Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 140(@200wpm)___ 112(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
He didn’t like the idea of Cammie, the barista who exuded smiles and sunshine, living in a dangerous neighborhood.
He pulled his car to the curb and parked, planning to look at his phone and double check her apartment number before going inside. Before he could look, he saw her standing at the front of her building, looking adorable in dark jeans and a cream-colored sweater with a pink beanie on her head.
He glanced around, worried someone might be watching her standing alone, but he didn’t see anyone. Still, an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach as she walked toward him with the same smile on her face that she greeted him with every time he came into the coffee shop.
He climbed out of the SUV and strode around to open the passenger door as she approached. “Get in,” he said in a tight voice.
Her smile faltered, and he realized he wasn’t starting this night out on a good note. Still, how could she be so cavalier and not look around or be aware of her surroundings?
She slid into the SUV, and he closed the door behind her, then walked around his vehicle, opened the driver side door, and slid into his seat. He immediately clicked the locks.
She tipped her head to the side. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“From now on, when someone is picking you up, I want you to wait inside. In fact, you stay in your apartment until they come to get you,” he said through nearly clenched teeth.
“Aah. I get it.” She glanced at her building before looking at him again. “It might not look like much, but this neighborhood isn’t all that bad,” she said, gesturing to an old woman coming out the exit, holding the arm of a man that looked to be in his twenties. Her son or grandson, maybe. “There are a lot of good people here,” she went on. “We just don’t have a lot of money.”
If she’d spoken to him in an angry voice, he could have handled it. Hell, he’d have deserved it. It was her normal tone that had him feeling ashamed for being so judgmental.
“It’s also too cold to be outside for long periods of time,” he muttered.
Cammie chuckled. “Nice save.”
Maybe, but he was a spoiled asshole. He put the SUV in drive and headed toward his destination.
“Mind if I play with the radio?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
She started tapping buttons and he was in no way surprised when she landed on a station and Christmas music filled the vehicle. They’d just finished learning what Mariah Carey wanted for Christmas when Leo pulled up in front of a restaurant he enjoyed.
A valet waited out front. The restaurant had squared-off brick trimmed with greenery planted beneath the windows. Yellow light peeked out through the slats in the wooden blinds and there were white twinkle lights lining each window and the doorway.
Cammie stared out the window, then glanced down at her jeans with a frown on her expressive face. “I’ve heard of this place. It’s one of those pricey, fine dining restaurants, right? I didn’t exactly dress right for this.”
Once again, he’d stepped in a mess of his own making. “You’ll be fine,” he assured her. He would make sure of it.
He often visited this restaurant when treating his clients to an upscale meal, and because he always wore a tailored suit, he hadn’t given the dress code a thought. He didn’t anticipate a problem but if they had one, he’d slip the host a hundred-dollar-bill to solve the problem. The thought made him wince as he realized even that attitude wasn’t one Cammie was used to. He hoped she wouldn’t feel too uncomfortable among the other diners, who were undoubtedly dressed more formally than she was.
He exited the SUV and handed his keys to the valet, before he strode around and opened Cammie’s door.
She gave him a warm look, then stepped out of the vehicle.
He led her inside, his hand at the small of her back, a gesture he’d used with many women, and yet he could feel Cammie’s body heat through the sweater. It was strange how aware of her he was, and how natural it felt to be close to her like this.
Before he could think about his feelings, the host, standing down the hall at a desk, scanned Cammie from head to toe and wrinkled his nose in distaste.
Leo had cash in his hand before they reached the man, and he slipped the money to him while Cammie wasn’t looking. He also gave the maître d’ a curt shake of his head.
The host picked up on what Leo didn’t say—do not upset her—and plastered a smile on his face as he led them to the table Leo had reserved. Gleaming silverware had been set on a crisp, white tablecloth and low lighting gave off an intimate vibe, especially when he would be sitting across from a beautiful woman.