Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“Yup.” I hold the snifter of brandy to my nose, not because I’m interested in the drink but because Meredith has put on so much perfume, it might actually be toxic.
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. I want to expand my portfolio and think it would be good if there’s a diverse set of clients in the building.” Plus, I want to be closer to Lucy, but Meredith can be sort of a bitch to her. I don’t fully understand their working relationship because I’ve offered to help Lucy find a different job a number of times, but she’s refused. She’s damned good at her job, so I let it rest. I hate my job at times, too, like when I have to deal with Uncle Cristoff and the board, but I’m not quitting because there are a few grains of sand in the bottom of my work shoes. I figure that it’s the same for Lucy. She’s got stuff she hates, but most of the time she’s happy. Still, there’s a voice inside that says Meredith should not know the reason why I’m moving her whole office in. She’ll figure it out once the lease is signed. I slide the contract over and lay down a pen.
“It’s a deal you can’t pass up.”
She picks up the pen and taps it against her lips. “I need to think about it.” She drags the pen down her lower lip, red lipstick smearing all over my expensive Montblanc. I guess that’s her pen now. I check the time. It’s been almost an hour, and Lucy’s at my house. I don’t want to keep her waiting any longer. I drain my glass and gesture for the bartender. “Close out the tab, will you?”
Five scarlet fingertips snag on my suit coat sleeve as I get to my feet. “You’re not leaving, are you? We haven’t had dinner.”
I gently but firmly pull away. There’s only one person who is allowed to handle the merchandise, and she’s waiting for me. “It’s getting late. I’ll send the moving trucks tomorrow.”
“I didn’t sign the contract.”
“You will.”
When I pull up to the townhome, the lights are out. Is Lucy already in bed? My heart rate picks up. I wonder which bedroom she picked. I’m guessing that it’s the one on the top floor overlooking the garden in the back. That one has a luxurious tub, and it’s decorated in soft peach and white. My mom put that space together. It’s like a flower garden. I never go up there. My room faces the street and is dark wood, navy and gold. I’d like Lucy in my big bed wearing nothing with her golden hair fanned out. That’s the point of being married, right? To have her whenever I want her? That will be every night, twice a night and once before breakfast and only because I have to take a break so that I can afford to feed her and the little mouths to come.
My stride is light, maybe even jaunty, as I climb the steps to the entrance. Dead silence greets me. There’s not even an entry lamp on. I flick on the light and look for signs of life.
In the living room there’s a fuzzy pink throw over the arm of the sofa. It’s pretty much the only color in here, and I love it. On the once sparsely decorated shelves are a collection of romance books and random knick-knacks, revealing that Lucy has been busy making herself at home. Excited, I bound up the stairs. My bedroom is predictably empty. I toss my shoes in the corner of my room and unbutton my shirt as I head to the top floor.
“Lucy, babe, I’m home.”
There’s no response. In fact, this part of the house looks completely unoccupied. There’s not a body on the bed or a pink fuzzy throw on the chair next to the window. The bathroom doesn’t have a toothbrush out or any makeup or bottles on the counter. Did she fall asleep downstairs and I missed her?
I run downstairs, taking the steps two at a time, but there’s no one here. It’s just me and the echoes of my footsteps against the hardwood floors.
I jerk my phone out of my pocket. I haven’t had any messages from her. The last text I received was from the doctor saying the blood draw was complete. I press dial next to Lucy’s name. It rings and rings. After the call hits the voicemail box for the third time in a row, I text her.
House is big but I didn’t realize I could lose someone here where r u
There’s no reply. I bang the phone against my hand thinking maybe the phone is broken. Did she forget her phone here? I didn’t hear it ring. I can’t call her family because, hell, I’m her family. Her mother passed away right before we met, and she doesn’t talk to her dad because apparently he was a dick that treated her mom like a piece of shit. She wouldn’t go to him for anything, not even a glass of water if she just crawled out of a desert.