Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“I know,” he replies with a wink. “I need to get a look at this guy. It’s all about sizing up the competition, Gina.”
Even though his hands have dropped to my waist, and I love the feeling of that, I tug away to head towards my phone.
Once it’s in my palm, I scroll through my photo app, cringing at how many selfies I’ve taken in the past week to sell products for my sponsors.
“You’re not about to show me a cute picture of the two of you, are you?” Daniel chuckles. “Is that what you’re looking for?”
I nod. “That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”
“I don’t need to see that.” He walks toward me. “In my mind, he’s a cheery, gray-haired grandpa who views you as the granddaughter he never had.”
My head snaps up. “What?”
His gaze searches my face. “Did I hit the nail on the head? Is your neighbor that sweet man with the purple silk scarf who sits in the lobby reading every afternoon?”
I smile. “Let me find the picture.”
I sense his gaze on me as I finally spot the picture I’ve been searching for. Before I can turn it to show him, he’s laughing. “His name is Byron, right? It is him.”
I hold up the image I took months ago of my neighbor and me in the lobby. We’re both wearing purple scarves, and our smiles say it all.
“You had me going, Gina.” Daniel trails light kisses over my neck before he playfully bites the bottom of my earlobe. “I was fucking jealous over this guy.”
I tug away to look at his face. “You should be. He can dance, and he won that award for courage.”
He reaches to cup my face in his palms. “I can’t compete with Byron on the dance floor or the courage department, but you have to admit, I could win an award for what I just did in our bedroom.”
My knees weaken at the last two words.
Our bedroom.
It feels right in a way I always want it to.
My phone starts ringing, breaking the moment.
Both of our gazes drop to it.
Daniel leans forward to see the name flashing across the screen. “That’s a bakery chain, right? Is that their head office calling?”
I silence the phone and nod. “It is. They’ve been chasing me for weeks. They want me to promote their new donut flavor in exchange for… it’s a lot of money.”
“Donuts and money?” He laughs. “You should have answered it.”
I glance at the phone’s screen again as the call goes to voicemail.
“It’s a nationwide chain, Gina,” he points out. “Their offer must be very generous, and I know you love donuts.”
I toss my phone on the couch again before my gaze meets his. “I love the chocolate donuts Marti makes for me. They’re my favorite. They’ll always be.”
He leans down to kiss me softly on the lips. “You’re incredible.”
“Daniel?” I whisper his name as the kiss breaks.
“Yes, wife?” he answers with a smirk.
“You won the award for best wake-up call ever today. Your mouth…your cock…let’s just say that it was a phenomenal start to the day.”
He lets out a low laugh. “I fucking knew it. There has to be a prize that comes with it, right? What is it? I want it now.”
I tug on the sash at my waist, opening my robe. Before my next breath, I slide it off. As it pools at my feet, my husband’s gaze rakes my nude body from head to toe.
Even though he’s fully dressed in a three-piece suit and tie, he picks me up and hauls me over his shoulder. “I’m going to be late for work today. Very, very late.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Daniel
“How’s Vern?” I ask Dominick when I glance up to see him entering my office.
“Stubborn.” He chuckles. “He’s seeing another cardiologist today since he didn’t like the first one we set him up with. Arietta is taking him to that appointment. I think your roommate is tagging along.”
Wife. Gina is my wife.
“This doctor is the cousin of Arietta’s best friend,” he goes on, “he was booked solid for months, but Sinclair pulled the necessary strings. She’s always there for my fiancée.”
“Everyone needs a friend like that.”
“She’s Arietta’s maid of honor.” He takes a step closer to my desk. “You’ll meet her soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I say honestly. “Your big day is on the horizon.”
He nods. “Gina’s birthday arrives first. It sounds like Bella and Lia are planning a party. They want it to be a surprise, but Gina’s not keen on that.”
I’d much rather have her all to myself on the day she turns twenty-nine, but I know how important family is to her.
“I’m here to help.” I push to stand. “Tell Bella and Lia they can count on me.”
He looks me over. “I will. I noticed you pushed back your morning meetings until this afternoon. Everything all right, Daniel?”