Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Maggie playfully narrowed her gaze at him. “You know good and well I’ve never been abroad. I don’t even have a passport.”
“All the more reason for you to throw caution to the wind,” Jonathan told her. “Besides, you’ve more than enough time to apply for a passport.”
Maggie looked to me. “I’ve only met Nuala a few times. Are you sure she’d be okay with me tagging along?”
“Of course. Nuala’s a more-the-merrier sort of person. Here, let’s exchange numbers so I can keep you updated. We still haven’t decided on our exact destination yet.”
“Sure,” she replied, looking genuinely excited, and there was something so pure about the reaction that warmed my heart and made me glad I’d impulsively made the offer. After we exchanged numbers, she frowned at the time on her phone.
“I’m really starting to worry about what’s holding up Shay. I’m just going to see if I can find him.”
“Sure,” I said then found myself alone at the table with Jonathan.
“That was very kind of you,” he said, his blue eyes, so pale they were almost grey, appraising me.
“It was nothing. I like Maggie.”
“She’s had a tough life,” he went on, his attention going in the direction she went. “Hasn’t gotten to enjoy herself very much.”
“She’s really never been outside of Ireland?”
Jonathan shook his head. “Her upbringing was rather deprived. I try to encourage her to treat herself from time to time, but she worries if she spends on something frivolous she’ll need the money for an emergency later down the line.”
“That makes sense. I didn’t grow up rich, but money was tight at times. It made me very aware of the cost of things.”
Jonathan nodded, his attention wandering over me once more. “I know we’ve never met before, but can I ask you for a favour?”
“That depends.”
He exhaled and leaned forward. “When Maggie tries to talk herself out of going, will you do your best to convince her otherwise?”
“You’re so sure she’ll change her mind?”
“I know Maggie. She’ll come up with a reason to save her money or spend it on something else. She has several younger siblings, and though they live with foster parents, she tends to put all her energy and resources into them.”
His words made me see Maggie in a new light. It was rare to come across someone so selfless. “Okay, sure. No promises, but I’ll try my best.”
Jonathan gave a faint smile. “Thank you. So, Maggie tells me you’re an accountant here at the hotel?”
“Head accountant, yes,” I replied, feeling a tremor of awkwardness because if Maggie already told Jonathan about me that meant she’d probably mentioned her idea of setting us up.
“Well, if you’re so dedicated to your job that you’re working through your lunch hour, it makes me feel like maybe I should headhunt you to come work at my own firm.”
“I’m quite happy here,” I said with a smile. “Plus, my uncle owns the place, so I’m kind of loyal to the family business.”
“Ah,” Jonathan replied as though gravely disappointed. “That’s too bad.”
I glanced over to the bar area, making eye contact with the girl who’d taken my order. She held up five fingers to say my sandwich would be five more minutes. It wasn’t that I wasn’t finding Jonathan interesting to talk to. I was just eager to get back to my desk so I didn’t end up having to work late.
When I looked back to Jonathan, he was eyeing me with a certain level of interest that made me think he might find me attractive. I felt the need to let him know I wasn’t on the market because this was beginning to feel oddly like a date even though I knew Maggie hadn’t left us alone on purpose. Wait, or had she?
“I’m not, um …” Oh hell, how to say this without coming across arrogant? “The last time I met Maggie, she mentioned how she was trying to set you up and asked if I’d be interested in a date. But I just wanted to say I’m recently divorced, so I’m not looking for anything right now.”
Jonathan’s faint smile deepened into a smirk paired with an arched brow. “Is that so?”
“Not that I thought …” I trailed off, heaving a sigh. “I just wanted to mention it in case Maggie said anything.”
Jonathan ran a finger across the lip of his glass. “She did. She said you were just my type, which,”—he paused to take a slow perusal of me—“you are, to be fair. But she also said you weren’t ready, which I respect. I’ve never been married, but I have gone through a broken engagement to a woman I was with for five years, so I understand how long it can take to get over these things.”
“And how did you get over it, if you don’t mind me asking?” I couldn’t help my curiosity. Especially since I was having all these reemerging feelings for Rhys, feelings from the past that had probably always been there, just suppressed. I was interested to know how someone like Jonathan got over the end of a long-term relationship.