Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
She needs saving, but he’s no prince. Then again, he wasn't a lot of things before she came along. Now Caleb is finding he’ll be and do whatever he must so that when the clock strikes midnight, Gabriella will forever be all his.
A sweet and deliriously steamy romance to ring in the new year.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
CALEB
The coffee appears on the corner of my desk, irritating me. I recognize the familiar red and pink design. I should. I go to the little coffee shop around the corner every day.
The coffee is shit, but still I go and choke it down. In fact, I had planned to leave at my regular time in ten minutes and walk over to the small shop. So why is there one now on my desk? It doesn't have the little heart that Gabriella always doodles on it. I've noticed she only does that on mine, where others would get happy faces or, as of late, snowflakes.
“Morning, sir.” Lauren gives me a bright smile. I hate it. Who the hell is this cheerful in the morning?
A redheaded fairy comes to mind. It fits her, though, with her wild curls, rosy cheeks, and emerald eyes. The girl's round cheeks were even adorned with dimples. I dream about those damn dimples. If I’m being honest, those aren’t the only attributes I’ve dreamt of when it comes to her. Cheerful actually perfectly complements Gabriella's bubbly personality.
Lauren, on the other hand, is consistently well-groomed and put together. Cheerful doesn't seem to fit that. There's not a single hair out of place in her stick-straight blonde hair. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I too put on a crisp custom suit each morning, but no one would ever say that I was cheerful. In fact, around this time of year, I hear a few whispers of me being a scrooge when they think I'm out of earshot. I don't care. I want them to think I'm an asshole. It keeps them from bothering me and continuing to do their jobs.
But Lauren is cold for the most part. I am too. It normally makes us work well together, except that lately she hasn’t been so cold. It must be the holiday spirit getting to everyone. It’s infecting my staff. That is also annoying. Thankfully, the holiday will be over soon, and the office will return to normal.
“What did I tell you about getting my coffee?” Lauren's shiny red lips purse, letting me know she doesn’t care for my question, but she wouldn’t dare say that to me. Not that I give a shit that she doesn’t like it. That’s not my problem. In fact, it’s Lauren's job to deal with my problems, not make more of them.
"I thought that since you had a busy day, I'd get this out of the way." I want to snap at her. I pay Lauren well because she does think ahead. I don’t have to micromanage her. I usually don’t even have to have this much small talk with her. I only say what's necessary for us to get work done.
“But I gave you strict orders on this one, and I don’t enjoy repeating myself.”
"I'm sorry, sir." I stand up, grab the coffee, and toss it into the trash.
“Keep an eye out for the finalized Kingston paperwork. I want to get started on the project as soon as possible.”
“Not before the holiday?”
“If I wanted to get started after the holiday, that's what I would have said.” I swear it’s like Lauren is new here or something. As though she doesn’t know that I couldn’t care less if it’s a holiday, birthday, or any other day that normal people make a fuss about and celebrate.
“Of course.”
“I’ll be back before the ten o'clock meeting.”
Lauren responds, but I’m not listening to her.
I'm already boarding the elevator and putting on my coat. I hit the button for the ground floor over and over again, knowing full well that it doesn't do shit to speed it up, but I'm on edge. I always am at this time because it has been too long since the last time I've seen her. I’m like a damn addict, needing their fix. But mine isn’t drugs or some other vice. It’s a bubbly redhead.
The fucking elevator stops four times to let people on and off. The holiday music in here is too loud. Who the hell approved that? I make a mental note to have it turned off completely.
Thankfully, the walk to the coffee shop Cup of Sugar isn’t long. The sidewalk is filled with people doing their holiday shopping. A new layer of fresh snow is starting to fall. Only a little while longer, I remind myself. Then the world will return to normal.
I pause when I enter the coffee shop, not seeing my girl anywhere. She always stands out, like a bright star in this place. Why are there always so many people in here? You can smell the burnt coffee when you walk in the door. No wonder it’s called Cup of Sugar, because you need a cup of it to help swallow it down.
I stand back and wait. She might be in the back. I'll wait for her return before placing my order. Otherwise, it would be pointless. Gabriella is the only reason I choke down the shit from here. It is worth it.