Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Lucy laughed even harder as her hand landed on my chest. She patted my chest like a child. “Aw, wouldn’t that be great if the answer was yes?”
Ignore it, I told myself regarding her touch, so hot I felt the fire shoot down my spine. “Yes,” I managed to grunt in response.
“Yeah, it would,” she conceded with a small nod. “But I think I’ll keep things as they are.”
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t.” That much was true, then again if she would just step in line maybe my attraction to her would fade. “Have you eaten dinner?” Or maybe I was just a glutton for punishment, trying to spend more time with a woman who tempted me to break my own rules.
“I haven’t, but I guess now I will.” She glanced at the fridge with low, exhausted shoulders.
“Dotty doesn’t work on the weekends, but these fingers do.” I wiggled them and heat flared in her eyes. Interesting. “For dialing,” I clarified with a laugh. “Get your mind out of the gutter Lucy.”
She stood taller and jutted her chin out. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I let that lie go. For now. “Does pizza work for you?”
“Sure, but only if it comes with some super spicy chicken bites and extra ranch dressing.”
A woman who enjoyed food was refreshing. “I can do that.”
“Then I’m in for dinner. I need to finish up and shower so I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” She glanced down at her wrist and nodded. “Yeah, thirty minutes.”
“So, an hour?” She looked up at me and I arched a brow, daring her to deny it.
Without a word she walked away but she stopped just before entering her bedroom. “Okay fine, an hour.”
I went back downstairs, trying like hell not to think of Lucy in the shower.
Chapter 11
Lucy
“You made it in twenty minutes,” Dante said with a sexy little smirk as I trotted down the staircase. “Impressive.”
“You think so?” I asked the question as I walked through what he called the sitting room and into the kitchen to grab a bottle opener for the craft beers Toni had given me. I handed one to Dante with a wide smile.
“I do. I expected you to at least take longer than thirty minutes.” He chuckled and took a long pull from the beer bottle.
I shrugged and dropped down on the plush pale blue sofa. “No need to get all dolled up for anyone, especially when I’m perfectly adequate the way I am.” My lips tugged into a teasing smile when he froze.
Dante groaned and smacked a hand to cover his face. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Nope.” I made sure the last syllable popped loudly and gave him my sunniest smile. “Why should I let you?”
“Pity?” Before I could say anything more, the doorbell rang and announced a visitor. “That’ll be the food,” he said and got off the sofa with a grunt.
I got up from the sofa too and made my way to the kitchen to gather plates and silverware. It was just pizza, but I figured a guy like Dante wouldn’t eat it straight from the box.
A moment later Dante met me in the kitchen and nodded towards the French doors. “It’s nice out, you feel like eating out back?”
“Sure.” The weather was great this time of year and the evenings were mild, perfect for eating outside. I carried the plates and forks outside and set them carefully before I took my seat. “How much do I owe you for dinner?”
That question earned a scowl from Dante. “You think I’ll go broke feeding you?”
“No,” I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. But I can pay for my own meals since I’m off the clock.”
“I told you that you are allowed to eat whatever you want from the kitchen, on or off the clock.” His tone was one I was sure worked often on most people in his orbit, but I was a stubborn sort.
“Agreed, but this,” I motioned to the boxes on the table, “is not from the kitchen.”
He scowled in my direction, his dark glare aimed squarely at me. “Do you get some sort of life force from arguing with me?”
I laughed and shook my head. “Not at all, but like I said I am perfectly capable of paying my own way, and I don’t want you think I’m trying to take advantage of your generosity.” Dante’s gaze drilled into me, almost down to my soul and I let him look his fill before I dug into the pizza and chicken poppers.
“I appreciate that Lucy, more than you know. Honestly.” His gaze was genuine and sincere, and I had a feeling there were too many people in his life who used him for what he had, rather than what he was.
“So how much do I owe?”