Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
I fight with my eyebrows not to rise. This guy has all the lines. “Oh really?” I lace my fingers together and set my chin on them. “The kind of art you might hang in your living room?”
“Bedroom, actually.”
I laugh. I can’t decide if this guy is too smooth for his own good. Or mine. I have to wonder how many times he’s dropped these lines on other women and they’ve ended up in his bed as a result.
“That sound is music to my ears,” he says, his white-toothed smile still in place. “I knew I’d be kicking myself if I didn’t come over here and at least say hello.” He slides a small piece of paper across the table, roughly the size of a business card. “I’m going to leave my number, and maybe if you’re interested, I can take you out for a drink, or dinner, or a hot air balloon ride.”
I can see exactly where this will go if I take that card from him. And while getting into bed with a random, attractive man might be fun, I know it’s not the right thing for me. Before I can really consider what I’m doing, or fully absorb the last part, I put a hand out to stop him. “I’m very flattered, but I have to be honest with you. I won’t call you. I have a boyfriend.” The lie tastes sour on my tongue. Although, had it been three days earlier, it would have been the truth.
Avery does some kind of cough-choke thing, and I kick her under the table and get Harley on the back swing.
His smile falters for a moment, but he doesn’t break eye contact. “That’s disappointing, but unsurprising. I didn’t see a ring, so I’d hoped maybe luck was on my side.” He tips his head to the side. “Is it serious?”
“Pardon me?”
“You and this boyfriend, are you two serious?”
This guy is unbelievable. “And if we are?”
“Hmm.” He withdraws his hand and tucks the paper in his pocket. “I’d hate for karma to pass judgment on me and get in the way of our future together, so I’m just going to hope I run into you again when you’re single. Have a lovely night, ladies.” He nods to my sisters and gives me one final lingering glance before he winks. “Thank you for existing.”
And then he walks away.
Our table sits in silence, and Avery cranes her neck to watch him leave.
“Oh my God. Did that just happen?” Harley whisper-yells.
Avery smacks my arm. “Why did you tell him you had a boyfriend?”
I deflate. “Because I just got out of a relationship and the last thing I’m looking for is a rebound. Plus those lines were unreal. I’m sure he does this on a weekly basis, and some poor unsuspecting woman ends up in his bed and then never sees him again.”
“You could have at least taken his number, though!” Avery says. “What would have been the harm in that?”
“What if he was the one?” Harley glances out the window, maybe checking to see if he’s still in the parking lot. Harley is a real believer in fate and karma and everything happening for a reason.
“If he was the one, there would have been a sign, don’t you think?” Like a meteor shower. Or the zing. Or a shooting star.
Avery shrugs it off, as is her way. “Well, I guess now we’ll never know, will we?”
When we leave the bar, I tip my head up. The sky is clear, stars sparkling above our heads. And of course, one shoots across the night sky. I roll my eyes. It’s just a coincidence. Not a sign. Taking that guy’s number would have been a mistake. One I saved myself from making with a little white lie.
2
JUGGLE ALL THE THINGS
LONDON
THREE MONTHS LATER
I arrive at Spark House an hour early on Monday morning. The hotel is an old converted house on a huge piece of land, allowing us to set up unique events and provide an intimate, eclectic space for guests. It is sort of like a cross between a bed-and-breakfast and a small boutique hotel. It’s been in our family for three generations, and Avery, Harley, and I took it over when our grandmother decided to retire a couple of years ago.
While I love working with my sisters, some parts of this job aren’t particularly easy for me, so I like giving myself extra time to prepare when no one else is here and I don’t have an audience.
Today I have to touch base with one of our prospective clients who asked for a call first thing this morning. They emailed late last night with a list of questions. I don’t want to lose out on this opportunity, so I figured it would be a good idea to come in early and rehearse my answers. I have a million other things to do today, such as making prototypes for this weekend’s centerpieces, but this is my first priority.