Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“More than decent. Almost perfect.”
I grunted. “No one is perfect.”
“I know. But he was incredible. However, something was missing. He introduced me to his mom one day. Surprised me at lunch when she joined us.”
“Oh. Bad?” I surmised.
“No. As wonderful as he was, so was she. He saw an associate and went to say hello. His mom, Aubrey, took the opportunity to enlighten me. I’ll never forget what she said, or even how kind she was in saying it.” She smiled sadly as she recounted the conversation.
“I can see why Warren is smitten,” she had said, patting my hand. “You are lovely.”
“Oh,” I replied, surprised. “Thank you.”
“But unless I’m mistaken, not in love with my son.”
I sputtered. “I beg your pardon?”
“He is already planning a future with you. Did you know that?”
“No.”
“I thought not. If you returned his feelings, you would be doing the same thing.” Before I could speak, she held up her hand. “I’m not saying this to be unkind or butt in, but I hate to think of either of you getting hurt. My son, of course, but I get the feeling you are the sort of girl who might say yes simply because of how wonderful he is, not because you’re in love. And my dear, you’re too young. And we all deserve that sort of love that seeps into your soul, takes hold and cannot be shaken.” She sipped her tea. “Warren deserves that, and frankly, so do you.”
She shook her head as if to clear the memories. “I thought about what she said, and she was right. I liked Warren. Maybe half loved him. But not the right kind of love. Not the kind that made me want to be with him, be intimate, dedicate my life to him and have a family. There was no spark. Just a nice little flame to keep me warm and safe. And we both deserved better than that.”
“What happened?” I asked despite myself.
“He came over that week, and before I could say the words, he said them for me.” She laughed quietly. “He broke up with me and made me feel good about it. That was the sort of man he was.”
“Sounds like an okay guy,” I agreed grudgingly.
She nodded. “He sent me a letter about eighteen months later with a picture of himself, his wife, and their adorable baby. On the back, he wrote a little note.”
“What did it say?”
“Real love is beautiful. Don’t settle.”
“Fucking poet too,” I muttered.
She shook her head in amusement at my tone. “I threw myself into school. Work. Mom died, the horrible thing at the office happened, and I moved here. Too busy for love and not interested in sex for the sake of. I guess I still want it to mean something.”
“And what did tonight mean for you?” I asked, suddenly desperate to hear her answer.
“Maybe just a chapter closing. A nice goodbye.”
“That’s it?” I scoffed. “One and done? Thanks, Oliver, for the amazing orgasms. By the way, rent is due Tuesday?”
She laughed. “No. I don’t know what tonight was. But I guess I’m trying to say, I don’t expect anything from you.”
“What if I’m not done with you? What if I expect something?”
Her eyes widened. “Like?”
“Does it have to be once?”
“You’re only here for a few more weeks. Then you go back to LA.”
“And we can’t be together while I’m here?”
“I wasn’t sure if you wanted that.”
“I want you. Same thing. But what do you want? Can you see yourself having sex with me with no commitment? A few weeks of passion and laughs? Some dinners out, maybe a show in Toronto if something was playing? Friends with benefits, with both of us knowing the rules this time? Parting as friends with lots of great memories to think about when we’re done?”
“That’s a lot of questions.”
“They all need one answer, and then I’ll let you have what you want.”
“Which is?”
I grinned. “Me. All night long. And any other time you want me.”
She blinked and bit her lip. I could see the thoughts, questions, and doubts racing through her mind. Weighing the pros and cons. Worrying, wanting. Right and wrong warred with each other in her head.
“We’re both adults now. Grown up. It’s nobody’s business but our own. We can keep it quiet. Between us. I won’t expose you to gossip or the press, if that concerns you. I promise you that.”
“Why do you want this?” she asked quietly.
“I find you even sexier than I did back then—which I didn’t think possible. You make me laugh. I like being just Oliver with you. I like reconnecting with you. We were fucking epic in bed. I’d like more of that with you.”
I leaned close. “Just think of the stories you could tell your grandkids, Kassie. How you had wild sex with a Hollywood playboy in your misspent youth.”