Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Even though we’re in a crowded spot, I step closer to him. “What part will you replay?”
He leans in so close I feel his breath skirt over my ear lobe. I shiver when he whispers, “All of it, but my favorite part was when you came undone on my cock.”
I step back so abruptly that I bump into a man passing behind me. I glance back to apologize, but he brushes it off as being his fault.
“I’m sorry, Miss,” he says with a smile. “I’m in too big of a rush to get my morning shot of espresso.”
I nod slightly. “I get it.”
As soon as he’s on his way, I shoot William a furtive look. “You’re bad.”
“In the best way.” He laughs. “Tell me what you want, Opal.”
My brows shoot up. “I’m not confessing to that here.”
“I’ll take that to mean you want much more of what I gave you last night.” He stares into my eyes. “You don’t have to tell me I’m right. I know I am.”
That level of cockiness in a man has never been a turn-on for me, but I’ve never met a man who came close to comparing to William.
He crosses both arms over his chest. “Let’s talk about what I can do for you now. Tell me what you’re ordering, and I’ll grab it for you.”
“A coffee,” I say without hesitation. “I need something to help me stay awake.”
He looks me over. “What I wouldn’t give to have you falling asleep in my arms right now, but since I can’t have that, the least I can do is fuel your caffeine craving.”
48
William
Few people can upend my schedule with a single call saying they need me. I left one on the sidewalk in front of her game bar earlier today when I kissed Opal goodbye.
I’m currently staring at my siblings. I’d include them in the short list of individuals who can expect me to act as soon as they are in need. However, after the setup they arranged to get me here, I’m crossing them off the list.
We’re sitting on the patio of a restaurant. I’d classify it more as a few tables and chairs set up on a sidewalk in an attempt to lure tourists to spend their vacation money on overpriced cocktails and food that belongs in a dumpster.
Bauer and Scout are indulging in both in the form of chili cheese fries and whiskey sours that are too heavy on the sour. I know because I sampled Bauer’s when I sat down. That’s what drove me to order a glass of sparkling water, but I’ve yet to touch it since the glass clearly hasn’t seen the interior of any dishwasher recently.
I don’t bother glancing in the direction of a symphony of horns, all sounding their displeasure at another driver. Leave it to the people of Manhattan to serenade everyone within hearing distance with the blunt blast of a car or truck horn and the occasional audible “fuck you, asshole,” tossed into the mix for good measure.
“Why am I here?” I ask for the third time since I sat down.
The first two times I tossed the question into the air, no one answered. Instead, Scout rattled on about work, and Bauer pretended to listen attentively. I know my brother well enough to sense when he’s focused on a project he has in the works. He’ll stare just past your face as you talk. To the untrained eye, it would appear he’s engaged in what you’re saying, but I know better.
Since my sister was the one who texted me telling me she needed me, I look right at her as I wait for an actual answer.
Scout sighs heavily. “We need to plan Mom and Dad’s anniversary party. You keep putting it off.”
“They don’t want a party,” I point out for the fifth or sixth time since Scout first presented the idea to me weeks ago. “They’re having a blast traveling to all the places they never thought they’d get to.”
“So, let’s fly to one of them and surprise them with an anniversary dinner,” she suggests. “Bauer can make the time.”
Bauer glances at her but says nothing.
“Right, Bauer?” she eggs him on with a push of her hand against his bicep.
Both of my siblings are dressed casually. I can’t say I’m surprised Bauer is wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. I didn’t expect to find Scout in a matching outfit since she’s generally dressed to the nines for work.
“Sure, yeah,” Bauer responds.
“Why aren’t you at work?” I ask my sister not only to get more information on what she has going on today but also to change the subject.
Leaving Manhattan now to jet off to the unknown won’t fit into my schedule at the moment. I have too many clients depending on me, and beyond that, I have no fucking idea when Opal will decide to pull the rug out from under me and end this casual relationship of ours. I want as much time with her as possible before she decides to move on.