Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“I don’t know where she is!” he roared.
Gareth was perusing his drink collection and picked out two bottles. “You do have the name of her company, pretty sure you could figure it out from there. I’m taking these. See you at the wedding.”
A head jerk and Colum and Jager followed him out. But Colum came back in, strode over to him, around the desk, and got right up in her face. The country boy was big and intimidating but he didn’t cower, just cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Hurt her again, you and I will be meeting once more and you’ll be a broken man.” He stepped back, touched the brim of his cap and walked away, a jaunty whistle on his lips.
“I like him,” Hastings said. “Wonder if he’s wanting to join the military.” He grinned when Livingston shot him a glare.
“Get off your ass, Hastings. We’re going to ruin Father then I’m off to get my woman.”
* * * *
“Tell Mrs. Howard she will have an estimate to her by the end of the day, Karl. Right now I have to take another call then get to my meeting with Mr. Dreamde.”
“On it, boss.”
Taking a sip of her blueberry-and-peach shake, Daisy took a deep breath and touched the button on her phone, connecting her to the waiting client. “Mr. Dreamde, thank you for holding, this is Ms. Wentz. Have you made your decision?”
She took her chair and dropped her head forward to rub the nape of her neck. Her hours were insane now, she wanted to simply bury herself in work. That way she didn’t have one, the time, or two, the energy to think about Livingston Rhodes.
“I’m sure there are other accounting firms who are cheaper than I am, Mr. Dreamde. I won’t debate that, just like I don’t barter or negotiate with my fee. I charge what I charge because I excel at what I do and my time is in high demand. If you aren’t willing to pay what I’m asking, let me know because I have a list of others who are waiting for me to give them an answer if I can put them in this spot you’re holding up.”
“You have a small company, and you’re a woman.” The man’s condescension smacked her through the phone.
Nose flaring, she shook her head. “You know what, Mr. Dreamde? You’re right, my company is small. We are a boutique company but, again, are excellent at our services. I just made the decision for you. We will not be taking you on as a client. Have a good day.”
She punched the ‘end call’ button with far more force than necessary. “Christ, what an arrogant bastard.”
“Hello, Peach.”
Two words. One incredible voice.
She snapped her head up and whimpered at the simple sight of the man leaning in her doorway. “What are you doing here, Mr. Livingston? Our business was concluded, even if you didn’t believe my findings.”
Guess his disbelief in what he’d hired her to discover still smarted.
He pushed away from the doorframe, his leanly muscular body draped in another suit that just amplified his sexiness. That remained covered by a dark-gray woolen trench coat. He had a hand behind his back and, as he moved into her room, he pulled it to where she could see her gingerbread house.
“Oh,” she gasped. “My house.”
Livingston placed it on her desk and she smiled as she reached for it. “God, this was ugly.”
“Better than the one I did.” He stood beside her.
When she tipped her head to gaze up at him his mouth was there, taking possession of hers. Not pushy but gently, coaxing.
She purred in the back of her throat and grasped the lapels of his coat, yanking him closer.
“I’m sorry for what he did, Peach. I didn’t think he would do that.”
“He tried to word the letter like it was with your approval. Like the man didn’t remember me being in the room with the two of you and witnessing the animosity between you both.”
He nibbled along her jaw up to her ear then back to her lips. God, she wouldn’t ever get enough of this man.
“Why are you here?” Her words were a bit panted.
Livingston sat on her desk and wheeled her right between his thighs then he captured her face once more. “I’m here for you, Peach.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t lose you again. I will do anything to keep you beside me and sharing that smile with me you gave me while we made those ugly gingerbread houses.”
“I don’t know, I can’t just relocate my business, and I know you can’t either.”
“I’ll hire people to do the day to day. You want to live here, we live here. I’m following you, Peach. If you say no, I’ll work on getting a yes out of you. If you say yes, I’ll do my fucking best to never make you sad again.”