Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66863 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Phil said goodbye and then I was on my way.
I rushed home and walked into my unit at six fifty. Part of me was annoyed at myself for planning to go. He’d issued it like a demand this morning. Still, I glanced at the clock, frustrated I was running late, but I figured it wouldn’t matter if I jumped in the shower. I showered quickly, ran my fingers through my short, dark hair and checked to make sure I didn’t need to trim the stubble I kept neatly at my jaw. When I was satisfied, I put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, before I changed into another pair of jeans and a different T-shirt and then…knock, knock, knock.
I glanced at the clock and noticed it was seven twenty. Shit. Nerves tickled the base of my spine as I rushed to the door. I pulled it open to see Kieran standing there, his white-blond hair slightly mussed.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry. I was helping a colleague at work. I thought I had time to take a quick shower but then I couldn’t decide what to wear and…” Why the fuck had I told Kieran I couldn’t decide what to wear?
“You’re fine as you are. Come now.”
“I don’t have any shoes on.”
“So?” Kieran cocked a brow at me. “You’re walking next door, down a carpeted hallway. I can take mine off too, if it makes you feel better.”
He grinned, making me feel like an idiot.
Kieran bent down and began taking his shoes off. I was so dumbfounded; I didn’t know what to say or how to react so I just watched. When Kieran was finished, he straightened, his shoes dangling in his hand, and said, “Let’s go, Jared. We’re going to burn the food.”
My stomach growled and I realized I hadn’t eaten since breakfast today. “I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m starved.”
I followed Kieran to his condo. He opened the door and then nodded for me to go in first.
His place was incredibly clean—decorated in light colors such as white and light blue. He had a very modern style, with some polished steel decor. “I’m afraid to touch anything,” I teased and Kieran laughed. It was a rich, deep, strong sort of laugh that sounded good on him.
He set his shoes down on the floor and then said, “Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll get you some wine.”
I frowned at the fact that he didn’t ask me. He just assumed I’d want wine when he didn’t even know if I drank it, but I didn’t want to be rude so I let it go.
“Sit,” Kieran told me, and his eyes darted to the table.
Christ, he was bossy. I sat and waited as he uncorked a bottle of red wine and poured us each a glass. He handed me mine and said, “To new friendships, new knowledge and exploring both.”
I stood and held out my glass as a frown automatically tried to pull at my lips but I bit it back. “To exploration,” I replied because it felt like the right thing to say.
Our glasses clinked together, and we each took a drink before sitting down.
“How was your day at work?” Kieran asked.
“It was fine. I didn’t have a trial, which is always nice.”
“You’re a defense lawyer?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“You’re a doctor, correct?”
“I am,” he replied but he didn’t offer what kind. Before I could ask, he added, “Would you stir the stew for me?”
“Sure,” I replied. It felt like an odd thing for him to ask me. It was his condo, after all, and he’d invited me over for dinner but I didn’t mind. I stood, walked to the stove and picked up the spoon there. After removing the lid I stirred the stew, and saw large chunks of potato, onion and carrots. “It smells incredible.”
“Thank you,” Kieran replied. “I think it needs more salt. It’s in the cabinet above the stove. Put some in for me, please.”
“No problem,” I replied. I salted our meal and then stirred it again. “Is there anything else?” I asked.
He smiled and it made a warm feeling spread through me.
“Yes. There’s fresh garlic in the fridge. I forgot to sauté it.” I got halfway to the fridge before it struck me, again, that he’d invited me over for dinner and now I was going to his fridge to get garlic to sauté. This wasn’t the way inviting someone over usually worked. It wasn’t that I minded helping, but I didn’t quite understand why he couldn’t sauté his own damn garlic.
“I appreciate your help with this, Jared. That’s very kind of you.”
The warmth in my stomach spread out further and I realized I wanted that—to help him. To be kind to him. He had invited me over, after all. The least I could do was help him.
“No problem. I don’t mind at all.” It was a good distraction anyway.