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)
The host left them with menus and an extensive wine list.
Cammie glanced at the menu and bit her bottom lip as she studied the wine list. “We’re here to get to know each other, right? I’ll start with the fact that I don’t like wine.”
“That’s good to know since it might come up at the party. Speaking of things we need to know about each other, I don’t dance.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You can’t dance?” she asked, surprise in her voice.
He smirked. “I didn’t say that. I just don’t.”
Cammie chuckled. “We’ll see what happens when you get a couple of drinks in you. That and some Christmas spirit might have you on your feet in no time.”
“There you go with that Christmas spirit again. You’ll realize I’m a lost cause soon enough.”
Before she could reply, the waitress came to their table, and they ordered their drinks-Cammie a sparkling water and Leo his favorite wine.
Cammie glanced around the restaurant. “You really didn’t need to bring me to such a fancy establishment.” She grinned at her use of the word fancy. “I would have been fine ordering a pizza and hanging out at my place.”
Leo frowned, unable to hide his distaste at the mention of her apartment.
“I guess you’d object to that plan?” she asked.
He let out a groan. “Look, I don’t mean to be offensive. I just didn’t like the look of your neighborhood.” As soon as those words left his mouth, Leo knew he’d probably been even more offensive.
Instead of the angry or hurt reaction he expected, Cammie grinned. “Let me guess… you live in Hudson Yards. Or maybe Tribeca?” She named the most expensive neighborhoods in the city. Yes, Leo had grown up in Tribeca, and his family still lived there. Not that he’d admit as much to Cammie.
His lips quirked up in a smile. “Actually, my condo is in Central Park South.”
“Ah.” She picked up her menu and started perusing it.
“What does ah, mean?” he asked.
She glanced at him through her hooded eyes. “Oh, nothing. Just that I’m not surprised you found my neighborhood… lacking. I bet you live in one of those luxury high-rises, huh? Great views of the city?”
“The best.” He worked hard and wasn’t too proud to admit it. He leaned closer and noticed that the flecks of darker blue in her eyes added depth to the captivating orbs. He’d always found her pretty, but now, he was starting to truly appreciate her beauty.
She flicked her tongue out to wet her lips and his cock perked up, making him glad he was seated with the tablecloth covering his lap.
“Maybe you’d like to check out the view after dinner?” It seemed like a good idea to him.
He was attracted to her, and if they were going to get to know each other for the party, it would be a hell of a lot more enjoyable if they could spend some of that time horizontal. In his bed.
She shook her head. “Do you always invite women back to your place on a first date?” she asked, softening her rejection with a smile.
He hadn’t considered this a date, but he wasn’t going to correct her. “I don’t date much,” he admitted.
Before he could elaborate, the waitress returned with their drinks. They ordered food, and the waiter left them alone at the table again.
“So… you don’t date much. Why is that?” Cammie picked up the conversation where they’d left off.
“Going right for the tough questions, huh?”
She shrugged. “Isn’t that why we’re here? To get to know each other?”
Leo sighed. She was right, but he didn’t exactly feel comfortable sharing all the details of his love life, or lack thereof. Considering how she’d reacted to his offer to go back to his place after dinner, she didn’t seem to be the casual sex type and that was all that he’d had over the past year. Ever since his last relationship ended.
He decided to share a partial truth. “I work a lot. Over the past year, I’ve put in a lot of long hours, and I don’t have time to give any woman the attention she deserves.”
What he left out was that his decision to start throwing himself into work had started as a way to distract himself from a breakup. Despite it being a mutual decision, made when his girlfriend moved away for a new job and neither of them wanted to do the long-distance thing, he wasn’t used to being single and he figured his energy would be better spent in the office.
Now, a little more than a year later, he was still putting in a lot of hours. Too many, most women would say.
“That’s it? You work a lot?” Cammie sounded disappointed and he chuckled.
“Were you hoping I’d reveal some interesting, nefarious reason I don’t date?”
“Maybe.” She laughed. “So, you’re a workaholic. What is it you do exactly?”