Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
I briefly glance in her direction. “I won’t.”
Rook’s pace slows as soon as he spots me, and a grin overtakes his gorgeous lips.
His gorgeous, very kissable lips.
“Abby,” he greets my sister first. “It’s good to see you.”
“I saw you two hours ago before I left the office.” She giggles. “And we had dinner together last night.”
He ignores all of that and hones in on me. “Carrie, this is a treat.”
He has no idea what a treat it is for me.
“I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” he says. “How are you?”
“I’m good.” I keep my tone even because I’m an adult, and he’s just a man. A really good-looking man who looks spectacular naked in my imagination.
He’s also in a relationship with his daughter’s mom, so I need to keep my libido in check.
“Carrie and I were just about to run through the list of things that have to be done before Saturday,” Abby announces. “There is still so much to do.”
I offer my sister my hand to reassure her. “We’ve got this, Abs.”
She squeezes my hand as she takes it. “You’ll hang around and help?”
“All night if you need me to,” I offer.
“We should pop open a bottle of sparkling water first and toast to your success, Carrie.” Declan claps his hands together. “Abby told me about your new signature scent being the star of the show in Matiz’s spring line-up.”
“Really?” Rook takes a step closer to me. “That sounds like a milestone worthy of a celebration.”
“I’m going to treat myself to a spa day to celebrate,” I blurt out.
“Good for you.” Abby pats my shoulder. “I’ll grab the sparkling water and some glasses for our toast.”
Before I can say anything, she’s headed to the kitchen with Declan trailing behind her.
“You’re very talented.” Rook’s deep voice catches me off guard.
I turn to see him staring at me. “I love what I do. It’s more passion than talent.”
He steps even closer, his gaze trailing over my face. “Passion is important.”
I stare at his lips, nodding like a fool in agreement.
“In every way,” he says, his voice dropping to a lower tone.
My lips part while I search for a flirty retort that doesn’t cross any lines because Chesca is waiting for him at home.
He may be mine in my mind when I’m in bed late at night, but he’s not mine in any way that matters.
“We have the water,” Abby announces as she reenters the room.
“And the glasses,” Declan says from behind her. “Who’s ready to toast?”
Rook keeps his gaze trained on my face when his phone starts ringing. It doesn’t make it past the third ring before he’s got it in his hand.
“I have to take this,” he says. “I apologize.”
He takes two steps away before the phone is next to his ear. “Chesca?”
Reality slaps me across the face as I turn and approach where my sister and Declan are filling champagne glasses with sparkling water.
“I have to run,” Rook says from behind me. “I’m sorry, everyone.”
Abby waves her hand in the air with a smile. “Not a problem, boss. We all understand.”
We do.
There are a lot of single men in Manhattan and it stands to reason that some of them are on that hookup app. I’ll find one of them to fantasize about, so there’s at least a chance those fantasies become reality.
CHAPTER SIX
Rook
“Dammit,” I whisper as I step off the elevator and into the lobby of the building that Abby and Declan live in.
I was just about to toast Carrie’s success when Chesca interrupted.
I never ignore a call from my ex. I can’t. That’s especially true when Kirby is with her.
I ring her back because the call cut off when I boarded the elevator to make my way down. When Declan asked my opinion on his plan to purchase an apartment in this building, I told him I viewed it as a sound investment.
That still holds true.
You can’t go wrong if your address borders Central Park, but the cell service in the elevator is shit. That’s par for the course in a building built over a century ago.
“Rook,” Chesca answers in a breathy tone on the third ring.
It’s her commercial voice, as I’ve always called it. Since hitting it big as a supermodel, she’s landed a few commercials that have aired all over this continent and Europe, too. She’s become one of the most recognizable models for Liore Lingerie, and since they launched video ads on social media, Chesca’s notoriety has hit new heights.
“Is she all right?” I don’t mince words because there’s no need for that.
Chesca called me a few minutes ago because our daughter is in distress. All she said before the call cut out is that Kirby is upset and needs me. I didn’t need to hear more than that in order to cut my evening short.