Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“Whoa, where you going so fast?”
I turned to look at Zach, recognizing his masculine voice immediately even though we hadn’t talked in months. “Work never sleeps.”
He was in a tailored black suit with a gray tie, his hard body filling out the material well, looking like a model about to head out for a photo shoot. And he had that playful, arrogant grin on his face. “Sweetheart, you really know how to work those heels.”
“Yes, I’m a professional. How are you?”
“No complaints. Like you said, work never sleeps.” He pulled out his phone from the inside of his jacket pocket, checked something, and then slipped it back as we walked outside into the January winter. “So, I hear through the grapevine you no longer work here.”
“Yes, I’m an executive assistant for a cardiac surgeon now.”
“What a lucky man or woman.” He slid his hands into his pockets as we stood outside, and his blacked-out car pulled over to pick him up. His driver opened the back door for him to get inside.
I liked that he didn’t assume it was a man, like most people would. Kinda hot. “You’ll still see me around sometimes. I come by to talk to Cleo.”
“I have a better idea.” With his smile still on his face and a twinkle in his eyes, he turned on the charm. “I can see you tonight over dinner.”
He was a rich playboy, so maybe he just lived for the chase. Very few women probably ever said no to this guy. “You know—”
“I know that you don’t work here anymore, so I don’t see the harm. Not breaking any rules. So how about it?”
I didn’t even realize that. I didn’t work at the Trinity Building anymore. I could date any of the eligible bachelors who lived there. But Zach was definitely the hottest, and his confidence was magnetic. As tempting as the offer was, all I could think about was Dex, the person I was most excited to see now that I was finished with Cleo. Every time I saw him, my heart raced a little harder, and seeing the Christmas lights reflect in his eyes was a memory I would never forget. I needed to move on, see somebody else, forget about the guy I could never have…but I couldn’t. “I’m seeing someone, Zach. But I’m very flattered.”
Disappointment filled his eyes as he reached for his wallet and pulled out his business card. “I’ve never had to ask out a woman more than once, and here I am, asking you out at twice. But maybe the third time will be the charm.” He handed me his business card before he turned to his car. “Give me a call when you’re ready for an upgrade.”
10
Dex
Natalia turned onto her side, naked on top of the sheets, tight and chiseled like a woman in her twenties or thirties. She eyed me as I got dressed, her blond hair messy and all over the place. “You’re an even better lover than a surgeon, if you ask me.”
I pulled my shirt over my head then my sweater, sexually satisfied, but I also felt distinctly dirty. It wasn’t her age that bothered me, but the fact that this professional relationship had turned into a cheap hookup. It was wrong.
But I couldn’t say no.
“Moving to the city is the best decision I ever made.” She got out of bed and pulled on her silk robe, covering herself by cinching the belt at her stomach. She stepped into the bathroom, probably to fix her hair and makeup.
Full of self-loathing, I checked my phone and saw the text messages and emails.
A few were from Sicily.
I was immediately hit with a pain in my chest, like I was doing something wrong, betraying her in some way.
I quickly shoved the phone into my pocket and pretended I didn’t see her messages in the first place.
Natalia came back and walked me to the door. “You’re awfully quiet.”
I turned to her to say goodbye. “Natalia, it’s probably too late for this, but I’d like it if we could just be colleagues again…and forget this happened.”
Her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyes narrowed. “I’m not the kind to kiss and tell, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“No. It just feels wrong, inappropriate.”
“You’re overthinking it, Dex. We’re both adults. We don’t work together. We would probably never talk if it weren’t for us hooking up.” She gave a gentle pat to my cheek before she turned away. “I’ll call you.”
I got to the practice early that morning, needing to catch up on paperwork. I’d prefer to sleep a little longer, but I needed to document everything from my surgeries and complete my notes for the patients I’d already seen. I already had Sicily fill in a lot of information from her notes, but I still had to review everything before I signed off on it.