Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Okay, that’s not going to happen, I think, but I focus on the more immediate problem, which is his naked ass and my neighbors. “The neighbor can see over the fence. You better put clothes on!”
My cell rings again, with Becker’s caller ID, and I quickly sit up and answer. “Hey. Sorry. The new puppy was crying so I made an executive decision to save my carpet before I talked to you.”
He laughs. “Oh, the puppy months. They feel like years, but then grow too fast and get too old too fast.”
“Don’t go there. I don’t want to think about it. Did you want to meet?”
“Yes, let’s do it. Can you do eleven? I have coffee with Lawrence Rhenn. You rep him, right?”
“I do. Ask him about me. Then I know you’ll sign.”
He laughs. “I will. You know, I thought you were a literary agent because of your brother.”
“Well, I am. I’m a weird hybrid agent. Most agents do one or the other. I just do what I feel passionate about.”
“Fair enough. How do I get into the building on a Saturday?”
“I’ll make sure security lets you up.”
We disconnect and a female scream rips through the house. Damn, that will be Livi. I grab my robe, pull it on and run into the living room to find her standing at the edge of the kitchen, her face pale. Tyler is also in the kitchen thankfully wearing pants but they’re unzipped and hanging low.
Livi points at him. “Do you know this half-naked man?”
“He’s my boss,” I say. “He randomly shows up at employees’ houses and sleeps over.”
Tyler eyes me with an arched brow, at which point I realize he’s holding a steaming cup of coffee and another is on the sink.
Livi gapes and I laugh. “I’m joking. This is Tyler. He does not randomly show up at employees’ houses. It was a bad joke. I should have warned you both about each other or he would have his pants zipped.”
Tyler looks down and curses before setting the cup down and facing the sink to fix his pants. Once he’s back in order, he rotates to face Livi again. “Sorry. I took the pup out in a rush.”
Molly runs to Livi’s feet and she kneels to greet her. “I’m sorry for reacting so stupidly,” she says, scooping up Molly and loving on her. “I was just not expecting company and you didn’t mention a man.”
Tyler grabs the cups and motions to the pot with his chin. “Coffee’s ready if you want some, Livi.” Like it’s his house and I kind of like it. He steps to me and says, “I got yours,” and then he disappears down the hallway.
“Sorry again,” I say.
“He’s hot,” she says. “God, he’s so hot. Why can’t I find men like that?”
Ah, okay, I think. I have mixed feelings about this reaction. I mean, he’s my man. It’s not really appropriate to talk about him like that, is it? I leave it alone. For now. “Can you watch Molly while I shower?”
“Of course. Go have fun.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
I frown and turn away from her. That whole exchange was weird.
When I arrive in the bedroom, Tyler steps out of the bathroom, brushing his teeth. He pulls the toothbrush from his mouth. “I found your extra brush and opened it.”
I nod and join him, grabbing my own toothbrush. It’s kind of surreal—a lot of things have been lately—to stand next to him at the double sinks, doing something as domestic as brushing our teeth. He finishes before me, just as his cell buzzes with a call. He shows me the caller ID, which reads Gavin, and then walks to the bedroom. I notice that he showed me the call like he wanted me to know it was important, or he wouldn’t take it. Or maybe the Travis thing made him think he has to be extra careful with me, which is not a good thought.
I finish up and wash my face, walking into my closet and picking out my clothes for the day before I shower—a pair of dark blue jeans and a navy sweater. Jeans are like the Nashville uniform. They aren’t casual. They’re life. When my selections are made, I walk into the bedroom to find Tyler sitting on my lounge chair in deep thought, the phone next to him. His mood has gone from coffee and laughter to dark and broody. There is a twist in my belly at potential bad news or threats from Gavin.
I close the space between us and go down on my knees in front of him. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to say something to you, Bella.”
The twist becomes a throb. Is this where he tells me we’re moving too fast? Why did I let this happen? What was I thinking? “Okay. I’m listening.”