Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“I’ll tell her to call you when I get home.”
“I’ll stay on the phone until then to make sure.”
“There’s no need for that. I’ll do what I said.”
“Within the next half hour?”
“No. I’d have to leave now and speed home in order to make that happen.”
“Okay.” She nodded, looking as if that was more than reasonable.
I was about to tell her that she was out of her mind, but the look in her eyes gave me pause.
It was the same look she gave me years ago, when I told her that I had to leave her behind in Seattle and couldn’t give her a date for my return. The look she gave me time after time via our old video chats when she said, “I don’t have any female friends, Travis. I can’t even make one.”
“I’ll leave now.” I walked down the steps. “How are things in Manhattan?”
“Better than expected,” she said. “The rink has been busy nonstop, and I’m in talks with a few programs about long-term contracts.”
“Congratulations. Did you figure out the design for the new floors you plan to add next year?”
“Yes and no. It’s a long story.”
“I have time on this drive home to listen to it.”
I listened to her tell me the plans as I drove, but she sighed before I could set foot inside my condo.
“One of the top contractors is calling me,” she said. “If I don’t hear from you or Tati by the time we’re done talking, I’m flying out there.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I said. “You’ll hear back.”
She ended the call, and I unlocked the door.
The sugary scent of waffles smacked me in the face, so I strolled into the kitchen. The only sign of Tatiana was a plate in the sink and a note on the counter.
Chef Blaine,
Thank you for showing me the proper way to make gourmet Belgian waffles.
I truly appreciate the lesson.
I will happily take you up on those gourmet lemon wings you mentioned for dinner. :-)
Much appreciation,
Tatiana
Crashhhh!
The sound of glass shattering caught my attention. It wasn’t coming from Tatiana’s room, though.
Someone was in my master suite.
Confused, I made my way down the hall. Through the open doorway, I spotted Tatiana rummaging through the drawers under my bed.
Transfixed by the sight of her body in a black and gold bikini, I didn’t say a word.
I need a new step four for my guide.
She flipped through box after box, muttering, “It has to be in here somewhere,” under her breath.
“Good to see that you still have a love for trespassing,” I said after several minutes.
She gasped and stood to her feet. “I thought you were going to be out all day.”
“That was my original plan.” I noticed a heart tattoo I’d never seen before on her hip. “My sister is worried about you, though. She claims you haven’t called or texted since we got married.”
“I dropped my phone in the tub,” she said. “It’s still not working, so I’ll have to get a replacement.”
“And the reason why you’re in my room instead of yours?”
“I’m looking for something.”
“Do you need help finding it?”
“No.” She blushed and looked away from me. Then she bent down and picked up a pen.
“Here it is,” she said. “Problem solved.”
“I see.” I stepped closer to her. “The hotel gave us an entire box of those at checkout.”
“Well, good thing they did, because I lost mine.”
“All these years later, and I can still tell when you’re lying to me.” I smiled. “What are you really looking for?”
“This.” She held up the pen.
“Okay.” I looked around, noticing that all the drawers on my dresser were askew. The balcony door was hanging wide open with the handle for hot tub access pulled forward.
“The spa keys are in my bottom left desk drawer,” I said. “I forgot to make you a copy.”
Dropping her ruse, she pulled it open and picked up a heavy chain of keys.
“The red and yellow one,” I said, watching as she unhooked it. “Would you like some help with your cell phone, too?”
“No, I can handle that myself.”
“Good.” I closed the gap between us. “Then can you do me one more favor?”
“I’ve already married you against my will.”
“That’s not what I need,” I said, tugging on one of her curls. “It’s bad enough that I’ve pictured you being in this bedroom with me a million times before, but reality is far more tempting than I imagined, and I’m really struggling right now.” I was now envisioning her legs wrapped around my waist while I fucked her against the window. “Can you please get the hell out for me?”
“Yes.” She stood still. “I can do that.”
“Can you do it now?”
“I can.” She didn’t budge. “I mean, I am.”
I slid a hand around her neck, tilting her head up until her lips nearly touched mine.
“Start moving or I’ll never let you leave…”