Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“Sure, coffee before lunch. I’m down.”
I stare at him. There’s no easy way to say this. “I’m sorry for Saturday, Joel,” I say softly.
“Me too.”
I try to explain. “It was the worst timing.”
“It wasn’t bad timing,” he huffs. “He knew exactly what he was doing.”
“What?”
“He’s had you on ice the entire fucking time he’s lived next door, Juliet, and as soon as you meet someone else, he comes in like a spoiled child wanting his toy back.”
“Oh,” I reply, surprised by his venom. I wasn’t expecting this reaction.
“So . . . let me guess,” he says sarcastically. “You organize a date with me, and suddenly he realizes that you are the one for him, and he’s miraculously over his commitment issues, and now thinks he’s in love with you . . . but he didn’t say it straight out; it was in a roundabout way.”
I frown.
“How am I going with my prediction?”
Surprisingly fucking accurate.
“You don’t need to be like this.”
“But I do, because you’re being an idiot and letting him play you like a fiddle.”
I exhale heavily. “I’m in love with him, Joel.”
“Because you have good sex?”
I stare at him as I roll my lips. I’m not even replying to that.
“There’s a lot more to a relationship than sex, Juliet, and if you want a life with someone like that, go ahead.”
I’ve heard enough of this shit.
I throw my napkin onto the table. “Thanks, I will.” I stand. “Goodbye, Joel.” I walk out of the restaurant.
I hope Henley really knows how to decorate fucking houses.
The elevator rises as excitement bubbles in my stomach. I’m on my way up to Henley’s office to have lunch with him. My coffee date with Joel didn’t go as planned, but after calming down a little, I do understand Joel’s disapproval.
I chose Henley, and no matter how sweetly I wrap the delivery, the message is still the same.
The elevator doors open to a large reception area, and I walk in. It’s all modern timber with beautiful apricot marble floors. A huge gold sign is on the back wall.
HENLEY JAMES
ENGINEERING
Oh . . . bougie as fuck.
A lot fancier than I expected.
“Can I help you?” a woman’s voice asks.
I look over and see a gorgeous brunette sitting at a desk: long dark hair and perfect bone structure. “Um, yes. I’m here to see Henley.”
“Are you?” She fakes a smile and looks me up and down. “And what’s your name?”
What’s with the condescending tone, bitch?
“I’m Juliet, Henley’s girlfriend, and you are?” I fire back.
She looks at me, deadpan. “Strange, I’ve never heard of you before.”
“Your name?” I repeat.
“Jenny,” she replies flatly.
Jenny . . . I remember fucking Jenny; she was the witch who blew me off all those years ago. So she’s still around, eh? Nobody told me she also happened to be a bombshell. “Hello, Jenny.” I smile through gritted teeth.
“Hello.”
“Where is Henley?” I assert. Don’t give me your crap, Jenny. I will end you.
“He’s in his office.”
“Which is where?” I begin to get annoyed with this woman and her outright rudeness.
“Take a seat, and I’ll let him know you’re here.”
I roll my lips and take a seat on the couch. I text Henley.
Who the fuck is this receptionist?
A door instantly opens, and Henley comes into view. “Hello.” He smiles. He throws Jenny a quick glance and gestures into his office, and I stand and make my way over.
Jenny pretends to look at her computer, not even looking up.
I walk into the office and turn toward Henley, and he closes the door behind us.
“How did it go?” he asks.
“It was a five-minute conversation. I left before his coffee even arrived.” I cross my arms in front of myself. “The deed is done.”
Satisfaction flashes across his face before he takes me into his arms. “Good.” He kisses me softly.
“Forgot to tell me a small detail that your hot receptionist is in lust with you?”
He chuckles. “She’s just a bit—”
I cut him off. “Rude.”
“Protective.”
I roll my eyes, and his hands drop to my behind, and he bumps our hips together. “What do you want for lunch?”
“You . . . on Jenny’s desk sounds good,” I huff. Why the hell is his receptionist so hot?
“That could work.” He smiles.
I roll my eyes. Seriously, I need to get ahold of this jealousy thing. Why do I think every woman alive is after Henley James?
Because they are.
“I called Chloe, and she can help us out next week.”
He looks down at me.
“Can we go?”
“Juliet.”
I bounce on the spot. “Tell me we can go.”
“All right.” He widens his eyes as if I am a huge inconvenience. “We can go.”
I smile broadly.
“On one condition,” he says.
“What’s that?”
“You let me organize it.”
“Why, because you’re a control freak?”
“Precisely.” He gives me a slow sexy smile, and I feel it to my toes.
“Okay.” I pull him close and kiss him. “I can’t wait to have you all to myself.”