Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
When he looked back at the screen, Mila was being carried down the beach on a stretcher, a lock of her wet, blonde hair trailing behind. He reached out his hand and touched the screen, not even realizing at first that he was doing it.
* * *
By Thursday, Hersch’s house deal was good to go. The money had transferred, and Hersch was due at her office any minute to pick up the keys. She was amazed at how her heart fluttered a little bit every time somebody new walked into the office. Was it him? And then she’d see it wasn’t, and her heart would sink. She’d get her head back into work only for the door to open again… and more disappointment.
Honestly, she felt like a teenager. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like this about a guy. What was wrong with her? Clearly, she needed some sex. Maybe that was all she needed—for her and Hersch to burn up the sheets a little bit and get this out of her system. She couldn’t stay this distracted. If things went on like this, she was going to make a mistake at work. It was like she had no control over her body anymore. She tingled just at the thought of him. Yep, she was woman enough to admit she had it bad.
When he finally did arrive, around midmorning, she could see through the glass wall of her office that he’d been out hiking or running or had come from the gym, because he had ruddy cheeks and extra-bright eyes and was wearing workout gear. She loved that in an office full of Hugo Boss and Armani suits, he showed up in a pair of bright red shorts that showed off excellent legs, running shoes, and a NASA T-shirt. He looked athletic and dorky, and she loved it.
She was finishing up a call, so she waved him into her office. He hesitated at the door as she said her good-byes and entered only after she smiled and beckoned him in again. Up close, he looked so healthy and sturdy that she couldn’t help but compare the image to the man she’d watched on YouTube last night, who’d been swept into the ocean and nearly hadn’t made it back.
She was suddenly flooded with relief to see him so vital. Almost unable to help herself, she got up from her desk and, without any further consideration, threw her arms around him. That sexy smell of him filled her nose, and she inhaled deeply.
Almost breathless, she whispered into his ear, “I’m so glad you’re still alive.”
He returned the hug, giving her a slightly awkward pat on the back, and then they pulled away.
She could see that he was taken aback by the hug and her overfamiliar greeting. Mentally, she kicked herself. How had her emotions gotten the better of her? She was used to being poised, to maintaining control of herself.
To try to regain some composure, she pretended she was greeting him for the first time. “This is all such great news. I’ve never had a house sell so fast. The sellers—”
“Wait,” he interrupted. “Why did you say what you said when I walked in? I mean, I’m glad I’m still alive, too, but it’s not the normal way you greet everyone you sell a house to, is it?”
She wished she hadn’t said anything. It had been the impulse of a moment. What on earth was wrong with her? She shook her head, but she had to be honest. “I went online and watched the video of you singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your mom in space. I remember seeing it at the time, but I’d forgotten how adorable it was. And then, you know how YouTube delivers you the next video on a topic you’re interested in? It was, well, the rescue operation.” She couldn’t go on, because she would tear up if she said any more about what she’d seen and how she felt.
He had a strange look on his face, and she thought maybe she’d upset him just by mentioning that terrible incident, but when he glanced up and caught her gaze, she saw a rueful twinkle. In a quiet, almost reverent voice, he said, “I watched you too. Old videos of you surfing. And then the same thing happened to me. I saw your accident.” He blinked a few times and then swallowed hard. He held her gaze and said, “I’m so glad you’re still alive too.”
Mila’s heart thudded, and her throat choked with emotion. Those awful moments flashed into her brain, and she could almost feel the searing pain as she hit that reef in Australia.
They gazed at each other, bodies just inches apart. She wanted so badly to reach up and touch him. To whisper, Everything is okay, everything is okay. It was a tenderness she wasn’t accustomed to, and again she was taken by surprise.