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)
Dante bent his big body over the table and quickly scribbled on a black sticky note before he handed it to me. “This is the salary if you can start tomorrow.”
I looked down, and it was even more than Serenity had said it would be, by a lot. “Are you sure this is the right number?”
He smiled. “I don’t make mistakes when it comes to money Ms. Lions.”
Damn if those words didn’t send a shiver down my spine. “Okay then. I accept your informal offer.”
“Excellent,” he grunted. “Your room is this way.”
“Wait, so that’s it? You’ve decided to hire me?”
His dark brows furrowed. “Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
“Obviously not, I’m great. But Serenity mentioned you’d been doing some week, and month-long auditions in the past.”
“That was my habit, yes, but not necessary in this instance. I find you adequate.”
“Wow, adequate? Wait until I call up the folks back at home to tell them some fancy businessman finds me adequate. All of my lifelong dreams have come true.”
He glared at me with a gaze so cold it probably terrified most people.
I giggled. “So about that room?”
He nodded and turned away, which was a gift from the heavens because his long legs, firm bottom and broad back was the perfect view.
At least until I caught sight of the hotel suite of a room that he showed me. The room was gorgeous, with a large bed that had a fancy, nearly six foot tall decorative headboard. The wood was all blond, cherry or pine, I didn’t really know, but it was stunning. Plush carpet under my sneakers, and a view of the well-kept wilderness out the back windows stole my breath.
“Wow,” I whispered, and then turned to Dante with a toothy smile. “Thank you Mr. Rush. I find this room exceptionally adequate.”
His lips pursed as if he wanted to say something, but he reconsidered and shook his head.
I laughed again. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Does seven work for you?”
He nodded.
“Okay. Serenity has all the paperwork you’ll need to get everything started. When that’s done, she’ll make it all official.”
“Perfect,” he grunted.
Yes you are. “Good night, Mr. Rush.”
“Dante,” he barked. “My name is Dante.”
I waved as I hurried past him out of my new bedroom towards the front door. “Have a good one then, Dante.”
Chapter 6
Dante
“No Alex, you don’t get it. She’s like sunshine and sass rolled into one too tempting package.” I paced the length of my office and ran a hand through my hair while I spoke to one of my closest friends, Alex Witter, on speakerphone. “It’s goddamn frustrating.” I shook my head and released a frustrated sigh at the thought of Lucy coming to work and live in my house.
Alex cackled over the call. “Sounds great. I take it she’s hot too?”
I sighed and thought about that long blond hair and those big blue eyes. “Is that all you think about? Don’t the NFL groupies keep you busy enough?” Alex was the leading running back in the league, and I was sure he had women throwing themselves at him everywhere he went.
“Let me tell you something Dante, a man can never be too busy where beautiful women are concerned. Now tell me, how hot is she?”
“What does that matter?” She was beautiful, but that was irrelevant because she was so damn annoying.
Alex sighed like he was exhausted. “Man you’re utterly hopeless, you know that don’t you?”
“Fine,” I growled and turned on my heels to keep pacing. “She’s hot as fuck with long blond hair and curves that just make you want to reach out and fucking touch her! Is that what you want to hear?”
Alex howled with laughter. “That’s what I’m talking about! So she’s hot and she’s gonna be living with you, what is the problem exactly?”
“The problem,” I whispered and continued to pace, “is that she is like a real life fucking cheerleader. Always so happy and upbeat. Look up chipper in the dictionary, and her face will be right there with pompons. What the hell is there to be so chipper about?”
Instead of answering my question, Alex just chuckled. It was annoying.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“You!” He laughed again, this time so loud I started feeling embarrassed. “You like her,” he accused.
“I do not,” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me and stopped pacing. “I don’t even know her to like or dislike her, and it doesn’t matter how I feel, as long as Lena likes her.” That’s what I kept telling myself, and I would keep on telling myself that until it became true.
“Maybe you don’t know her all that well, but I’ve known you long enough to know that you definitely like her.” His smug voice grated on my nerves, but he did know me well to be honest.
“Whatever,” I growled. “She’s annoying, but more importantly, she’s here to look after Lena, not me.” The fact that I spent too much of last night thinking of ways she could look after me was my business and mine alone.