Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“My apologies for my tardiness, gentlemen,” I said as we walked into the room.
And it was only day one.
* * *
Day seven had us driving into downtown Charleston after a full day of meetings. Had to give it to Daisy, she’d kept up with my schedule, but I wasn’t a fan of the bruises that were deepening under her eyes.
She was burning the candle at both ends.
“You’re sure they won’t mind that I’m coming?” she asked as we stopped at a red light, applying her lipstick in the mirror of her compact. “I mean, I’m not really dressed for it.”
I glanced over from the driver’s side of my favorite car and let myself soak her in. She’d worn a black, retro-style dress—which I was quickly learning she favored—that hugged every single curve down past her knees. The top cut straight across her breasts before transitioning to the delicate lace that covered her from mid-arm to collar. She looked like a fucking dream.
And fine, maybe the way she dressed inspired me to pull this baby out of storage for a drive.
“Trust me, you look great, and they won’t care. They’ve actually been up my ass about bringing you along.”
“Why would they do that?” she questioned, dropping her lipstick into her purse and closing up her compact.
Because they dared me to bow to your every fucking whim.
“They know you’re shadowing me, and Ethan’s never been one to stay out of other people’s business.” More like Weston had put him up to it and gotten Gareth dragged along, but whatever.
“Oh. And you guys do this often? Dinner?” she asked as the light turned green.
“Whenever we get the time.” I drove carefully through downtown, keeping the convertible’s speed down in deference to her hair.
She caressed the edge of her door with her fingers. “This car is super cute. What is it? A Saab?”
I laughed, my chest shaking as I pulled into the valet in front of the small Italian restaurant we favored. “A Saab?”
“What?” She shrugged. “I’m not really a car kinda girl.”
“Mr. Silas!” The valet ran out from the booth, his eyes flaring as he saw the car. Bobby was a good kid, and had been handling the valet at his parent’s restaurant for the past two years, but I knew he was headed to Clemson next month.
“Hey, Bobby.” I left the key in the ignition, and stepped out, palming a hundred-dollar bill to Bobby. Then I walked around the car to help Daisy out, a feat I only managed because she’d been stumped looking for the door handle.
“You’re ridiculously chivalrous, you know that?” Daisy muttered with a flash of a smile as she stood, smoothing her dress down her shapely legs.
“And you are ridiculously hard to impress,” I replied with a shake of my head.
“Sir…is this a fifty-six Rennsport Spyder?” Bobby gawked, sliding behind the wheel with reverence.
“It is,” I said with a grin, shutting Daisy’s door behind her.
“What’s that?” she asked Bobby.
“A really expensive, really rare Porsche,” Bobby answered, his hands caressing the steering wheel. “I’ll park her close so I can keep an eye on her.”
“I’d appreciate it.” I gave him a nod, and he pulled out onto the street.
“A Porsche, huh?” Daisy asked as I led her into the restaurant, my hand on her lower back.
“It is, indeed.” There was no helping the smile on my face. She’d called a six-million-dollar car super cute, which only made her even cuter.
“Mr. Silas!” Anthony stepped out from the podium where they kept their reservations. “The others are already waiting for you in the back.”
“Thanks, Anthony,” I said, sliding him another hundred as he walked us back through the restaurant toward the private room we preferred.
His hand paused on the door to the private room. “And I wanted to thank you again for what you did with Clemson. My parents never would have been able to afford to send Bobby—”
“Don’t mention it.” I tapped his shoulder on the way through. “And don’t mention it to Bobby, either. I don’t want him feeling beholden or anything.”
Anthony smiled. “Well, we can’t thank you enough.”
“Trust me, you already have.” I ushered Daisy through the door and Anthony shut the door behind us.
“What was that about?” Daisy asked over her shoulder.
“Just helping out where I can,” I answered softly.
“He’s putting the owner’s kid through college,” Ethan answered from across the round table. It was set for six, and Ethan had a woman on either side of him. His tie was loose and he’d ditched his jacket.
Gareth sat with one of the women to his right, slightly leaning away from her. He’d ditched the jacket, too, but his tie was tight, and he still wore the vest of his three-piece.
Daisy stared at the brunette on Ethan’s right. “Oh, my…aren’t you?”
“Miss South Carolina,” the woman beamed, her smile camera ready.