Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Coco sighs contentedly. “My work here is done.”
And I think I just got myself a juicy raise with more vacation time.
Things are really starting to turn around.
That night, as I’m unpacking my new set of dishes I bought at the home goods store, my cell rings, and it’s Carter! My pulse races.
I smooth back my hair and take a slow breath before answering. “Hello?” I say, my voice peppy.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking of you.” His voice is effortlessly sexy, all deep and silky.
Goosebumps explode on my arms. “Same here. How’d everything go after Jamaica?”
“Well, not so great. The producer’s mind couldn’t be changed. He had some other project he wants to bankroll. His cousin or something.”
“Oh no. That’s awful,” I say.
“It’s the way it goes in the film industry, but we’ll find another backer,” he says glumly. “This’ll just delay filming a few months.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He goes on for several minutes about how the actors are in a tizzy about changing any dates. My eyes start to glaze over. It’s strange how he has that effect on me when he gets into the weeds about his work. So much detail I don’t need to know. I instantly feel guilty for not being more into it.
“Anyway,” he says, “I’m going to be in Dallas next week. I’m pitching the film to some guy who sounds really interested. Wanna meet up?”
My heart flutters. He’s coming here? To Dallas? Get out the good undies!
“Yeah. That would be great,” I say, forcing myself to sound relaxed. “You can see my new place.” In Jamaica, I told him I was going to be apartment hunting when I returned home. “It’s a house. And I might even buy it after a few years. I think I’m going to go for it sooner though. I really love it.”
“You want to buy a house?” he says disapprovingly, which stops me cold. I wasn’t expecting him to react that way.
“Yeah. Why?”
“It’s a big financial burden, and I thought you wanted to audition.”
My mind takes a moment to catch up to him. He’s talking about him and me in a relationship. But what the hell? Does he really expect me to not live my life or not buy this house just on the off chance he and I work out? We just met.
I suddenly tamper down my reaction, remembering what Sofie said about self-sabotaging. I don’t want to come up with reasons to end things prematurely. Hell, we’re still just getting to know each other.
I decide my best move is to give him the benefit of the doubt and dance around the subject.
“If I do buy, it wouldn’t be for a while,” I say. “And if anything changes in my life, I’m not locked into the purchase. So what day will you be here?”
“Friday. I’ll text you my flight info.”
I frown. “Oh, so you want me to pick you up?”
“Yeah, I thought we could go grab a drink or something.” He’s eager to see me. This is good. No, this is great!
“Sure. I mean, if I’m not tied up late at work or anything, I’d like that. Otherwise, we can meet up later.”
“Cool. Hey, I gotta go and take another call. See you soon, Mila. Looking forward to it.”
“Same here.” We end the call, and I exhale, all shaky. I’m super excited to see him again, and the fact he pushed back on me buying a house was a good thing, right? It means he’s really interested. Because settling down isn’t on his list. He wants a partner to live his dream with him.
Hmmm… The only problem is that his dream puts me to sleep.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next morning, I’m sitting at my desk, typing up a new lease agreement, when Coco stops by with a delicious Frappuccino. Extra caramel. Yum.
“For you, madam,” she says sweetly and sets it on my desk.
“Thanks, but shouldn’t I be buying you one?” She covered for me while I was away.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Frappuccinos aren’t nothing. We only give them to each other as thank-yous or when someone is having a rough day. Birthdays call for cupcakes. Fridays are bagel day. We all take turns buying. It’s very pragmatic.
“Are you going on a three-week cruise, and this is your way of buttering me up for filling in?” I ask.
“Not exactly.”
“Then what?” I say, curious to hear what she’s going to ask for. I’d say yes, of course. She’s a really nice person and never bats an eyelash when I need help.
“Remember how I said I recognized your vacation hottie?”
“Yeah.”
She crinkles her nose. “Just don’t kill the messenger.”
My stomach does a flip, and I suddenly realize that I knew this moment was coming. Carter is too good to be true. “Is he married?”
“Nope.”
“That’s a relief.” My stomach tension lessens.
“He, uh…”
“Just tell me, Coco.”
“Fine. He runs a fetish website. People pay him to put things on his balls.”