Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“I understand…” My cheeks heated. “Um, what about a cab?”
“Same issue.”
“Mara?”
“I would never wake Mara up at this ungodly hour,” he said. “She doesn’t deserve that.”
“So, I do?”
“Let’s not get personal, Miss Spencer,” he said. “Focus on how you’re going to make sure I get to work within the next hour.”
“Um…” My brain wasn’t fully functional at this hour. “Let me think.”
I slipped out of the bed and zombie-walked to my kitchen. Hitting the lights, I noticed a pink post-it on the coffeemaker.
Sooo happy you landed such an awesome job.
Your favorite blend is all set up for your second day!
XOXO
Lindsay
Thank you so much, Lindsay…
I pressed the brew button and grabbed a cup.
“I don’t have all morning to wait on you, Miss Spencer.” Judge Ashton’s voice was in my ear again. “I have a very heavy load today.”
I nodded as if he could see me.
“Are you thinking?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “Have you ever considered narrating naughty audiobooks? I think you have the voice for it.”
“I meant thinking about my ride to work.”
“I still need some time.” I held my cup under the spout and drank it without adding anything.
I mentally went through my options, and I honestly couldn’t think of anything that would work except…
“Would you like me to pick you up and take you to work, sir?”
“Yes,” he said. “That would be very nice.”
And very freakin’ inconvenient. “Okay…I’ll be at your place in about twenty-five minutes if traffic is decent.”
“How do you know my address?”
Shit.
“I don’t—I, uh…no, I don’t,” I said. “I was going to ask for it via text message once I got in my car.”
“Hmmm. Okay, then. See you in twenty-five minutes.”
Half an hour later, I pulled in front of his condo building, right next to the valet stand.
Unlike the last time I was here, there was a new set of black cars marked “Ultimate Lot Security” slowly riding up and down the street.
I’m right outside.
In a gray Nissan.
He didn’t immediately come outside, and my engine couldn’t handle idling for more than a few minutes, so I put my car in park.
“Um, Miss?” A valet gently tapped on my window. “Miss?”
“Yes?” I rolled it down.
“This area is for residents and their visitors only,” he said. “Are you here to see someone?”
“Judge Ashton,” I said. “I’m picking him up for work.”
“Huh?” His eyes widened. “You sure about that?”
“Yes. I’m very sure.”
“He’s getting into this?” He stepped back and looked at my car, as if he refused to believe someone on Judge Ashton’s level would be caught dead inside of it.
Before I could answer him, my passenger door opened—revealing Judge Ashton in an impeccable navy blue suit.
“Good morning, sir!” The valet rushed away from my side, taking his stunned looks with him. “Do you need any assistance?”
“I’m okay, Mason.” Judge Ashton nodded at him, then he flashed his perfect pearly whites at me. “I think I can handle getting into this car on my own.”
“Should I have one of the new security cars tail you, perhaps?” he asked. “Just in case this breaks down on the way?”
“I’ll be fine, thank you.” He settled into the passenger seat, and the soft woodsy scent of his cologne made me inhale it and want to lean even closer.
He adjusted the seat, pushing it back and lowering the headrest.
It should be illegal for a man to look so sexy this early in the morning…
“Okay, Miss Spencer.” He shut his door and looked over at me. “You can pull off now.”
I turned my key, and my heart sank when I remembered I couldn’t just “pull off.”
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
“Please blow into the interlock device,” the ugly box warned. “Until the light turns red or green.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I hesitated.
This can’t be happening right now.
“You have a DUI on your record, Miss Spencer?” he asked. “I’m shocked Mara was able to look past that and hire you.”
“I don’t have a DUI.” I couldn’t believe this. “A judge over-sentenced me for some minor traffic violations.”
“They couldn’t have been too minor if he had something like this put in your car.”
This asshole really doesn’t remember?
“Hurry up and put your lips on it, so we can go...” He unhooked it from the holder and held it up to my mouth.
I leaned forward and blew into the straw while pure wickedness gleamed in his eyes.
“Your blood alcohol level is 0.00!” The box exclaimed. “Driving permission is granted!”
The engine turned over, and I waited for the second part of my humiliation ritual to begin.
The second device turned on, serving me the same annoying words as usual.
And I was now sharing the car with two Judge Ashtons.
“Were you in my courtroom?” He looked at me as his video played. “Did I sentence you to this punishment?”
“Yes.” I barely managed. “You did.”
“Hmmm.” He was definitely holding back a laugh. “Well, I’ll have to look at your record and see if I was too harsh.”