Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“I wanted to talk to you about something. It’s a little awkward.”
Avril’s eyes widen and she nods at the door. “Close the door and come and take a seat.”
I take a seat on a chair at the table. Poppy and Avril are still at their desks.
“Please don’t tell me you’re leaving,” Avril says. “We love you being here.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not that. I’m here until the end of my contract. Although you might want to fire me—”
Poppy stands up and comes and sits in one of the other chairs around the table. “What’s going on?”
“You know I told you that I was stood up on that date the other week? Well, I didn’t really finish the story.” I tell them how Deacon was also in the restaurant, and how he’d asked me to dinner again. I leave out the kissing. I especially leave out the kissing in his room when I delivered him extra towels. “I haven’t said yes because I don’t know if you’d think it was inappropriate. I don’t want to do anything that would—”
“Is Deacon Black in Room 325?” Poppy asks.
Avril nods her head. “Yeah, that guy.”
“The one with the magic penis?” she asks.
“That’s the one,” she says to Poppy. Then she turns to me. “You know that he’s…never short of company,” Avril says, a look of concern on her face.
I nod. “Yeah, I know that. I’m not saying I definitely want to go to dinner with him, but—”
“You should definitely go to dinner with him again,” Poppy says.
“You think?” Avril asks.
“Absolutely,” Poppy confirms. “The guy is stunning. He belongs on a billboard in Times Square. And those women he hangs out with? Well, first, they’re not anything compared to you, and second, they seem to have a damn good time.”
I bite back a smile. She’s not wrong. About it all.
“But I wouldn’t want her to get hurt…” Avril says.
“She’s not asking us for relationship advice,” Poppy says. “She just wants to know whether we care about her fucking a guest.”
She’s not wrong about that either.
“Well, we don’t—” Avril stops herself and looks at Poppy. “Do we?”
“No, we’re pro fucking good-looking men.”
Avril nods her head like Poppy is talking about the importance of equal pay or something.
“I would never…socialize with him here.”
“Good,” Poppy says.
“Yes, that’s definitely a good rule,” Avril says. “We’ve never been asked this, have we?” she asks Poppy.
“No,” she says. “And we appreciate you coming to us. But you should get as much of that gorgeous ass as you can.”
“Do you like him?” Avril asks.
I shrug, not wanting to be too open about my attraction to him, but they’re not idiots. The New York pigeons are attracted to Deacon Black. “I haven’t dated much over the last few years. And he seems interesting. Maybe. New York is an experiment. I’ve been doing so many things the same way for such a long time, I just want to try something new.”
“You need to take New York by the balls,” Avril says.
“You should definitely date,” Poppy says. “Just don’t put all your eggs into one basket.”
“Right,” I say. “I’m not dating to marry. I live three thousand miles away.”
“For now,” Poppy says. “You might fall in love with Mr. Room 325 and never go back to England.”
“Right. And sometimes it snows in July.”
“You never know,” Avril says. “My brother fell in love at first sight. He met Sophia through friends and married her the second time he ever met her.”
“Really?” I say. “Sounds…romantic. Are they still together?”
Avril nods. “Sophia’s pregnant again. They’re deliriously happy.”
“That’s nice,” I say. But I’m not planning on falling in love with Deacon Black. I just want to follow wherever it takes me.
“Oh, you should come to Sunday brunch. This Sunday. Are you free?” Poppy asks. “You can meet Worth and Sophia. There’ll be a bunch of us there.”
My heart floats in my chest like it’s a balloon and someone’s let go of the string. Avril and Poppy have been so good to me. But I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, being so familiar with them.
“Bring Deacon if you want to,” Poppy says.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” I say, “but thank you. I’ll have a think about coming.”
“So, that’s a yes,” Avril says. “I’m putting you down as a definitely.”
New York is my summer. I’m here to have fun and get the most out of life. “Okay, that would be lovely. Thank you.”
“You can give us an update on Deacon Black.”
I laugh and stand up. Avril and Poppy are my bosses, but they act much more like girlfriends. “Thank you,” I say.
“But seriously, keep us posted,” Avril says. “I want to know what he does that makes those women scream so loud.”
Me too, Avril. Me too.
EIGHTEEN
Deacon
I can’t remember the last time I took a woman on a date. Once Gabby was pregnant, we’d go out to dinner. But other than that, I’m not sure I’ve ever called a restaurant and made plans.