Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Thank you for your help. Now, your next job is to make sure that no one disturbs me,” I directed, pointing at him.
Kaylan directed a jaunty salute at us. “Got it. You were never here.”
Now that our backs were covered, I escorted Byron to my office, where I attempted to capture his lips, but he slipped away from me while holding up one hand.
“Let me borrow your bathroom for a moment to splash some water on my face. I feel disgusting,” Byron begged.
“Go ahead. I’ll get you some water.”
Byron dropped his jacket and bag next to the black leather sofa and disappeared into the bathroom. I immediately tossed my suit jacket across my chair before grabbing a bottle of water from the mini fridge. But that wasn’t good enough for my new boyfriend. No, I got a crystal glass, filled it with ice, and poured the water into that. Then I dug around the assortment of snacks that Byron had always made sure were in my office for when I inevitably got hungry and restless at three o’clock.
What would he like? A packet of mixed nuts? A granola bar? Maybe he had more of a sweet tooth and needed some dark chocolate with sea salt. Or—
“Stop overthinking it!” Byron called from the bathroom above the sound of running water.
“How did you know?”
Byron’s answer was a low chuckle. Oh, right. Of course, he knew. Byron knew me inside and out from our years of working together. But soon, I was going to know everything about him because of our dating. I couldn’t wait.
Byron reappeared with his tie off and sleeves rolled up. He’d slicked his damp hair off his forehead, and his face was much less flushed. But the wonderful smile was still there, as if he couldn’t stop it from showing now.
I directed him to the couch, where I had the water waiting with a granola bar.
“Perfect,” he murmured as he kissed my cheek.
“Okay, now tell me about your car. Are you okay? Where is it?”
“I’m fine. Just hot and tired,” he answered after drinking half the water I’d poured. “It’s parked, a bit illegally on Seventh, though. I’ll have to call a tow truck to get it taken to a mechanic.”
Carefully, I gathered Byron’s hands in mine. I rubbed my thumbs along his long, nimble fingers, loving that I could now do this whenever I wanted.
“Baby, we’re dating now. Officially, right?”
Byron pressed his lips tightly together, but they still trembled as he nodded. He looked as if he were trying very hard not to laugh in my face.
“If we’re going to be dating, I need you to be okay with something.”
“What’s that?”
“I need you to let me spoil you.”
Byron narrowed his eyes. “Define spoiling.”
“Let me buy you a new car.”
“No.”
“Please, sweetie. I really need to take care of you.” I stuck out my bottom lip and widened my eyes, trying to give him my most pathetic expression. “Please, I need to spoil my baby, and you’re my baby. You’re the only person in my entire life I’ve ever wanted to spoil.”
Byron cackled and pressed his hand into my chest, trying to push me away, but I grabbed his wrist and pulled him in close, nuzzling his neck.
“You’re ridiculous!”
“I’m in love. Hopeless, endlessly, forever in love with you. I want to give you the entire world, but I know you won’t let me. So let me spoil you. A little bit.”
“Okay! A tiny bit!”
I lifted my head. “So, a tiny bit is BMW instead of Lamborghini?”
“Okay, but nothing more than a three series.”
I scoffed at him. “Ridiculous. You’re going to be the COO of a multi-million-dollar company. You need at least a five series.”
“It’s a charity, and—hey! How did you know about that? I haven’t even accepted the job offer.”
“Yet,” I corrected with a grin. I kissed the tip of his nose, but he still glared at me. “Mom called me this morning to warn me she was going to meet with you about the job. She said something like, I need to adjust to this, because while I might have been dumb enough to let you slip through my fingers, she wasn’t.”
“Oh, good Lord,” Byron muttered as he covered his face with his hand.
“Besides, I think you’ll be great at Stanton. Have you thought about it? Are you going to accept? Not that I’m trying to pressure you. You need to do what’s best for—”
Byron pressed his fingers into my lips and smiled at me. “You’re not pressuring. You’re an adorably excited golden retriever. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and I want to accept. However, I need to look over all the materials Danielle gave me so I can make a fair and informed decision. This has to be what is best for me and the charity.”
I took his hand and pressed a kiss to his fingers. How could I possibly tell him how proud I was of him? He was brilliant and compassionate and I was so fucking lucky to have him.