Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 83(@200wpm)___ 67(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
“I usually wear colored contacts on dates for a while, so I don’t make my date uncomfortable. But I didn’t realize that I was out of contacts until I was getting ready this afternoon.”
“I’m not uncomfortable!” My voice jumped a conspicuous octave or two, making me wince and Arden grin. “I’m trying not to stare, but I’m also trying to meet your eyes as we talk and still not stare.”
“The ultimate catch-22,” Arden teased.
“Totally.”
A silence settled between us, but it didn’t feel all that uncomfortable. At least, not as awkward as I would have expected. He seemed like an interesting, easygoing guy that I wouldn’t have minded chatting up while standing in line for my morning coffee. If I were at all brave, I would have hit on him at a bar.
But I wasn’t brave in dating.
Which was why I was in this situation.
A bitter wind rushed through the city, rattling the bare tree limbs and sending dead leaves scratching and twirling along the sidewalk. I ducked my head down and lifted my shoulders while gathering my coat tighter around me. For a moment, I’d forgotten about the gray skies and the bitter cold nipping through my clothes at my flesh.
“Did you have other plans for today?” Arden asked.
“A hoagie, steak fries, and some TV binging. I can’t go back to work, or my boss will know I bailed on my date.”
Arden rubbed his jaw, something like mirth sparkling in his pale eye. “Those aren’t terrible plans. But, you know, since we’re here…would you be interested in wandering through the art museum like we were supposed to? We could list all the ways we’re a terrible match for each other.”
My heart skipped, and I couldn’t stop my grin. “You mean like a reverse interview where you showcase all your worst qualities and why you’d be a horrible match.”
“Precisely. But you can’t make anything up. That’s one of my big turnoffs: dishonesty. These have to be genuine weird traits and quirks.”
Did I want to spend a couple of hours with Arden, trying to scare him away?
Sure. Why not?
There was no pressure to impress him or win him over. Just two acquaintances getting to know each other while appreciating some art.
“Sure. Sounds like fun.”
2
ARDEN
Kaylan was adorable.
Even more adorable than I’d been expecting from his picture. Now I was curious to see if there was a vast difference between what his boss had put in his bio and the real person walking with me to the front doors of the art museum.
Maybe I shouldn’t be too excited, though. Tim had been adorable, and that hadn’t worked out. In fact, it had been one of my more nightmarish attempts at dating.
Nope. That didn’t matter.
Not thinking about Tim. Not today.
Kaylan was getting my full attention. He deserved that. Even if he wasn’t interested in dating, he could be a fun friend to hang out with.
A friend I’d love to kiss and nuzzle and find all the spots on his body that made him squeal. Yeah, that kind of friend.
It might be better if I redirected my thoughts to things that didn’t require me to undress the man.
“So, if your boss wouldn’t be upset with you returning to work early, would you go back instead of taking the rest of the day off?” I asked.
Kaylan shrugged his narrow shoulders. “Sure. Why not?”
I stopped walking, my eyebrows leaping up my forehead. “It’s a day off. Why pass it up?”
“I like my job. Even if I’m just an assistant. Sebastian and Byron are incredibly smart, and I’m learning a lot from them. It also doesn’t hurt that I never know what to expect on any given day. Once, Sebastian stormed out of his office and declared that he was dragging me and Byron to the zoo to watch the big cats. He was trying to come up with a new type of loungewear that was good for lazing about and bursts of activity. In his opinion, no one was better at that than cats.”
“You work for a clothing designer?”
Kaylan shook his head, his dark-brown hair falling down into his eyes. “Not really. Sebastian runs a large conglomerate of companies, and one business is clothing. Marketing and logistics are the biggest divisions.” Kaylan tipped his head to the side as we walked. “What do you do for a living?”
“Freelance graphic artist. I take on a variety of clients, from cleaning products to publishing companies. Somebody always needs something interesting designed.”
Kaylan grunted. “And being a freelancer, that means you can make your own hours and take the day off whenever you want.”
I rubbed the side of my nose. “That’s the idea, but I think I’m about as good as you are when it comes to taking breaks. I like my job, and I get caught up in my work too often.”