Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“We went to the symphony on Saturday. I met a bunch of his friends.”
“Were they nice to you?” Her inner Mama Bear reared its head, and a smile tugged at my heart.
“They were very nice and welcoming. I’m not sure what he told them about me, but at least they were polite and kind to my face.”
Some of the tension that had entered Emily’s body oozed out, and she returned to her previous slouch. “Good. Did you have fun?”
“Yes, it was amazing. His violinist friend is incredibly talented.”
“What about after? Did you go to dinner? Drinks? Dancing?”
I snorted. “No one will ever get me out on a dance floor.” She made a face like she intended to argue, so I pushed ahead. “We went for a short walk in the park across from Music Hall. Talked. Actually, we talked a lot. Mostly about his friends. I talked a little about college and my ex-wife.”
Emily made an encouraging noise, waiting for me to continue, but I wasn’t sure what to say. Did I admit to her I was a horrible klutz and would have fallen down the stairs of the gazebo if Rome hadn’t caught me? That news wouldn’t have surprised her.
Or should I tell her that in those seconds, when I was in Rome’s arms, the whole world had just stopped? My heart had exploded at the feel of his strength. I’d felt as if I were suddenly being roasted in the heat that rose from him. Better yet, my lips had tingled as I’d gazed up to find his mouth so fucking close to mine I could feel his harsh breaths brushing across my face. That some insane part of my brain had screamed for me to lean in and kiss him like he’d kissed me so long ago.
No.
No, I couldn’t tell her any of that because it was fucking insane.
It didn’t make any sense. I was straight. Period. End of story.
But I wasn’t a complete moron. I knew those weren’t entirely straight feelings.
Right?
Fuck.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Nope. It turned cold during our walk, and we headed to the car. He dropped me off at home. And that was it.”
“Oh.” There was no missing her disappointment, but I couldn’t guess what she was disappointed about. “Do you have your next date lined up?”
I shook my head. “This week is Thanksgiving. He’s got plans with his friends. I thought I’d set up a date for next week.” An idea brightened my mood. It might kill two birds with one stone. “Do you think he’d let me do a dinner at my place and video games night for a date? You know, sort of what we did as kids.”
Emily sat for a couple of seconds before nodding. “That could be a good idea. Make a yummy meal and video games in a comfortable, private environment would be good. It would give you a chance to talk about the past with him. Air out those old grievances so you can move on.”
And this was why Emily was such a good friend. We thought along the same lines.
As we discussed the pros and cons of my new date plan, the security lock for the door beeped, and we turned at the same time to see our boss stride into the lab wearing what looked to be another lovely Chanel suit and a determined expression.
“Liam, we have a problem.”
I swallowed hard. “Is there an issue with the new dig site we have planned for this spring?”
Linda rocked her head back and forth for a moment, as if considering it. “Possibly, but that’s not what I’m talking about. It has been a month since I set you on the task of getting a donation out of Rome Ashbridge’s foundation, and I have yet to see a check cross my desk. There has been no contact from the foundation about making a donation or supporting the museum. What is going on? I didn’t expect you to drop the ball on this so horribly.”
Yeah, that was the other part of this fiasco I was trying not to think about. While there was a chance of Rome and me becoming friends again, there was also the looming shadow of ugly truth that I started this entire mess because I was trying to wring money out of him so I could keep my job.
“I’m sorry about my slowness. Rome has mentioned some resistance to expanding the number of organizations that he’s currently supporting. However, I have another meeting with him after Thanksgiving. I’ll bring up the matter and explain how important we are to the children of the area. I think I’m close to winning him over.”
Well, close in the way that I’d nearly completed my dating obligation.
Dr. Case didn’t appear pleased. “This can’t be your first time wrangling donations. I would never have expected an accomplished scientist like yourself to be so slow about this matter. Especially with your job hanging in the balance.”