Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 35957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“Of course, I’ll be right up, Mr. Garrison,” I reply before putting the receiver in the cradle. I tidy up my desk, hit the sleep button on my computer, straighten my clothes, and head up the stairs to Crew’s office.
I hear a few whispers along the way. It could be for a multitude of reasons, which I’m not delving into today, or tomorrow for that matter. I might have only been here for a couple of weeks, but I’ve worked tirelessly like the rest of my peers. The only difference that they’re physically aware of is the project Crew allowed me to work on with him for Shae and Coralynn. It’s not my fault people choose to gossip. I opted to wear a black dress with a cardigan, along with some ballet flats. It allows me the mobility to move with ease through the hallway, up the staircase, and toward Crew’s area, where Mary is sitting out in the open.
“Hello Mary, is it okay to go in?” I ask when she notices me.
“Hi Serena, I sure do miss you up here. He’s awfully grumpy when you’re not around. Head on in. The meeting for LITHE is about to get started.” Crew being a bear is news to me, and honestly, it surprises me.
“Thank you, and I’m sorry about his behavior. I’m not sure I can do much about that,” I reply.
“Oh, honey, you will one day.” Mary sends me a wink along with a smile before getting back to work. I allow myself into Crew’s office, relishing the soft lighting instead of the overhead fluorescent the downstairs building has.
“Hi,” I say, catching everyone’s attention.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Crew opens his hand for me to take, gathering me into his side and kissing the side of my head.
“I’m Coralynn. You know Shae and Luke, the other two lovebirds in the room. I’m going to get right to the point. I’m the filter-less sister, and while Shae will try to apologize for my demeanor, what you see is what you get. Which, by the way, I love the plan you came up with. Incorporating the old with new, natural lighting, and splitting it into two rooms but giving it an open feel. It’s really freaking amazing.” Coralynn gives me a quick hug.
“What she said, ten-fold,” Shae states as she embraces me. Luke does the same thing, and them I’m deposited back to where I belong—with Crew.
“Crew better watch out, or he’ll be put out of work before too long.”
“Well, shit, maybe I should retire now,” he says with a chuckle.
“Are we going to be able to get the plans approved with the historical society?” Shae asks, worrying her bottom lip.
“I don’t see why not. The skylights might be the only problem. Then again, it’s a rough. It doesn’t ruin the integrity of the building, and it can’t be seen from the road.” Crew goes right into work mode, making me suddenly lick my dry lips. It’s dangerous to be this close with people around when he gets me fired up from being this close to him.
“All that’s left to do is send them to Jagger as long as Shae and Coralynn sign off on the plans.”
“Where do I sign? I have places to be and people to fuck with,” Coralynn says with a flick of her wrist.
“Yeah, a certain doctor,” Shae murmurs beneath her breath. Too bad it isn’t low enough for only her sister to hear.
“She has his dick in knots. It’s kind of fun watching your sister give him a run for his money.” I quirk an eyebrow because I’m out of the loop.
“Doctor Anthony Gallo is Luke’s partner. Coralynn likes to be chased, and he has no problem catching her,” Crew gives me the scoop.
“He hasn’t yet.” Coralynn is a hoot, and I can tell if she and Talia ever got together, they’d be nothing but trouble.
“He will.” This comes from Luke.
“Alright, if something should need to be changed because of planning and zoning, you know we’ll work with them as well as Jagger.” I change the subject with a quickness. Coralynn looks to be getting antsy from talking about her love life, or lack thereof.
Crew grabs his tablet off his desk, and they go through the process of electronically signing off on the project.
“I’m taking care of the bill,” Luke says when the women are done. Both turn their gaze on him and look at Luke as if he has two heads.
“Now you’ve done it. You could keep your mouth shut until later to offer that up. Say, when they aren’t around and accounting can send you the bill?” Crew says with a tone of disbelief that his friend broke some cardinal alpha male rule.
“Um, no you won’t. LITHE is paying for this. It’s our business, our taxes, and that’s that,” Shae argues before Coralynn can wind up and add to it.