoring him, I continued, “Mason, I’m telling you, there’s something between us. I don’t know what it is, I can’t explain it, but the feeling is electric. When I touched her, I swear my skin hummed like I was touching a low-voltage live wire. Not in a bad way, it felt… intense. And that was just from touching her face when I was afraid she had frostbite. Poor girl’s lips were purple.”
“Wait, wait,” Mason wandered back to the couch and slumped onto it with a defeated sigh. “Why did you think she had frostbite?”
I smiled at the memory of her indignant expression when I’d scolded her for not having a jacket. “She was distracted and forgot her coat. She didn’t think it was a big deal and refused the shuttle driver’s offer of having a jacket brought to her from the Ranch. Then she said she got distracted by admiring the full moon and spaced out a bit. By the time she made it up the walkway, she was frozen. In her defense, she’s from Miami and she’s never experienced weather like ours. You wouldn’t know it, though. She has pale as cream skin and the prettiest blonde hair with hints of red. And her lips, man, when they weren’t blue they were a very lush pink. Full, kissable, pink lips…”
“My, my, my,” Mason drawled as he crossed one leg over the other and tapped his finger to his chin. “Look at you, all starry-eyed and shit.”
“Fuck you.” I moved his jacket and shoes to the side, then sat on the couch across from his.
Mason gave me a cocky grin that made me want to punch him. “Sensitive about her, aren’t you. What does she look like?”
“Sexy,” I said instantly. “Maybe late twenties or early thirties with a slender body. Except for her ass. She has a round, full ass.” Mason grinned at me and I smiled back. “Yeah, you know I’m an ass man. Anyways, she also has this air of… I don’t know… confidence about her. Like she knows who she is. I can’t explain it. She’s just very sure of herself and I find that sexy as hell.” I realized I was babbling about her by this point but didn’t seem to be able to stop myself. “Also, she’s a brat. A funny one. I’ll be laughing as I spank her fat little rear, that’s for sure. She’s petite, and pale enough that even a hint of a blush turns her cheeks pink. Hazel eyes, little more green than gold, and a smirk that makes me want to tie her up and make her scream out her orgasms. I swear she mouths off just to see what I’ll do. Daring me to punish her.”