Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“If you worked for me…” Jagger pouted. “…you would be able to take off whenever you wanted.”
Against the advice of everyone, including my stepfather and bossy boyfriend, I’d declined the Apex executive training program invitation. While it was the business opportunity of a lifetime, I knew it wouldn’t be healthy for our relationship. And I valued what we had personally too much to put it at risk. Balance was important to me, and it hadn’t been difficult to figure out where I preferred Jagger Langston to be in charge. He wasn’t happy with my decision, but it had all worked out for the best. The week after my internship ended, Louise—the sitter who took care of Amelia and Olivia—had a family emergency in Florida. Her mom had broken her hip, so she went down south to take care of her for a while and wound up not coming back. I was able to step in so the girls didn’t have to be introduced to a stranger. We had an amazing nine months together. And then when one door closed, another miraculously opened.
Remember Will, the head of the algorithm-engineering division at Apex? Well, he left and started his own company. Turned out, Jagger’s loss was my gain. I was now an AI algorithm engineer at Alchemy AI, Will’s amazing startup.
“I’ll only be at work for a few hours. And then tomorrow you’ll have me all to yourself for a full week.”
“You better have ice packs and Epsom salt in your suitcase because you’re going to need ’em.”
“What else am I going to need?” Jagger had kept the destination for our upcoming vacation under wraps. “You, at least, need to tell me if I need a bikini or a winter coat.”
Jagger slipped a hand inside my robe and pinched a nipple. Hard. “You’re assuming you’re going to be allowed to leave the room.”
With that, he begrudgingly let me get ready for work, and I stopped in the living room on my way out. If I wasn’t already head-over-heels in love with this man, the sight of him sitting shirtless on the couch with my dog snuggled up next to him, head on his lap while he snored, would’ve done it. I’d gotten Blue a few days after everything went down with Silas. Since I’d refused to move in with Jagger, he’d pushed me to get a dog. Of course, he was thinking more along the lines of a highly trained German shepherd or Doberman and not the lazy, extremely sleepy basset hound I’d picked up at the pet store a few doors down from the office. Blue was no longer lonely. Though I couldn’t even train him to sit on command, much less attack someone. Still, I liked to believe he’d protect me if push came to shove.
Blue snorted, waking himself up, and proceeded to fall off the couch.
Jagger shook his head. “What a guard dog.”
I bent down and kissed both my boys goodbye. “Why would I need a guard dog when I have a guard human?”
***
The following afternoon, I still had no idea where we were going when we arrived at the airport. Though I guessed it didn’t really matter. I was just excited that Jagger had taken off work for a full week. It was going to be his first vacation in six years.
Renee, the flight attendant, met us at the door with two flutes of champagne. She passed me one. “Happy birthday, Ms. Holland.”
It wasn’t until tomorrow, but rather than correct her, I smiled and took the champagne. “Thank you.”
The privacy curtain that led from the galley to the seating area was closed. She pushed it open so I could enter and…
“Surprise!”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God, Miles! What are you doing here?”
He wrapped his arms around my waist, lifted, and swung me around. “You didn’t think I’d miss your birthday eve, did you?”
My best friend set me down and Rodrigo, his boyfriend of almost a year, hugged me. “Happy birthday, Sutton.”
I turned to the man behind me. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this.”
“I knew you felt bad you wouldn’t be with your best friend for your usual birthday-eve celebration.”
I had felt bad, though I hadn’t said anything. That was one of the things I loved most about Jagger—he knew me. He paid attention to the small stuff—the way my hands fidgeted when I was nervous, the way sometimes my silence said more than my words. Even when he had a million things going on in his chaotic life, he always knew what I needed.
Jagger kissed my cheek. “Don’t get too excited. They’re only coming for two nights. I’m not willing to share you more than that.”
I smiled and whispered, “Thank you. This was so thoughtful.”
After we took off and leveled out at cruising altitude, Jagger went in the back to use the bathroom. As soon as he was gone, Miles slipped into his seat. He weaved his fingers with mine.